Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-06
FIRE DESTROYS ARROWsAITH
FAMOUS EXCURSION BOAT. SENT
TO THE JUNK HEAP.
Owners Deem Repairs Would Cost
More Than New Vessel.
Career Of Steamer.

The last vestige of the T. v. Arrow
smith has gone. The hull OF this the
most historic of all the old Potomac
river steamboats, burned to the waters
edge Saturday night and disappeared
below the flood tide.
Stripped Of her boilers and machin-
cry. the Arrowsmith, once the queen OF
southern waters, was towcd to the flats
on the Virginia shore below the railroad
bridge several weeks ago. Saturday
night the harbor police precinct was no
titled that she was on fire. The fireboat
steamed quickly to the scene, but the
burning vessel was too high on the fats
to be reached. She was left to burn.
Thus unmourned passed the old boat
that has made the hearts of three gen.
erations of excursionists happy.
For nearly fifty years the Arrow
smith won the plaudits of the riyermen
unchallenged. Many younger rivals
came to contest her laurels. but not UNI
til the Jamestown was built did any
Of the river steamers show her stern
to this grand old boat Built in the
earlier days Of steamboating, she was a
marvel. Time apparently left no mark
on the Arrowsmith, and she was an un-
rivaled favorite.
Built Before the War.
The Arrowsmith was built before the
war-in 1850. to be exact. Since that
time many boats built to contest her
speed have gone to the junk heap. The
Arrowsmith was built at Keyport, N.
j.. and for twelve years cruised In New
York harbor and Long Island sound. In
that day she was the biggest and fast
est excursion steamer Of the metropolis.
In 1872 she was brought by the Aiexan-
Washington. She was assigned to the
lower river route, making the river
landings between Washington and Nom
ini creek. At that time she sailed UNI
der the late Thomas c. Ross, one of the
most picturesque characters Of the old
steamboat days He died only a few
months ago. after attaining the name or
the oldest river pilot.
In 1885 the steamer Wakefield was
built, supposedly to supplant the Ar
steamboat reckoning, was getting old.
But the Wakefield never equaled the
speed of the old Arrowsmith. She tried
in vain to wrest the laurels from the
old boat and Shipper Ross, but the
Wakefield was always left with clear
water between her bow and the Arrow
smiths stern. So it was with all other
rivals.
Held Her Own Until Recently.
Inc ArrOWSmlln was dSSIkucU W thC
Colonial Beach excursion run when the
Wakefield failed, and she held it against
all Corners until the big sidewheelers
jamestown and st. Johns came upon the
river, but two or three years ago. She
is the only boat that made the run-sixty
miles-in four hours. Though she was
built before the days of prooellers and
expansion engines. she attained and main
tanned a speed of fourteen knots, some
thing remarkable for her day.
The Arrowsmith even outlived most of
her owners. SHE passed into the hands
of E. S. Randall when he took over the
river steamers. and became the property
Of the Potomac and Chesao eake Steam
boat Company when that company took
over the Randall holdings. This year the
Arrowsmith was prepared by her new
owners to take the negro excursionists to
River View. In the spring she was sent
to Baltimore for repairs. The govern
ment inspectors ordered so much work
done on her tina. her owners decided 1t
would be cheaper to buy new boat, and
SO the Arrowsmith was sold for junk.
Joseph Heath purchased her and stripped
her OF all her fittings. Last week she
was towed to the fats on the Virginia
shore.