Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-06-06

menia did not seem to realize the error
of her ways. but gloried in the fact that
she was fast. Whenever she happened
to be travelling in the same direction
with any other boat she insisted on
showing that she was the fastest thing
on the Potomac. And she believed IN
racing! Notwithstanding all these vices
-:astness. pride in her own capacity
and her fondness for racing-the Ar
menia lived ito ripe old age" as the
saying goes. even though she did come
to tragic and untimeLy end. But then.
some of the slowest and most humble
boats on the river-boats that would not
race, even though jeered at and whistled
at by other boats-went up in smoke.
The Armenia was born and brought up
in fast New York set. as is shown
by the following copy of an advertise
ment In a New York newspaper in 1861.
sent to the Rambler by Mrs. Gustav
Voigt of 500 H street:
Day boat for Albany and Troy-The new and
fast steamer Daniel Drew leaves Jay street at
o'clock am Tuesdays. Thursdays and Satur-
days The Armenia leaves Harrison street at
Am. Mondays. Wednesdays and Fridays. call
ing at 30th street. Excursion tickets good to
return for one week be had the above
boats al great reductions.
The Rambler has one reference
which says that 1.-The Aida made her
appearance in the same year as the
Armenia-1847." OF course. there may
have been several Armenias or the
same Armenia may have been rebuilt
several times. But the Armenia that
we knew on the Potomac gave out
the impression that she had been an
intimate friend of such fast boats as
the Daniel Drew. Mary Powell.
Chrystenah, New World. Isaac New
ton. Francis Skiddy. Rip Van Wrinkle.
mr.
the Cornelius Vanderbilt. And. by the
way. mention of the boat New World
recalls to the Rambler that there
was a boat of that name. and no
doubt the same boat. in the Potoms C
river in 1865. The Rambler digs the
following, out of the Star of Satur-
day. May. IS. 1868:
The large and unusually fine boat the New
World. which has been anchored IN the stream
near Alexandra for many months past went
ashore Wednesday at Smiths inlet near
Point Lookout. where she had been carried for
nse floating hospital. The New World
is about 800 feet long and four stories high.
The last accounts represent that several boats
were trying to pull her out of the mud
In the early sos the Armenia ran
between Washington and Lower
Cedar Point and Blackstone Island.
That island had been converted into
pleasure resort by Ed Abner. whom
everybody in Washington knew. OF
course. you used to go to Abners
Garden. on E street between 7th and
Sth, to listen to the music and for
other reasons which would be shame
flu; to name in this time of drought.
The Rambler's old friend. Gus Bruehl.
who has worked on The Star longer
than the writer of these l.otes. recalls
to the Rambler that Count Mitkiewitz
was associated with Ed Abner in the
Blackstone Island venture and that
Harry Bowers was for some time cap
tain of the Armenia. Harry Bowers
was a son of the celebrated actress,
Mrs. D. P. Bowers, who after her re-
tirement from the stage conducted
the St. Marc Hotel. on the north side
of the avenue between 9Th and 7th.
streets. But the Rambler believes
that he will close at this point and
return fo the s,lhiect next Sunday