The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-10-15
AN OLD LINE SOLD.
The Weems Line, the Oldest in the
Country, Sold to the Penna. r r.

The Weems and Chester River Lines of
steamers have been sold to a syndicate of
Northern capitalists and are to be CONSOLE
dated with the Queen Annes Railroad, the
purchase being in the interest of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. The owners of the Weems
Line were paid Sl,00e,000 for their boats,
wharves and goodwill.
The Weems Steamboat Company is believed
to be the oldest steam transportion company
in this country; and notable thing about the
line is that it has never been out of the hands
of the family that first established it. The lit
tie town of WeemS, in Lancaster county, NIr-
ginia, bears the name Of the first owner OF the
line.
In 1917, ten years after Fulton had sue
ceeded propelling a boat by steam power on
on the Hudson, the line was established by
George Weems who chartered the steamer
Surprise to run between Baltimore, the Patux
ent river and landings on the Chesapeake bay.
This boat continued to run until 1921, when
the Eagle was bought. 1t was built at one of
the Seacoast towns, and was brought to Balu-
more by sea, being the second steamer that
ever ventured out into the ocean.
The boat was 1870 feet long and had mast
forward, on which sail was frequently raised
to increase the speed of the vessel. She had
no pilot house, and the ladies' cabin was fitted
with berths on the sides, aud it was here that
the men slept when the room not used for
dining purposes. When these boats were built
il was not known that an engine could be made
to reverse its speed. and it used to be neces
sary to turn off steam a long distance from
landings. Frequently, however the distance
would be miscalculated, and the boat would
90 crashing into the wharf. The captain had
no way of communicating with the engineer
except by calling to him at the top of his voice.
l., ~ J,,- he upulA Sfo,I 1t1r M
the bow and warn the people on the wharveS
not to stand too far out-ihat the vessel was
liable to carry away everything in sight
While lying in the harbor of Annapolis in
1924 the Eagles boiler exploded, causing the
death of passenger, who, officials Of the Com
pany claim. was the only passenger ever killed
in an accident on a Weems Line boat BY
this accident Captain Weems not only lost
everything he owned, but was himself so seri-
ously injured that he was confined to has room
for long time.
After his recovery Captain Weems organ.
lied company which built the steamer Pa
tuxent, in 1927 At the time the boat was
regarded as d floating palace, and IN news
paper advertisement her captain said that
''frst-rate cook and active, obliging atten-
dants had been selected with great caution
by him. and be hoped by these attractions and
by his unremitting attention, aided by a sump
tuous table, TO merit and obtain for the boat
a full share of public patronage.
In 1916 the steamer Planter was built. and
in 1854 the Mary Washington was purchased.
aud afterward the steamers George Neeus
and Matilda were built.
Captain George Weems died in 1888, but
long before his death he had given up the ac
tive management Of the liue to his four sons,
who were engaged as engineers and captains
on the boats till the Civil War broke out
Some of the vessels we're used as transports
during the war, and at lis close business wss
resumed. Captain Theodore Weems, son
of the founder. who had been active il THE
management after his fathers death. died ia
1874, aud Henry Williams, the present presi-
dent of the Company, who married Miss
Weems. assumed active management.