Evening star., 1938-10-23
In The Star
Fifty Years Ago


interview printed in The Star Of October
o,d p;u.u 20, 1888. with Capt. Bob
"Ao "i'ei Walters. who first traded
Boats. In the Potomac River in
1885 and was still ac-
lively engaged in navigation:
Il first landed in this city in 1885,
when about 16 years Of age. and fire.
quently traded here. for say five years,
running on vessel from Somerset Coun-
ty, Md, to Baltimore, Richmond, Nor
folk, Fredericksburg and this city. Then
the steamer Paul Jones was running on
the river. but she was burned few years
later. A steamer called the Surprise ran
between Georgetown and Alexandria
some 10 years before the Jones, but l
don't remember having ever seen her, or
the Union, which ran to Norfolk. She,
and most of the early craft, carried sail
as auxiliary to steam. As have stated,
I was about 16 years old when I first
became acquainted with the waters Of
the Potomac, but soon learned the busi-
ness. I commenced in the pilot house
about 1841, and have been running ever
since. OF course, you remember the
Phenix and the Joe Johnson-the first
commanded by Capt. Peter Jones, so long
the proprietor of Jones Hotel the old
three-story brick building which stood SC
long under the bank at the foot of Tenth
street. The wharves for the steamers
were, until about 1850. near the foot Of
Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and Thirteenth
streets. and it was q good place for a
hotel. Considerable business was then
done IN the Eastern Branch. Capt. James
Guy, who died few years ago in Alexan.
dria, had the Phenix after Capt Jones.
The Joe Johnson. which bore the name OF
the captain and afterward was in charge
OF Capt. Job Carson. was the mate of the
Phenix. These boats ran on the AleXan-
dria ferry from about 1887 till late in the
Sos. The johnson went to pieces in
Alexandria and some of her pieces were
raised a few years ago by Agnew when
dredging. The PheniX was sold away
from here. / believe. The Salem was
brought here in 1843 or 1874 by the
Dodges of West Washington for towing
purposes. They were then engaged ex-
tensively in the West India sugar trade,
and the Salem was mostly used for tow
Ing vessels to and from West Washington,
She, however did some service As q pas
senger boat, and under the command of
Capt. Baker was once in the Government
service, having early in the SOS taken
on a force OF men who captured the
schooner Pearl, engaged in carrying run
away slaves from the District.
But must not forget to tell you about
the boat whose name in olden times was
household word in the District the old
Columbia, built, believe, about $780, but
repaired, broadened and heightened until
she was the most commodouS boat on
the river. Capt. James Mitchell who
died in 1862, was her commander when I
first knew her In 1887, and she ran be-
tween this city and Baltimore, stopping
at every landing on the river. Capt.
Harper succeeded Capt. Mitchell, and the
latter died in 1862. She was sold to
Baltimore men and was there few years
ago. There was, too, the Osceola, with
the f1gurehead of that famous Indian
chief. She ran from the 40s down to
about the commencement of the war and
made weekly round trip each to Balti-
more and Norfolk. Afterward we had
the Express, running from Baltimore, and
she was lost in the Chesapeake q few
years ago.
About 1850 the Thomas Collyer came
here and next the George Washington,
both running as ferry boats to Alexan-
dria. Subsequently the Collyer made
regular trips to Mount Vernon. The
Washington was the smartest boat of her
inches ever handled on the river About
1850 George Page built her near the foot
OF Seventh street, the first of the present
style Of ferry boats, the Union and the
George Page, which were put on the
Alexandria line. A short time after the
William Seldom came here, but ran only
a short time on excursions and In the
river trade. Capt. Fairbanks and had
charge OF her afterward, when she ran
between Baltimore and Fredericksburg
Subsequently she was sold to parties at
Hampton, Va. She was burned at Nor
folk some years since. When I came
here the great Southern route was by
water to Acquia Greek, and the boats
there connected with the trains of the
Richmond & Fredericksburg Railroad.
The line was composed Of the Chesa-
peake, Augusta and Sidney, the last
named being relay boat. The Powhatan
came in as one of the Southern line in
1843. She was built expressly for winter
travel and had, believe, the first steam
whistle"