Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-20
ON THE RIVER FRONT
HULL OF OLD NAVAL STEAMER
PHLox 10 BE WRECKED.
New Tug Gummell in service-Repair-
ing Vessels at Boatyards-
Other Marine Matters.

will shortly be destroyed, and what was
once fine steamer, worthy OF place on
the naval register, will disappear. The
Phlox for many years ran from the Naval
Academy at Annapolis to Baltimore, and
was a favortte and speedy craft. Decay came
at last, however, and she was retired from
service, and about two years ago she was
purchased at public auction by an Alex
andrfa junk dealer. She was brought to
Alexandria and all her machinery removed
and her upper works taken Off, leaving the
ndllintact. Since then the hull has been lying
on the river shore short distance above
Alexandria, and 1T was supposed she would
be transformed into barge Now II is
stated that the hull will be burned to obtain
the metal that is In its makeup, and as the
old craft Is copper fastened, quite a guam
tity OF the metal. 1t Is expected, will be OBJ
tanned. The plan is. it is understood, to
put the hull on the shore away from hab-
itations or buildings and soak 1t thoroughly
With oil. Then the torch will be applied
and as the hull burns the metal will fall
into the ashes and can easily be recovered.
as the hre will not injure copper. This plan
was adopted year or two ago. when an
other old government vessel was wrecked
fer the metal In her hull.
There was small supply Of fresh fish on
sale at the wholesale fish market on the
nth street wharf this morning, but small
as the supply was, the demand was even
smaller. the sales being few and at low
prices
The demand for crabs. both hard and soft
shelled, Is heavy, while the receipts are
quite light AS consequence prices are
very high, and there is no indication OF
their becoming lower.
oysters were also scarce this morning
but the demand for them is by no means
heavy. CLANS were more plentiful, and the
demand was fair.
The new tug Edward GummelI of this
n u v1y1a1 oI L.
fresh from her builders hands, has gone
into service on the river, and was out yes
terday with her first tow of barges. The
liummell is handsome vessel and with
hut one or two exceptions the largest in
service On the river in this vicinity She
is great addition to the local feet of
steamers, and her owners will find plenty
for her to do. She is under the command
of Capt. Ernest Davis of this city.
The appointment of the pilots and engi-
neers of the new fire boat has caused much
disappointment to the steamboat men who
did not get the Jobs, and as every steam
boat man in the harbor, with but few ex-
ceptions, was after the berths, there are
many in the list of losers. The general
opinion Is that the appointments made are
excellent ones.
Vessels in Need of Repairs.
The two-mastedz schooner Nettie, Capt
Bill Finn, has been hauled out on the ma
rfne railway at Alexandria for repair work
to her hull. The vessel will be launched
within the next day or two and will at once
go to the lower river for cargo
The schooner John P. Robinson, which
lost her mainmast in a squat on the Po-
tomac several days ago, has been fitted with
a new stick at the shipyard at Alexandria
and Is again in service on the river
The harbor tug D M. Key was this morn
Ing hauled out on the marine railway at
Benefits boat yard for some minor repair
n he tod rxyff
wheel The Key will be out of service for
day or two only, 1t is stated. The new
wheel Is expected to add much to the eff
cheney of the tug as towing craft
The United States army tug Gibbon came
into port yesterday afternoon with a large
number of soldiers aboard. This is the first
liberty the men from Fort Washington have
had since they arrived at the station over
a month ago.
The United States lighthouse engineers
steamer Jessamine. which arrived In port
mere saturday, sailed yesterday morning on
repairing cruise among the lights on the
Potomac and Chesapeake bay
The rebuilding of the steamboat freight
pier at Colonial Beach has been completed
and the pier is now being used by the river
line steamers as landing place on all trims
The new pier 1t Is stated is somewhat
longer and Is more strongly built than the
former pier, which was carried away by ice
during the past winter.
The Passing Craft.
The schooner T. D. Burnell has arrived in
port with cargo of boards from Virginia
lumber port, and is lying at the 18th street
wharf to unload her cargo
The schooner Walter P. Snow, laden with
pine lumber from the Rappahannock river.
has arrived here and is lying in the stream
waiting BERTH
The longboat Osceola is in port from the
lower river with a cargo Of oak wood for
the local market. She has about forty cords
aboard
The steam barge Lily and Howard. with a
cargo of cord wood aboard has arrived in
port from Nomini creek, on the lower Po-
tomac.
The steam barge E. James TulI arrived
mere yesterday morning with load of pine
timber aboard from Aqua creek and has
berthed at the wharf foot of 9th street to
unload her cargo.
The schooners Mary Francis, Lottie Car
ter and Five Sisters are among the recent
arrivals In port with cargoes Of pine wood
from lower river points.
The schooner E. P. Evans has arrived
with load of lumber from Potomac port.
she Will take a general cargo down the
river.
The tug Peerless came into port TODAY
wlths three barges in tow, laden with hard
coal from Perryville, Md. for Georgetown.
The barges have cargoes aggregating about
l 800 tons.