Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-06
ON THE RIVER FRONT
LAUNCH NAvI0ATuRS PRACTICE
A DANGEROUS TRICK.
Vessels Added to Potomac Fleet
Plenty of Watermalons Coming
Personal and General.

The foolhardiness Of persons who are
using small launches for pleasure purposes
on the river is shownoby an incident re-
ported by Captain Tully Fowkes. master Of
the ferry steamer George Washington.
Captain Fowkes states that a day or two
ago a small launch with two men aboard
was steered directly for the bow of his
steamer, forcing him to keep the boat on
until there was danger Of her going ashore
and when the launch was almost on the
ferry boat. the man steering her threw her
wheel over and swung the launch around
within five feet of the side of the steamer.
If the rudder Of the launch had failed 10
work she would have run into the Terry
steamer and been sunk.
The schooners A. J. Lawson and Hltter
Cation have recently been purchased oy
parties living In Virginia on the lower rlVet,
and have had their hailing ports chaneeu
to points on the Potomac. The Lawson
formerly hailed from Baltimore, but her
new owner has changed her halllng port
to Colonial Beach, while the eaton mas
been registered at the Alexandra custom
house. and halls from there. Within the
past two or three months six or eight yes,
sells have been purchased ABROAD ny loca'
parties and have been entered IN the GUS
tom house here or at Alexandra. Inc oe-
mand for small schooners to run WOOD,
lumber and other cargoes on the river mas
made vessels good paying property, anu
more money Is being invested In them no"
than for several years past.
The supply Of fresh fish on sale at the
wholesale fish market on the llth street
wharf was not large this morning, ana con-
sisted of trout, butterfish tailors ana otner
varieties from the fisheries on the Atlantic
coast, above Virginia Beach. The demand
was also light, and prices are unchanged.
The stock Of watermelons on sale aboard
vessels lying at the oyster wharf at the
80 ot~o
day evening by the arrival of five or six
vessels with melons aboard.
The demand was light this morning, and
prices range from s. to 81 per hundred for
selected fruit. Among the vessels arriving
yesterday evening were the schooners Kate
and the Ella W., Carrie Colbourn. Frenchie
and A. J. WOdson.
street southwest, is being overhauled and
made ready for service. A pile driver is at
work pulling up the old piles and driving
new ones. and making the wharf strong
and substantial. When the fishing season
is not on this wharf is used for the unload
ing Of lumber. wood and other cargoes.
Ice-Laden Vessels Expected.
The tug VIM. H. Yerkes. jr.. is at the
capes Of the Chesapeake, and the tug Ca
milla in Chesapeake bay, on the lookout for
ice-laden vessels bound to this city. They
have orders to bring the first vessel that
arrives into port as fast as steam can bring
her, as, 1t Is stated, the stock Of ice in the
ice houses Is becoming low. The new
schooner Taft, with about ! 500 tons Of Ice
aboard, is several days overdue, and Is ex-
pected to come in the capes at any time.
Captain Thomas ]. Miles, master of the
United States lighthouse tender Holly, Is
ashore on a leave OF absence Of twenty
days He will spend his leave with rela-
tives on the eastern shore of Maryland
Mr.. Joseph Barlow, chief engineer Of the
tug Dauntless of Baltimore, has been
transferred to the new tug Margaret and
will superintend her fitting out for service.
The tWo-masted schooner Murray Vandi-
yer is in the dry dock at Baltimore ship
yard for repairs to hull and for painting.
Several months ago sioop belonging to
Albert Drifuse Of Alexandria, was stolen
from Potomac creek Since that time Mr..
Drifuse has been trying to obtain tidings
of the boat and recentiy he learned that
she was In Jackson creek, near the mouth
of the Rappahannock river. He Will at
once go there to recover the vessel and,
bring her back to Alexandria,
The schooner Farmers Friend is hauled
out on the maine railway at the Alexandria
OF her hull and for other repair work. She
will be out Of service for several days.
Dean & Son are building large scow,
which, it is stated, will be used as the hull
for new sand and gravel digging machine
for one Of the sand companies here. The
hull is being constructed in part of an old
sand barge and is being made especially
strong.
The steam barge James X. Jackson has
sailed with the barge Rappahannock in
tow for Aqua creek, where the barge will
load railway ties for Philadelphia.
Vessels Coming and Going.
The two-masted schooner Smith K. Mar
tin, with a cargo Of fertilizer material
aboard has arrived at Alexandria for one
of the fertilizer factories there.
The bugeye R. H. Stuart is at Alexandria
with a cargo of grain from Nomini.
The schooner Dennis Simmons is in port
with cargo of lumber and shingles from
North Carolina for the dealers. She will
discharge part of her cargo here, and will
go to Alexandria to complete the unloading
of her cargo.
The schooner Father and Son has arrived
with load of railway ties from Aqua
creek, and has gone up the Eastern branch
to unload.
The Ruth and Ella, laden with grain from
the lower Potomac. came up the river yes
terday morning and went up to George
town to unload.
The schooner Fred Haven, laden with
hard coal from Perryville Md, has arrived
in port consigned to local dealers
The schooner Col. ]. Merrck, with full
load Of cord wood aboard from the lower
Potomac, arrived here yesterday
The schooner A. j. Lawson, laden with a
cargo of bricks, has sailed from this city for
Colonial Beach