A Chronology of the Cape Fear…
Cape-Fear
Navigation Company.
-----THE Directors of the Cape Fear Navigation
Company, having in discharge of the duties of
their appointment, provided Boats, Flats and all
necessary fixtures to enable them to carry into
effect the provisions of their Charter, and having
nearly expended in the purchase of young prime
negroes, the balance of the first Instalment on the
Stock, are compelled to call on the Stockholders
for an additional payment on their respective
Shares. They trust, that with the aid of the
present requisition, they will be enabled to make
not only a profitable advance, towards the
clearing of the North West Branch of Cape Fear,
from Fayetteville to Wilmington, but such an one
as will insure the patronage and interest of the
Public at large.
The little, that the shortness of the time since
they prepared for work, has permitted to be done,
justifies ### ### to the Stockholders that the
result of their exertions will be beneficial.
They therefore give NOTICE, That an
instalment of Ten Dollars on each and every share
held in the Cape Fear Navigation Company, will be
payable to the Treasurer in Fayetteville, on the
first Monday in November next, who will on the
receipt thereof issue the necessary Scrip.
The STOCKHOLDERS will observe that a
forfeiture of Shares is provided for by Charter in
case of non payment agreeably to Notice.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
J. W. Wright, Treasurer.
Fayetteville, Sept. 28.
34 5
------
Stock for Sale.
Cape-Fear Navigation
Stock, offered.
Enquire of the Printer.
October 10, 1816
35tf
[The American – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday October
17, 1816]
Notice to Flat Builders
------
AT the Town House, on Monday the 25th inst.
At 4 o’clock, P. M. will be let to the lowest
Bidder, the building of Two Flats for the use of
the Cape Fear Navigation Company, of the
following description:
48 feet long,
10 feet wide,
10 feet rake,
Sides 2 feet high, to be made of one piece, or two
securing them with wagged bolts.
Three Kelsons, each 12 inches wide and 6
inches thick.
To be plank’d across with 2 inch plank, and
lined fore and aft on inside with 1 ¼ inch plank.
Sides to be 5 inches wide on the gunwale, and
the ends banded in a sufficient manner with iron.
ALSO, the building of two other Flats, on the
following description.—
30 feet long,
6 feet wide,
6 feet rake,
Sides 1 ½ feet high, 3 inches on the gunwale.
One Kelson, 5 by 10 inches.
To be planked across and lined with 1 1-2 inch
boards, inside.
Ends banded with iron.
J. W. Wright, Sec’ry.
Fayetteville, Nov. 14.
1w
[The American – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday November
21, 1816]
W. F. & B. SALTER,
Hay-Street,
Opposite Mr. John MacMillan’s,
Are receiving by Mr.
Mitchell’s Boat,
11
Hhd’s West-India and
Northern RUM
15
Bags of COFFEE
SUGAR
Swedes IRON
Window GLASS.
They are selling their STOCK of Silk, Cotton &
Woollen GOODS, at New-York Auction prices.
Fayetteville, Nov. 21.
41tf
[The American – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday, December
5, 1816]
Notice.
THE Public are respectfully requested to take
notice, that in carrying Merchandize or Produce
between Wilmington & Fayetteville ### to or from
either place, the subscribers will not in future be
liable to any of the rules applicable to common
carriers, nor be responsible for any loss or damage
happening to property placed on board their
Boats, unless occasioned by the want of ordinary
care and diligence in the commander and crew.
Duncan Thompson, Clark & McNeill,
John MacMillan,
L. Newby,
H. Branson,
P. I. Tillinghast, jr
Winslow & Huske,
James Mitchell,
Norman McLeod,
Sam’l Pearce & Co.,
James Baker,
Will. H. Bowen,
Campbell & Waddill, Kelly & Evans,
McNeill & Kirkland, Yarbrough & Hart,
Alexander Campbell.
Fayetteville, Jan. 30, 1817.
[The American -- Fayetteville, N. C. -- January 9, 1817]
Lots for Sale
IN HAYWOOD.
THE Cape-Fear Navigation Company having
commenced the improvement of the river above
Fayetteville, invite the attention of Merchants and
Mechanics to the town of Haywood. The lands on
which the town is laid out were purchased by the
company several years ago, and part of the lots
were then sold in considerable number of the
residue of the lots will be exposed to sale on the
premises, on the 4th and 5th of September next, on
a credit of six and twelve months. This town is
situate near the centre of the state, at the
confluence of the Haw and Deep Rivers,
convenient to the greatest part of the tobacco and
wheat country which have trades to the Cape
Fear. The company expect that within less then
two years, a commodious navigation will be
opened to this town for boats carrying fifty
hogsheads of tobacco. They assure the public that
no exertions will be spared on their part to effect
this object. Preparations are now making by
sundry individuals to erect bridges across the
rivers, and to establish extensive Brick Yards at
this place. Several Carpenters are about to settle
themselves in the town, and the Company hope
that persons disposed to establish themselves
there will meet with no difficulty in procuring
either materials or workmen.
