The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1908-05-14
HISTORY OF THE STEAMBOAT ON CHESA.
pFhkE RAY

To Chesapeake steamboat company
the Choptank Steamboat Company-be
longs the distinction of launching the frs
composite steamboat-that is, one built
with a wooden hull and steel frame
ever made in this country. This was the
Tired Avon, built in 1884 by the VIM. E.
Woodall Company of Baltimore, especial
lly for the Choptank Steamboat Com
pany's service. She was of 676 gross
tons.
The Choptank Steamboat Company was
organized in the summer of 1882 by the
late Eldridge S. Johnson and the late
| John W. Woodland, both of Dorchester
county. The line was organized to COM
| pete with the Mary land Steamboat Com
pany, and there was brisk and vigor-
GUS business rivalry between them until
both lines we're absorbed in the Baltimore
| Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Com
pany.
The officers and board of directors Of
[ the Choptank line were: President, Ell
bridge S. johnson; vicepresident, Z. x
johnson, of Washington, D. c.; secretary
and treasurer, John W. Woodland; direc-
tors, T. Howard Dali, E. K. Pattison, A.
L. Bramble, James Woodall, Joseph H.
johnson, the latter of Cambridge, Md.
| The vice-president was brother of the
founder of the line and well-known
capitalist of Washington. whose fortune
| at his death was found to exceed that OF
his maritime rival, Mr.. Enoch Pratt, OF
the Maryland Steamboat Company.
The Choptank company being organic
ed before its first steamer, the Choptank'
was completed, the company chartered
boat, the VIM. E. Clark, and thus equip
ped opened it's rovte on the Great Chop
tank, the boat leaving Baltimore from
Pier II at 9 p. m. and proceeding via
Easton, Oxford, Cambridge and inter
mediate points to Choptank Landing,
afterward extending its route to Windy
Hill, little farther up the river.
The first steamer built for the line was
the Choptank, of 346 gross tons, built in
1888 by Thos. McCosker, Of Baltimore,
with the engine and boilers furnished by
Chas. Reeder.
The Tired Avon, mentioned before, was
com pleted In 1884, and the Cambridge,
also compost boat of 1874 gross tons
was built for the company by the William
E Weodall Company in1S90.
The Cambridge was one of the fastest
boats of her class on the bay, her record
run from the Lazaretto lighthouse te
Sharp's Island lighthouse being three
hours. Both the Tired Avon and Cam
bridge are now in the service of the Bal
timore, Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway
Company.
About 1890 the company opened
route on the Nanticoke river with chart
cred boat, the Conoho, which remained in
service until the Cambridge was com
pleted to take its place. and this route
continued to be operated until withdrawn
in favor of the Nanticoke Steamboat Com
pany, which was organized by Mr.. T. How
ard Dali, one of the directors of the Chop
tank Steamboat Company.
The masters of theee Eastern Shore
| steamers were almost exclusively mer
well known and highly respected on tn
Eastern Shore, and it was said of them q
class that 80 high a reputation did they
enjoy that their uniform was sufficient
guarantee to strangers to commit to theil
care almost any mission of trust.
| Among the masters of the Choptani
line were: Capt. James A. Geoghegan
afterward of the iceboat Latrobe; hi
brother, Capt. 8. A. Geoghegan; Capt
Richard Smith, Capt. Charles w. Wright
of the steamer Choptank, who, in 1887
resigned as master to accept position IL
the United States Steamboat Inspection
Service; Capt. Harry johnson, brother o
the president and vice president OF tn
line; Capt Charles W. Spence, who diet
while master of the Cambridge; Capt
BENJAMIN Thomas, who transferred to tn
service of the Baltimore, Chesapeake ant
Atlantic Railway Company, and Capt. A
A. Price, who, after long service as ba!
pilot. became sky pilot and entered tn
ministry.
The Choptank Steamboat Compan
went out of existence in 1894, when tn
line was purchased by the Baltimore
Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Con