Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-03-09
STEAMERGRAVEYARD
New Jersey Town Where Many Old
Eastern Vessels Lie.
Well-knOwn River Craft That Havs r
become Worn Out Find a Rest
ting Place ON the RaritAn's
Banks.

Amboy to prove that the Hindoo BELIEF
in the transmigration of souls is re
atty, at least, as far as boats are con
cerned, says the St. Lous Republic
Steam craft which in years gone by
made great records in the local waters
and later were dragged out of the
busy swirl tired Of the struggle, are
to-day so much part of the Raritan
river town that their names are house
hold words there.
The graveyard of old vesaels has had
a day Of resurrection.
The valiant apirit of each has left
cold boiler and paralyzed engine to
take up it's abode in dwellings, decora-
tions and the hundred and one things
into which it's dismembered but resur-
rected body has been transformed.
During the last few years many we'll
known boats have been brought to-
gether on the shelving banks Of the
Raritan river, where the junkmap de-
cides their destiny.
The giantess' Of them all 10 the
famous old Albany boat Drew.
Close beside her are the fire-ravaged
hulls Of the ferryboats Eliza beth and
Plainfeld.
The worn-out ferryboat Central and
the ill-fated Northfield are rubbing
their noses in friendly way with the
rise and fall Of the tide against the
Drew's port quarter.
The half-burned Thomas McManus
l. ho
side of the fleet.
The side-wheel steamer Colonia, OF
Philadelphia. which was condemned as
unseaworthy after the last internation-
al yacht races, and the famous old
ferryboat Chancellor, the only craft to
cross the bay during the blizzard OF
1SS, have both settled high up in the
sands.
These boats represent more than
81 900 600 in original cost, and are in
all stages of diSmantlement.
Proba bly, one of the greatest boons
that ever came to Perth Amboy N"as
the steamer Drew.
She was towed to her present berth
a little more than year ago.
From the outside she appeared to
be a great unwieldy hulk Of little
value, but within she has proved to be
a veritable treasure ship.
Houses have been built from the
well-seasoned planking of her super
structure.
The panel work and rich carvings OF
her 400 and more staterOoms have been
used for interior decorations, and the
staterooms themselves tor store
houses.
There is one stateroom which has
been left just where it was when the
old river boat made her last trip.
Money cannot buy it from the junk
man.
The pleasant memories OF his hon
eymoon still linger with it.
From one end of the craft to the 9th
er it is the only spot which will not feel
the sharp edge of the wreckerS tools.
With the exception OF that part OF
the Drew which has been used - the
iunkman himself in the construction
of living quarters for his men and
combination Office and stOrehouse, in
the heart or the Town. iii the HateElaA
has been sold at good price.
An elderly widow is the proud owner
of a comfortable home made entirely
from the Drew.
Her dog and chickens are also snugly
housed within a portion Of the resur-
rected craft.
So extravagant were the builders Of
the boat in the selection Of materials
used for her construction that carpen-
ters and decorators of the town have
purchased almost the entire super
structure, although it is as yet not
more than half dismantled.
In the building trade there 10 de-
mand for Drew timber" and among
decorators a coll for "Drsw trim
mings."
The foregoing is the spirit OF the
Drew made ma nifest in Perth Amboy.
1t is not confined there alone, how
ever for all over the country there 10
a demand for some part Of her con-
struction.
The giant parts Of her engines have
already gone 10 the steel works Of
Pennsylvania and Connecticut TO be
fa.hinoed into car wheels, sxlss and
buildinp material.