Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-15
ON TIE RIVER FRONT
WEEKLY FIRE DRILLS A PART OF
STEAMBOAT DISCIPLINE. /.
Steamer Arrowsmith Arrives at Balti-
more-Yacht Gretchen Preparing
for Cruise-other Matters.

Passengers aboard the steamers plying on
the Potomac need not be alarmed If at any
time they should hear the sudden changing
of the fog bell on the steamers and see the
crew rushing to the boats, getting out hose
and making every preparation for the ex-
tinguishing OF an imaginary FIRE, for 1t will
be nothing but a fire drill required by the
marine regulations in order to accustom the
men to their positions and to instruct them
as to their duty should they be called upon
to extinguish fire. These drills are held
at least once a week, and the master OF
the steamer must, in his monthly report
to the inspectors, state when and where
these drills were held AS q general thing
they held while the steamer is lying in
port with no one aboard, but the crew has
no warning when they are to occur, and
has to jump at the unexpected changing
of the bell at any time.
On the Potomac river the fire drill regu-
lation is carried out on every steamer and
the men are well instructed in their duties.
While portion of the crew is employed in
putting out the imaginary fire others are
going about among imaginary passengers
showing them how to adjust life preservers
should it be necessary to abandon ship.
When the reinspection of the steamers
takes place the crews will have to give a
fire drill for the benefit of the inspectors,
to show that they are ready to cope with
fire should they be called upon to do so.
Lie ftduudll line steamer L. v. ATTOW-
smith left here Friday afternoon for Balti
more and early yesterday morning was tied
up at the ship yard Of William E. Woodali
Co., having made the run in less than
fifteen hours. The steamer was placed in
the dry dock yesterday morning and work
on her hull will be started at once. Capt.
Bailey Reed and Capt. AL Richards took
the steamer to Baltimore, with Chief En-
engine room. Mr.. Moore, with his force,
will remain with the steamer to superin-
tend the work Of repair, but Capt. Reed
and his crew returned home from Baltf-
more yesterday evening, and will return to
duty on the steamer Harry Randall. The
steamer Arrowsmith while away will be
put in thorough order and will be made
ready for service on the river.
Along the Wharves
The steam yacht Gretchen, belonging to
Mr.. ]. E. Reyburn of this city, is lying at
the wharf foot of N street southwest, hav-
ing her decks caulked and some other mi
nor repair work done to fit her for cruising
during the fall months. The yacht will
leave here in a few days her annual trip
to the North Carolina sounds with hunt
ing party aboard. She will consume about
a month in making the trip, and on her re-
turn 1t Is stated, she will go out Of service
for the winter.
Reports coming from along Chesapeake
bay state that considerable damage was
done wharves on the bay by the recent high
water and gale. At Colchester Beach the
shore end of the wharf has been carried
away, and part of heavy stone seawall
was knocked down by the force of the
waves washing against 1t. 1t is also stated
that the long pier at Chesapeake Beach
was damaged by the heavy seas washing
against 1t.
The work of overhauling the power sloop
Curlew at Reagan's boat yard will, it Is
stated. be completed within the next day
or two, and she will be put overheard ready
frir ~ II
months The schooner Jennie Lou, belong
ing to Messrs. Charles H. Schnaitmann
and r. L. Burns of this city, which is on
the railway to be changed into bugeye
rugged craft, and to be equipped with a
IA horse power gasoline engine, will be
ready to be launched in about two weeks.
Capt. S. d. Leitch, master of the tug
Buccaneer, who has been i'll and off duty
has recovered sufficiently to return to the
command of his vessel.
The Freight Handlers.
The four-masted schooners Francis NJ
and William c. Tanner were brought into
port by the tugs William H. Yerkes, jr,
Camilla and James o. Carter. and were
berthed at the wharf foot of 10th street to
unload their cargoes of Maine ice for the
American Ice Company. The schooners
bring cargoes of about 1900 tons each, and
both sailed from Bath about the last day
of September There is now a good supply
of ice in the local ice houses.
The two-masted schooner Catawamtek,
which brought a cargo Of polished granite
here from Blue Hill, Me-, and is now I'M
loading at Georgetown wharf. has been
chartered to load cargo of soft coal at
Baltimore for Rockland, Me.
The barkentine Shawmut, which unloaded
q cargo of laths here sailed this morning
in tow of the tug Yerkes for Patuxent
river wharf to load big cargo of railway
ties there for New England port.
The schooner Alethea has been berthed at
the wharf foot of 18th street to unload
cargo of pine lumber from a Rappahan>
mock river point for the dealers.
Mr.. Mayo, chief engineer in the Randall
line, has been transferred from the steamer
Arrowsmith to the steamer Wakefield on
the lower river route. Mr.. Van Outen is
assistant to Mr.. Mayo.
Lieut.. John R. Sutton Of the harbor pre-
c1nct has returned from short visit to
Colonial Beach. While at the beach Com
modore Sutton plowed up his farm and
prepared the ground for the planting of fall
crops.