Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-29
ON THE RIVER FRONT
POWER LAUNCH BESS TO BE RE
BUILT AND ENGINED.
Preparing to Build New Lighter
Electrical Equipment for Fort
Washington-Harbor Notes.

Captain Sonny Reagan has the little
power launch Bess In his boathouse at the
foot of 18th street southwest to be given
general overhaulng and to be made ready
for service on the Potomac. The Bess was
formerly owned by a party who now re-
sides in New York. When he left here the
launch was neglected and one night about
| two years ago she sank at her moorings
| She lay full of water for several months
until last spring, when Capt. Reagan raised
her and hauled her out. Recently he ac-
quired possession Of her and will refit her.
The little craft is to be made longer and,
rounded stern will be placed on her, and
she is to be equipped with a larger and
| more powerful engine that will give the
craft good speed.
Owing to the heavy winds on the coast
and Chesapeake bay the fishermen have
been unable to fish their nets and as a con-
sequence the receipts of fresh fish by the
dealers at the wholesale market on 18th
street wharf were small for the past day or
| two. There was a fair demand for fish of
| all kinds this morning, at good prices.
While the stock of oysters in the she'll
aboard vessels at the oyster wharf was not
large this morning, 1t was ample to meet
| the demand. Prices show no changes from
those quoted yesterday.
Wild ducks and geese are on the market.
but there was comparatively little demand
| for any but the best.
| The bottom timbers for the big eighty
| foot lighter, which is to be built at Ben
| netts boatyard for the Philadelphia Fish
| and Gun Club. were placed in position yes
| terday and the erection Of the vessel will
| be pushed as rapidly as possible. The ma
| terial to be used in the craft is all on the
ground and it Is expected the lighter will
l be completed and ready for launching in
| about two weeks. 1t is stated the hull
/ will be towed to Philadelphia, where a
| house will be placed on it and it will be
| transformed into houseboat for the use
%1-nfv Grt
petitions.
| A large lighter built for a coal firm in
| this city has been launched at the Alex
andria shipyard and for use in transport
| that want fuel Another scow for the
! same parties is still on the stocks and will
| be launched shortly.
| A pile-driving machine of Carter & Clark
| of this city was taken into Gravelly creek,
. on the Virginia side of the river below
Jackson City, yesterday afternoon for the
purpose, 1t Is stated. of building a trestle
| over the creek for the new tracks of the
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. railway between this
| city and Alexandria.
General River News.
The work of demolishing the big ice house
on the Randall line wharf. at the foot of
| 9Th street, is being rapidly completed. The
| roof is off the big building, and now only
| the shell that formed the walls is standing.
| The building, 1t is expected, will be COM
| pletely demolished by the end of the pres
| ent week.
The United States naval tug Choctaw yes
terday afternoon carried a barge on which
was a gun, recently completed at the naval
ordnance foundry here, to the proving
grounds at Indian Head, where the gun will
be tested.
A skim of ice possibly an eighth of an inch
thick formed on the docks Sunday night and
again last night. year ago at this time
the river was thick with floating ice several
inches in thickness.
The steamer Samuel J. Pentz on almost
every trip she makes carries quantity of
electrical material to Fort Washington for
the new plant to be erected there. day
or two ago she took to the fort two large
switchboards in addition to other electric
apparatus
The new tug Agnes Miller which was
built at Solomons Island for service on the
Potomac in this vicinity, is employed in
towing clay and brick-laden barges from
Broad creek. Maryland, and from the Riv-
erside briekyards in Virginia to this city.
The clay she brings up is used in the manu-
| facture of bricks. s~-s
The schooner Sarah s. Tyler is lying at
| the wharf. foot of 9th street, unloading
| cargo of pine lumber.
The steam barge E. James Tull, laden
| with fertilizer and other material and with
| the schooner Peri In tow, sailed yesterday
for Occoquan creek.
The tug William HI. Yerkes jr.. left port
yesterday afternoon with the schooner John
| ]. Hanson In tow.
| The tugs Sarah and George c. Forbes,
| with the Maryland Dredging Company's
dredge in tow for this city, were at anchor
In Drum Point harbor, Chesapeake bay,
| Sunday for shelter from the heavy north
wester and stfff sea In the bay.
The tug NJ Mitchell Davis Is cruising In
| the lower part of Chesapeake bay on the
lookout for the schooner Salisbury bound
here with lumber from Jacksonville, and
other vessels that are at sea for this city.