The Van Buren press., 1912-02-17
Passing Of the Caroline
-. Last Of the Ferry Fleet
il, q, Fort Gibsou. who put 1t ip

( to parties at Fort Gibson. who put 1t 10
service at the mouth Of Grand river.
After England gave mp the uansse'
nent. the ferry had number OF MANA
gers, but none of them WAS In charge
for more than a year or So.
II. c. HaymN, who built the hrst
power boat. slao built the frst steam
ferry boat. he had built Isrge horse
power boat but the tread not being able
to generate sufficient power, he sup
planted the tread with steam engine.
Mr.. HAymAn gave up the ferry in 1873,
While they had II. n negro boy. George
Pennywitt. who bore his eI-master
name, WAS placed In the engine room.
His son. VIII. grew up In the engine
room and for the last 26 years had
charge Of the engines. Last Monday
be wxa called lpos to fnd another job.
Tom Scott, . former sheriff OF this
county. thought hesaw a fortune In the
ferry and leased II. AT the end OF
year he found the fortune was only
fools gold and gnvs it mp. Then II
WAS operated = while by the Hsyman
interests, which had secured = charter
and was operating n toll road between
here and Van Bnren. They had quite
4 stretch Of turnpike between the Hunt
store and the Frisco crossing. The
toll gate WAS at the old Taylor place,
then called the Hallway nouse. about
half mile north OF Trusty school
The road was very unpopular and
large portion OF the travel left the Van
Buren, road at the Waldron road 6 In
tersoction and came In at Grand ave
nue.. Hsymsy abandoned the road af.
ter year or two.
After the dea9h OF John Drennen the
ferry became the property Of his
children. Charles II Dreunen and Mrs
Caroline Drenuen Scott II. G. Rob
ards managed the ferry for his mother.
in.lsw for thrse or -four years, and In
1877 p. d. Scott became manager for
his mother and uncle. and upon his
mothers 9 death, about 1S months ago.
he succeeded to her interest.
The Caroline, the last boat In the
service, WAS named for Mr.. Scott .
daughter, Caroline N. Scott. 1t pre-,
dscessors were P. D.. Jr.. W A.
King. named for the engineer, and the
other boats back to the time when the
government regulations requiring the
naming Of steam boats were nll known
"a Van Bnren.
None OF these boats ever had any
serious accidents. The management
did not take any unnecessary chances,
When the river WAS swollen the cur.
rent running strong and full Of drift or
Ice, the boat remained tied to the bank
and no amount Of pleading or offers
could induce an Atte mpt to cross II
was vain for the traveller TO plead that
he would assume all the responsibility
aud the risk, The management con.
sidered they risked the lives Of the
boats crew, the boat and service to
the public for an indefinite period, and
let the passenger wait until the river
could bs crossed In safety. With such
y record, stirring events on board to
chronicle were few.
One OF the amusing incidents OF the
fsrry's history took place during the
war. while 4 fat bost WAS In operation.
A man BY the name OF Trxwick had the
contract for carrying tho mail from the
north to Fort Smith. He used light
blackboard. drawn by pair Of little
mules that possess ed the sweet disposi.
tions Of = broncho. One day they ran
away In Van Bursn, They came down
the bank In = dead run, right across
the boat and into the river. They
struck ont TO swim o. soon ~ they came
to the surface, carried the blackboard.
mail and driver safely ACROSS the river
and disappeared over the bank again In
dead run, apparently never having
had break made In their gait BY their
plunge xnd swim.
Mention has already bsen made of
the long service Of the engineer. An
other employee who Ia inseparsbly con.
npctpd with the boat and feels her pats.
Ing No keenly ~ n she was 4 member Of
his family Is Capt, Tom Arnold, who,
for ~ years. has been captain,
Ths Scott ferry has landed up and
down the river for u mile, changing
its location a. the stage OF water aud
the changes OF the river required, 1t
has never had any opposition, About
two years ago, when the traction COM
pxpy extended its line to the river bank
Mr., Scott put In motor boat to give
passengers quick transportation ncros
and 1t maintained n Dominate schedule,
This boat 10 also ont Of commission, re.
tiring with the Caroline. but will prob.
ably bs cold for . pleasure boat, The
CArolinr has been sold to party below
Arbucklo island, Fort Smith Times.
Record