Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-28

The Potomac is still running. and the
Surprise is still plying between George
town and Alexandria But new names
come into view. a steamboat called
the Union IS running between wash
ington and Norfolk, and one called the
Paul Jcnesy (hurned about 1S4o) Is en-
i,4sed in traffic between Washington
and Potomac river landings.
The Columbia, built in 1890 has be-
gun her long service on the river. and
in 1897. and possibly earlier, is found
to be running between Washington ana
Baltimore. She was then commando
his death. In 1852. was succeeded by
Capt Harper. In the thirties we catch
a glimpse of the names of the steam
boats from Washington connecting
at Aqua creek. They are the Pow
hatan, Chesapeake. Augusta and Sid
ney. They may be old boats and may
have been running on this route In
those years when the names of the
steamboats, on the steamer-stage line
were not given in the public announce
ments.
You catch sight Of the names of Charles
Mitchell Silas Reynolds and Aleck Nc
Causland as captains in this line.
In lS4s, the steamboat Mount Vernon is
running and in 1S47 the Baltimore. Also
in the forties one sees the Phenix, Capt.
Peter Jones, and later commanded by
Capt james Guy, and at about the umc
of the outbreak of the civil war COM
manded by Capt. L. A. Ryther. one OF
the steamboats, of the early forties was
the Joe Johnson, named for the man who
commanded her, and as this man was
the commander of the Dandy. the joe
Johnson had probably succeeded that
ancient craft. Capt. Job Carson, who
had been a mate in the Phenix. succeeded
Capt johnson on the Joe johnson. That
steamboat sank at Alexandria before
the civil war and some of her timoers
were dredged up about twenty-five years
ago while deepening a slip. The Phenix
was sold of the river and her tate Is
not known In the early forties the Os-
ceola was running between Washington
and Baltimore and she was succeeded by
the Express, which many Washingtonians
will recall. In 1913 a steamobat-the
Salem-was carrying passengers and also
towing sailing vessels on the Potomac.
J.
The Thomas Collyer. Capt Samuel Ba-
ker. and the George Washington began
their career as acknowledgements
ferryboats in the early fifties. the Collyer
also making regular trips to Mount Yer
non Later she ran excursions to ely
mont and other river resorts. The Coll
yer and George Washington were sue
ceeded as ferryboats by the Union and
the George Page.
Coming up to the time of the civil war
you will find these names Of steamboats,
plying on the Potomac-the James Guy.
the Mount Vernon, the William Sheldon.
the c. C. Alger, the St Nicholas, the
George w. Riggs. the Flying Cloud. the
Herald, the Alice Pride. the Cygnet and
the Champion.
In 1850 the steamers L. J. Brengle.
Capt w. II. Ritter, and the Antelope,
Capt B. j. Wells. were making regular
trips on the Chesapeake and Ohio canal
between \, ashington. Harpers Ferry and
Shepherdstown. In 1885 the steamer Key
port, Capt. Frank Hollingshead, ran from
Washington Belle Plains landing, con-
Meeting there with a stage. which ran to
Hamiltons station. connecting there with
trains to and from Richmond.
The advertisement of the keyport says
that "by this route passengers will have
an opportunity of viewing Mount Vernon
by daylight and also passing over many
battlefields." George Mattingly was the
superintendent of the line.
In 1866 the steamers c. Vanderbilt and
the Express were operating between
Washington and Baltimore, stopping at