H. BRANSON, President.
July 10, 1818
24 7t
[The American -- Fayetteville, N. C. -- Thursday July 23,
1818]
STEAM-BOAT NOTICE,
[BOAT IMAGE]
CAPE-FEAR RIVER.
THE following arrangement has been adopted
for
the transportation of produce and
merchandize by the Steam-Boat Henrietta,
between Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Produce will be received on board the
Henrietta at Fayetteville, and landed at the
Steam-Boat Wharf in Wilmington, free of wharfage
in both places—And , if required, will be received
in the Steam-Boat Warehouse in Wilmington, free
of storage for the first week; subject, afterwards,
to a charge of half the usual rates of storage.
Merchandise will be received on board the
Henrietta at the Steam-Boat Wharf in Wilmington
free of wharfage.
Merchandize received at Wilmington, and
intended to be forwarded by the Henrietta to
Fayetteville, may be landed at the Steam Boat
Wharf, and will be received in the warehouse free
of charge for wharfage and storage.
RATES OF FREIGHT,
INCLUDING TOLL.
Down.
Cotton,
Tobacco,
Flour,
per Bale,
“ Hhd.,
“ Bbl.
55
$2 40
33
Flaxseed,
“ Cask,
73
Up.
Salt, coarse, per Bushel,
12
Ditto, fine,
“
do.
10
Sugar, over 1250 lbs. Hhd. 325
“ under 1250 “
“
275
Molasses,
per Hhd.
275
Rum,
“ “
275
Iron,
“ Ton,
450
Boxes and bales, “ Cubic foot 15
JAMES M’KAY & CO. Fayetteville,
TIMOTHY SAVAGE, Wilmington.
Fayetteville, N. C. Nov. 7, 1820.
}
} Agents
38 tf
The editors of the New York Evening Post, and
Charleston Courier are requested to give the
above four insertions in their respective papers
and forward their accounts to this office for
collection.
[Fayetteville Gazette – Wednesday November 22, 1820]
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
PURSUANT
to the Provisions of the Act of
Incorporation, notice is hereby given, that the
Annual meeting of the Stockholders of the CapeFear Navigation Co. will be holden at the Town
House in Fayetteville on Monday the 3rd. day of
June next, at which time presence of the
Proprietors, on {or} their Representatives, is
requested.
ROBERT STRANGE, Pres’t.
Fayetteville May 1,
[The Gazette -- Fayetteville, NC -- May 29, 1822]
COMMERCIAL REPORTS.
ARRIVED—On Sunday, Steam Boat North
Carolina, with 29 hhds. molasses; 14 hhds. and 5
bbls. sugar; 6 hhds. and 18 bags coffee; 2 hhds.
and 42 bbls. rum; 6 bbls. oil; 6 bags spice; 125 ps.
pot metal; 395 bars iron; 80 bundles steel; 296
share moulds; 3 hhds. 8 casks, 221 bbls. and 44
boxes sundries.
Tow Boat Eliza Neal, with 1350 bushels salt;
and Tow Boat Gen. Jackson, with 1500 bushels
salt.
The Henrietta departed on the 23d, but we
could not obtain the list of freight.
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Morning, March 31, 1825]
We participated, on Tuesday last, in one of the
most agreeable parties of pleasure which it has
ever been our good fortune to enjoy. Capt. Rush,
of the Steam boat Henrietta, had politely invited
a number of ladies and gentlemen to take an
excursion in the boat about 12 miles up the river.
The boat left the wharf a little after 10 o’clock,
when about forty ladies and gentlemen had
assembled. There being fine music on board, the
younger part of the company commenced dancing,
in which delightful amusement they were
engaged, with such intermissions as pleasure
suggested, till the boat returned, at 7 o’clock in
the evening. Refreshments, of the best kind,
were provided in the greatest profusion. All was
enjoyment, all was happiness, no single accident
or circumstance occurring to cast a shade on the
brow or leave an unpleasant emotion on the heart
of any.
