Evening star., 1909-02-14
GENERAL NEWS GATHERED
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT

'The ram schooner Mabel and Ruth. one
Of the fleet OF ball-headed schooners en-
gagged in lumber traffic from the interior
waters of North Carolina to this city, is
ready to resume her trips between North
Carolina points aud this city.
The vessel has been lying out OF service
here for the past two months, her own
ers not wishing to take chances of her
the-way point on Chesapeake bay or the
Potomac.
Now that all probability Of a freeze
is past the schooner sailed yesterday for
Newbern, n. c., to take aboard cargo
Of lumber and shingles for this port. 1t
is expected she will be back here with
her cargo early in March.
The Mable and Ruth is the last to sail
of the fleet of lumber-carrying vessels
laid up here during the winter, the
Dallas Marvel and Grace G. Bennett
having left here a week or ten days ago.
The fleet Of small river schooners out
of service here is also preparing to go
into commission early in this week.
The large lighter built at Cumberland 8
boatyard, foot OF 9th street southwest,
was launched at high water yesterday
afternoon and was toweC to the wharf
Of her owner at the foot of 10th street
southwest to be completed. Some little
calking remains to be done on the upper
seams of the vessel. This will be COM
pleted with the lighter in the water.
Early in the coming week 1t will be
towed to the mouth Of OccoQuan creek
and will be used in lightering ties from
the shoal water inshore to the barge
Atlantic, which Is loading them for New
York The new lighter is eighty feet
long and twenty-six beam and will carry
a load Of several hundred ties. About a
month was required in the construction
Of the vessels, which Is one OF the larg-
est OF the kind constructed in this city.
The masters Of vessels arriving here
yesterday afternoon report having had a
rough time on the river In the south
west gale that blew Friday night. Be.
tinct squalls struck them and at times
1t blew as II it would lift masts out OF
the boats. The wind caused a heavy sea
in the river and the vessels rolled and
pitched until those aboard them could
imagine they were in mid-Atlantic. Be.
yond parting a few lines no damage was
done.
Arrived: Schooners Lottie Thomas and
G. w. Kirby, oysters In the she'll from
Potomac point for the market: tug Cam
laden vessels from the lower river
schooners William Zurich. NJ. J. Stephen.
son. Stephen Lark, Nicholas and Lila
Brown and sloop Enola, oysters from
river anu bay points.
Sailed: Schooner r. p. Evans, light, fol
the lower river to load back to this city
schooner Cherubm, light. for a Virginia
port to load lumber; tug Carter. Will
light coal barge in tow for Shepherd.
Landing: tug Dauntless. light from
Alexandria for Chesapeake bay, seeking
bugeye Ruth and Ella. oysters, to tn,
lower river to plant.
Memoranda: Schooner Sidonia Curley Il
chartered to return to the Rappahannocl
river to load lumber back to this city
schooner Blarsh Hayward Is at a Po
tomac point loading oysters in the shell
| for this market; schooner Silver Star will
| load wood a river point for this mar
ket; steamer Wihelmina has sailed from
| Newport News for Port Tampa with coal
| At the headquarters of the differen
sand and gravel digging companies at thi
| city and at Georgetown and at boat re
pair yards at Alexandria numerous light
ers used in the sand and gravel freight
ing work on the Potomac are being over
hauled and put In thorough order 70
| service. 1t Is stated that about the frs
week in March sand and gravel diggin,
operations will be resumed with full fore
| on the Potomac.
| The supply Of fish from the nets in th
Potomac received by the dealers here con
tinues very light. On the last trip Of th
steamer Wakefield from the lower par
of the river she had aboard but five o
six barrels OF Potomac fish for this mar