Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-09
ON THE RIVER FRONT
EFFORTS MADE TO RAISE SUNKEN
SAND DIGGER.
Steamer Estelle Randall in Service
Fishermen Put Nets Overheard
Other River Matters.

The large sand-digging machine of the
Louis Smoot Company, which had been at
work taking sand from the river in the
vicinity of Fort Hunt, Va, was cut through
by the ice and sunk several days ago. The
dredge lies in the bottom of the river in
about eight feet of water Advantage will
be taken of the next low tide to find the
leak and stop it, and the dredge will be
pumped out and raised She will then go
to an Alexandria boatyard to be hauled out
and repaired and made ready for service as
soon as possible.
The supply of fresh fish on sale at the
18th street wharf market this morning was
rather small. but in mere variety than in
several days. Carp, catfish, winter shad
Spanish mackerel and muletS constituted
the bulk of the stock. Herring from North
Carolina and shad from the same waters
were also on sale. the herring bringing 81
per hundred. and shad. 4Oc. and 81 each.
The demand good
There Were oysters in the shell on
sale by the vessels lying at the 18th street
wharf. but a tow of laden oyster boats is
expected in port this afternoon. Tie Nor
folk line steamer brought up about I'D bar
rels of oysters from Old Point and Nor
folk.
Wild ducks are on sale in increased
quantities. and the demand for them is very
good
The steamer Estelle Randall completed
repairs at Alexandria early yesterday
morning in time to take up her regular
schedule to the wharves between this city
and Glymont yesterday morning. The fly
wheel on the engine of the steamer broke
Friday morning, she WAS ramming the
heavy ice about GunSton wharf. When the
steamer passed the spot where the accident
occurred yesterday the river was free Of
ice.
The work of building the new marine
railway and the boatyard of Augustus
neane q Son at Alexandria will be started
in short time, and 1t is expected to have
the railway ready for service early in the
summer. The new plant will be large
enough to haul out a large two-masted
schooner.
General Port News.
A small haul seine was put overheard in
Four Mile run yesterday afternoon, the
first for several weeks, and a quantity of
river fish were caught. The fishermen
operating in Great and Little Hunting
creeks and in Pohick creek are preparing 10
put their nets overheard in the next day
two.
The steamer Wakefield of the Randall
line has gone out of commission, and the
boiler makers overhauling her boiler
and putting IT in thorough order. Before
the steamer returns TO service she will be
given her annual overhduling, to prepare
her for hard work during the busy season
the river in the spring and summer.
She will be ready for service again about
March L
The tug Dallis made trip to Gunston
wharf and return today with merchandise
for the High Pc ut Plantation Company.
The Dallis had the metal cut from her
sides while running through the heavy ice
last week, and yesterdays trip was the
first she has made since the accident.
Tugs are expected to leave port within
the next day or two to go to the lower
Potomac to bring up the bark Essex and
the schooners Doyle and Marshall. bound
to this city with cargoes of lumber and
cement a tow of oyster boats is expected
in port at any time.
The two-masted schooner Sidonia Curley.
Capt. Curley, which has been frozen up
in Occoquan, will. ii is expected, get out
of that stream a once, aid will be bile TO
sail into port, unless a shift of wind to
the eastward should again block the river
with drifting ce.
The steamer Lily and Howard with a
big cargo of cord wood, from Kinsale is
looked for by her owners within the next
twenty-four hours She may bring the
schooner Quinby. loaded with wood. also
into port