Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-25
ON THE RIVER FRONT
Yacht IdIeWiIde Undergoing
Changes for Cruises.
SCHOONER TO BE WRECKED
Weather Conditions Bring Fogs to
Bother River Men-Crabs Caught
in Nets 40 Miles Down River.

In preparation for extended cruises on
Chesapeake bay and its tributaries with
a trip on the coast as a possibility, the
large cruising yacht Idlewilde is out on
the marine railway at Benefits boatyard
for a thorough overhauling that will take
several weeks to complete. The old gaso-
line engine now aboard the vessel is to
be supplanted by a new and modern type
of gasoline motor. The engine bed will be
torn out and new one built before the
engine that is to be installed arrives
from the factory. Exactly what other
work is to be done to the yacht has not
been determined. but the hull will be
changes made in the interior arrange
ments of the boat. The Idlewilde is about
fifty feet long, and is one of the largest
vessels of the cruiser type owned In this
city. She was brought to the Potomac
from New York
To be made into derricks for lifting
heavy loads with block and fall. the
masts from the old schooner Isaac Sol
ONION were yesterday carried to George
town in tow Of the tug Capt. Toby, and
turned over to a local hauling firm for
use in it's business. The Isaac Solomon
had both masts blown out Of her in a
gale on the river about six weeks ago.
She was bound down at the time, but her
owner had her brought back to this city
with the intention of having her rebuilt.
1t was found, however, that the condi
ton of the hull would hardly warrant
the expense, 30 the idea was abandoned.
All parts of value will be removed from
the old boat. and the hull will be sold as
it lies at the 18th street wharf, to be
wrecked for the metal in it, The work
Of wrecking the old vessel will not be
done until some time in the spring.
Power Launches Under Repair.
improvements to the power launch be-
longing to Capt. Jacob Stultz Of the
District tug Firef1ghter force are being
made at the wharf of the Firefighter and
when the boat returns to service in the
spring she will be practically new
craft. The boat is being fitted with a
long overhanging stern; other work Is
being done to the hull and she will be
painted inside and out. Several of the
fremen assigned to duty on the Fire
fighter are owners Of handsome power
boats. which are kept in the dock adj
joining the berthing place of the Fire
tighter. Before the opening of the spring
boating sease:n they will be overhauled
and put in good shape for efficient
service.
Weather conditions have been just
right for fogs for the past two or three
days and the steamboat men are pre-
pared for the coming of the thick blan-
ket Of mist at any time. Yesterdays
fog began to make about & am. and by
daylight 1t was 30 thick on the river
that vessels passing within fifty feet of
each other were hidden from sight. 1t
came. however. after most of the steam
boats had arrived and locked here, caus-
ing little annoyance except to tugboat
masters who had to take tows out in It,
The few sailing craft scheduled to leave
port Yesterday remained at anchor until
the winds and falling rain thinned the
mist The fog this morning was light
and gave no trouble.
Strange conditions prevail on the Po-
tOmac river and the veteran fishermen
are at a loss to figure it out. In the
small scrap fish thrown upon the fish
wharf from the run boat Grace that is
bringing the catch of the Windmill point
nets to this city. were several crabs.
the net with the fish. Windmill point is
but about forty miles below this city.
and 1t Is only in midsummer that crabs
are Ordinarily caught there, and while
crabs and the catching of them SO far up
the Potomac. at this season, the fisher
men say is something unprecedented. The
fishermen are prepared nowadays to be-
lieve almost anything.
To bring back another raft OF pine
piling which will be used in building the
new quay walls at the navy yard the
tug James o. Carter of the Taylor fleet
left hero yesterday morning for Deco
guam. Va. The raft. which consists of
about go pine sticks from 40 to 80 feet
long, was at Occoquan waiting the COM
ing Of the tug, and 1t is supposed that
she started up the river with them last
night. and should arrive Ter some time
to night or in the morning. This Is the
fourth or fifth raft of piling that has
been brought to this city from Occoquan
for the navy yard work.
Reports being received from the trap
net fisheries operating nets in the vicin-
ity Of Pohick and Dogue creeks. Va.
state that they have been making good
catches Of rock. perch and catfish. al
though only about half the nets are in
position. Most Of the fish caught in these
nets is sent to the market here, but
portion is also shipped to
the Baltimore, Philadelphia and New
York markets.
Arrivals.
Sloop Enola. oysters in the shell from
the Potomac beds at 18th street wharf
for the market: Bryants lighter at 11th
street wharf to load oyster shells for the
crushing plant at Alexandria: sloop
Gertrude, at oyster wharf with oysters in