Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-17
ON THE RIVER FRONT
ZERO WEATHER ENDS ExPECTA-
TuoN OF RIVER OPENING.
Taking Supplies to Fort Washington
Long Winter Benefits Oysters
General Marine Matters.

nights has put an end to all hope of an
immediate opening OF the river 1t has
been nearly seven weeks since navigation
has been closed to all vessels except the
big screw steamers of the Norfolk and
Washington line, and the more powerful
tugs. The present freeze has been the
most prolonged that has occurred in this
vicinity in over thirty years. 1t has been
three months since the first freeze occurred
and there has been no day within that
time that the surface of the river has not
been covered with more or less Ice.
Ordinarily at this time in February the
winters freeze is over and navigation Is
in full tide. Within the past forty-eight
hours ice fully three inches thick has
formed. and 1t Is still making. The river
men have been looking for a thaw almost
daily, but they have become discouraged,
and when asked what they think about the
ice conditions say that the river will cer
tafnly be open by the middle of June.
The Lenten demand for fresh fish of all
kinds was very heavy at the wharf market
this morning, but the market was but poor
ly supplied except with frozen stock, owing
to the failure of the Norfolk Hne steamer to
arrive. Frozen fish sold we'll and at good
prices.
There were no oysters in the shell on sale
at the oyster wharf this morning, the ves-
sells having sold their stock and there hav-
The oysters now on sale are coming mainly
from Norfolk. and are being brought up by
the steamers.
The steamer Estelle Randall during the
past two or three days has been taking
quantities OF flour, potatoes, onions and
other supplies in bulk to Fort Washington
and Fort Hunt, consigned to the commits
sary officers at these posts. She has also
been taking quantities of cement, in bags,
to the engineer officers at Fort Washing
ton. to be used in the new work there.
Old oystermen state that the cold wealth
er that has prevented the oyster dredgers
from plying their trade during the last two
months will rebound to the benefit of the
oyster loving public; for the oysters have
been allowed to lie In their beds undis-
turbed and have been fattening and i'm
proving for the market in the spring. If
the oyster beds were allowed to remain
undisturbed for a year their output would
be doubled and the size and quality of the
oyster greatly improved.
OF General Interest.
The young people are taking advantage
of the newly made Ice to indulge in skat-
ing. The Eastern branch is favorite
skating ground along the river although
some few prefer the tidal basin. 1t is
stated that two soldiers from Fort Wash
tngton skated from the fort to this city.
following the Maryland shore. yesterday.
The heavy north and westerly winds
Yesterday caused very low tides on the
river. Many of the docks In the harbor
were practically clear of water and
many of the steamers lay aground the
greater part of the day.
The steamship New Orleans. belonging
to the Merchants and Miners Steamship
Company which was cut through by the
Ice In the bay day or two ago and was
beached in sinking condition near Plum
POINT, calvert county, Md is to be raised
at once. The Merritt-Chapman Wrecking
company of Norfolk have sent the tug
Rescue with wrecking outfit to Plum
Point to float the sinking vessel
A message received from the Dam Neck
Mills Hfe-saving station states that the
American ship Henry b. Hyde was
stranded Friday last near the station and
VIII prove a total loss. The crew were
taken of by the life savers but lost most
OF their effects. The Hyde was bound
from New York to Baltimore to load coal.
one was QUILT at Bath, Me-, and was own
The barge E. A. Souder, while coming
up the bay day or two ago in tow of the
tug J. s. Hoskins, was cut by the ice and
so padiy damaged that she had to be
beached to prevent her from sinking.
Later the tug succeeded in taking her to
Annapolis.
Plans have been perfected for the run.
nlng OF 1our-steamboat ferry line be-
tween this city and Alexandria Monday
next on the occasion of the Washington
birthday celebration at Alexandria Trims
VIII be made every twenty minutes dur
ing the busy hours of the day
me tug Maryland, belonging to Mr..
John Miller. is lying at MilIer's wharf on
Eastern branch, being Overhauled and
prepared for service
me steam yacht Augusta. belonging to
commodore August Gaines of Alexandria
Is 10 be overhauled and ref1tted in the
early spring to make her ready to carry
pleasure parties on the river
me steam launch LOWE Randall, which
IS TO be converted into gasoline power
boat. will, it is understood. have her
steam equipment removed as soon as the
weather Will allow. Her hull will then
De given thorough overhauling before
the new naphtha engine is put in most
tlon. The LOWE is to be used for pleasure
parties at Colonial Beach during the