Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-02
ON THE RIVER FRONT
WAsHINGToN-BoUND BARGEs
HAVE TROUBLE IN BAY ICE.
Fleet Laid Up in Wicornico River
Steamers Making Better Time
River Notes.

Capt Robert Freeburger of the Phila-
delphia tug Peerless has been trying for
over two weeks past to bring tow of coal
laden barges from Philadelphia to this
city. In speaking of his experience Capt
Freeburger said:
This is the worst winter / have ever
experienced. l started from Philadelphia
January IL, with a tow of barges for
Washington and Tuesday had only got
them as far as the Wicomico river the de-
lay being caused by getting fast in the ice
l Will leave them in the Wicomico until I
am assured that I can reach my desti-
nation"
The tug William III. Yerkes Of this city
which left here a day or two ago with a
tow of light barges for Baltimore is also
In the Wicomico with her tow. 1t is stated
the tug has been slightly damaged by The
barges running the tug down while she
was caught in the ice. The damage is
slight.
There was fairly active. demand for all
varieties Of fresh fish at the wholesale
feb market on the wharf this morning, but
the stock on sale In the fish houses was
quite small, consisted of mulets, trout
and scattering of other varieties from
southern waters. Prices, owing to the cold
weather and scant supply, keep up.
There was a light demand for oysters
III the shell at the oyster wharf this morn
ing, at prices ranging from SOC. to 81 % per
bushel. The stock on board the vessels at
the wharf while not very large is as vet
ample to meet the demand. There Is no
| prospect of oyster-laden vessels reaching
port until the ice embargo raises
The steamer Estelle Randall of the Ran
dali line. which carries the mail between
this city and Glymont. found the ice more
scattered yesterday than for several days
past and she went on her route and re-
turned to this city, reaching here yester-
day afternoon at 4:3O O'Clock only half an
hour behind her regular schedule time
The Norfolk line steamer came into port
yesterday morning but an hour late. al
though hard ice was found the whole
length of the river. The steamers of the
Norfolk line are the only ones running on
Chesapeake bay that have maintained regu-
lar schedules, the big bay boats of the
Baltimore and Norfolk companies having
been forced to lay up and miss trips.
The auxiliary power launch So Long be-
longing to Mr.. Coleman of this city, which
broke her propeller wheel in the ice sew
eral days ago. is at the boat house adj
joining the Capital Yacht Club for repairs
before going into service in the spring
The two-masted schooner j. J. Mallory,
which went ashore on Poplar Island, in
Chesapeake bay several days ago is being
gradually broken up by the ice which IS
piling over her. There is but little hope
of saving the vessel
Diamond Shoal Lightship No. -, which
was relieved from duty on the station about
January /, is at Baltimore for an overhaul
ing of her hull and machinery preparatory
for her next turn of duty.
General River News.
1t is stated that two young men from
Alexandria walked from that city to the
Long bridge yesterday on the fce-coyered
river. Owing to the steamers having
broken the ice they had to cross on the
bridge in order to come into the city In
Piscataway creek, it is stated loaded teams
are being driven from shore to shore on
the ice.
Capt Henry Davis has returned to his
nome in the city, leaving his tug frozen
up in the Wicomico river, Md
Capt Tally Fewkes is aboard the tug NJ.
Mitchell Davis. in service at Newport News
as mate to Capt. Frank Taylor
The work of metaling the hull of the
tug d. NJ. Key, at Benefits boatyard
which had been stopped by the very cold
weather has been resumed and will now
be pushed to completion in order to ger the
boat overheard as soon as the ice will al
low.
While the steamer Harry Randall is
forced to lie Idle, owing to the ice en-
barge, Chief Engineer Charley Kersey is
having her boiler and engine overhauied
and put in order for efficient service The
Randall will resume her trips on the lower
river route soon as the Ice conditions
III the river will allow
The tug Camilla Of this city is frozen up
in the Wiecomico river with a fleet of OYSTER
laden vessels awaiting an opportunity to
come up to this city.
The schooner Murray Vandiver, with a
cargo for this city is lying in the pianka-
tank river awaiting the lifting of the ice
embargo
The schooner Grace G. Bennett which I'M
loaded a cargo of lumber here several