Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-21
ON THE RIVER FRONT
VESSEL OWNERS PREPARING FOR
POSSIBLE FREsHET.

The owners of the excursion and other
| steamers which are lying idle in port here
are preparing to have steam made on the
| steamers at the first sign of a freshet or
| high water in the river. Should the
breaking away of the ice cause a gorge
and back the water up in the harbor the
steamboats, will be taken away from the
wharves and anchored in the river away
| from damage of being caught upon piles
and damaged. In the big freshet at the
time of the Johnstown flood the steamer
AIrowsmith which was lying at the ferry
wharf al the foot of I'd street. was car
ried by the rising waters upon the piles at
the end of the pier and narrowly escaped
being overturned. At an adjoining wharf
a schooner was carried on the pier by the
high water and damaged.
North Carolina herring have made their
appearance al the wholesale market on the
fish wharf, but in very small quantities.
This morning the demand for fish was more
brisk than it has been for several days, but
the supply on hand was very small, shad,
herring and mullets constituting the bulk
of the supply. Prices remain firm and above
the average in consequence of the scant
supply.
On the oyster wharf business is dull and
the stock on hand is small. Oysters In the
shell are selling at 81 20 to S1.30 per bushel
and shucked oysters at S1.40 per gallon.
Norfolk stock only is on sale.
Several barrels of wild ducks were re-
ceived by the dealers at the wharf from
North Carolina this morning and they sold
readily at good prices. Red-head and can
vas-back were in the shipment and they
were in prime condition.
Heavy sheets of iron have been placed
on the hull of the steamer Estelle Ran
dali, a the back end of the ice pillow. where
the heavy cakes of ice would strike the
hull while the steamer was running. The
galvanized iron had become roughed up as
i al to brpak and heavier iron has
been placed over it,. 1t is expected the
steamer will be able to return to the
route on the river in a few days.
The work of overhauling the boiler and
ma chinery of the steamer Harry Randall
will be completed within the next day or
two, and steam will be made upon the boat
ir preparation for the resumption of her
trips to the lower river as soon as the Ice
conditions will allow Reports coming from
down river show that the creeks into which
the Randall runs are still covered with
heavy ice.
The ice In the harbor is gradually becom-
ing softer but as yet it shows no signs Oh
breaking up Holes can now be broken
through the frozen mass by ramming IL
with a heavy stick. A day or two ago this
would have made no impression on the Ice,
which was as hard as flint.
General River News.
The schooner Beulah Land, a well-known
vsitors to this city, is reported to have
been badly damaged by fire at Port Con-
way, Va, few days ago. The fire started
in her cabin. which was destroyed. The
Beulah Land has been icebound at Port
Conway for month.
The big twin screw dredge Savannah h.
built at Baltimore for the United States
army Engineer Corps has been detained by
the ice on Chesapeake bay. As soon as she
can sail with safety she will start down
the coast for Savannah, where she will be
en- ployed.
Capt. E. s. Randall is confined to his
home in this city by a severe attack OF the
grip.
The talk of re-establshng the ferry line
between this city and Alexandria has died
out and there Is now but little prospect of
steamboat communication to the Virginia
city In the near future.
1t is stated that several wood and oyster
traders to this city are at the marine rail
way in Coan river, tributary of the 70
tomac near it's mouth, being overhauled
and put in order for efficient service on the
river when spring opens.
1t has been a month since the ice on the
river became heavy enough to put stop
to the running of the river boats. Since
that time the river counties of Maryland
and Virginia have been without communica-
ton with this city, and the supplies In the
stores, it Is stated, are becoming low.
A new cylinder will be placed on the en-
CINE of the harbor tug D. NJ. Key before she
resumes service on the line. The cylinder Is
building at Alexandria, and will be ready to
be placed on the tug within the next day or
two.
The tug Camilla is reported lying at Rock
Point wharf, in the Wicomco river Mary
land, and is expected to leave there as soon
as possible with tow of oyster-laden boats
for Baltimore.
The pungy Shining Light, Capt. Keith
Davis, which went to the lower Potomac for
a cargo of oysters for this market. has gone
to Baltimore with her cargo, Captain Davis
finding 1t impossible to come up the Po-
tomac with his vessel.
The schooners Quinby Curley and C. c.
Wheeler. lumber laden at Virginia ports,
will come to this city as soon as the ice
conditions on the river will allow.