We take this brief notice of the excursion, for
the purpose of returning the thanks of the
company to Capt. Rush, for the very polite and
gratifying attentions which they received at his
hands.
------COMMERCIAL REPORTS.
ARRIVED—On the 1st. inst. Steam Boat
Henrietta, with 15 hhds. and 2 bbls. sugar; 27
bags coffee; 2 hdds. and 1 bbl. molasses; 25 bbls.
whiskey; 40 bbls. rum; 547 bars Iron, and 3
bundles chains; 201 hides; 30 pieces bagging; 11
rolls leather; 4 crates and 1 cask crockery; 83
boxes, 15 casks, 5 bales, 12 barrels and 19 trunks
sundries.
Tow Boat Commodore Perry, with 2409 bushels
salt and 2 hhds. molasses.
DEPARTED—On the 1st. inst. Steam boat North
Carolina, with 25 hhds. and 35 kegs tobacco; 247
bales cotton; 299 barrels flour; 14 boxes; 15
barrels; 3 hhds.
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Morning, April 7, 1825]
Labourers Wanted
On the CAPE FEAR RIVER, between
FAYETTEVILLE AND WILMINGTON.
IT is my intention to recommence the works for
the improvement of the Cape Fear river, between
Fayetteville and Wilmington, as early as the
season will admit.
Any number of laborers who choose to apply
will find immediate employment.
Owners of Negroes will do well to embrace this
opportunity of engaging them in a work where the
wages are liberal and promptly paid, the
provisions are wholesome and abundant and every
attention will be paid to their cleanliness and
health.
HAMILTON FULTON.
March 9.--tf
State Engineer
[Carolina Observer – Thursday, June 2, 1825]
MARRIED.
In this town, on Tuesday evening last, by the
Rev. H. M. Mason, Mr. Doyle O’Hanlon, of
Wilmington, to Miss Margaret Mary MacRae,
daughter of Duncan MacRae, Esq.
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Morning, October 13,
1825]
The Cape-Fear Navigation Company.—
This body held its annual meeting in this town
during the last week. The former officers were
re-elected, and a dividend of 4 per cent. Payable
on the 1st of October next, was declared.
We understand, with regret, that the Board of
Internal Improvement, ahs as yet, obtained the
services of no Civil Engineer, since Mr. Fulton
resigned.—Without wishing or intending to impute
any possible blame to the distinguished gentlemen
who now compose the Board, towards all of whom
we entertain the highest respect, we must be
allowed to express our fears, that on account of
the absence of an Engineer, the affairs of this
Company are likely to fall into the same disorder
and ruinous state as they were some years ago. It
is understood that the Dredging Machine is at work
below Wilmington, that two persons are engaged
at a salary of $1,000 each, to superintend working
hands on the river above Wilmington, and that one
hundred labourers are or will be engaged to work
under them, and the whole of this work, and all
this expenditure, is going on without any Engineer
to direct the operations.
Will no experience teach us wisdom? Are the
resources of the State and the Company always to
be frittered away in expenditures which avail
nothing?
If the Board of Internal Improvement are
unable to procure the services of a competent
Engineer, it would be much better, we think, to
suspend all work on the river until they can do so,
than to employ men who are not Engineers and
who will probably do more harm than good.—We
are recollect how many thousand dollars were
expended on the river while Messrs. Abernathy, &
Co. were the superintendants, but none of us can
point out any benefit from their work. The truth
is, that civil engineering is a science not to be
learned in a day, and it is worse than folly to be
employing men in that department who know
nothing about it. It cannot be denied that the
spirit of internal improvement has suffered a
retrograde motion in this State. This has been
ascribed to the want of success in the works
heretofore begun. But is a failure in the beginning
to operate as a perpetual bar to further effort?
Because complete success has not attended our
first designs, are we to retire from the work and
abandon it in despair? Will not the example of
other countries, and of other States in our
country, animate us to further and to higher
efforts? Shall we shut our eyes to the splendid
example of New York, to what Ohio, Virginia,
Maryland and Delaware are doing? Is NorthCarolina always to be in the rear of the march
towards wealth and improvement? With a hardy,
industrious, and patriotic population, with a
climate as salubrious as any in the world, with a
soil naturally good, and highly susceptible of
improvement, with numerous rivers and water
courses which might be made navigable, and with
a rich treasury, shall we not diligently improve
those means which a beneficent Creator has
bestowed upon us? Shall we be contented to see
our population gradually decreasing by emigration
to the Westward, to see our produce waggoned to
the neighboring States to build up their towns, or
to see it sent to their cities to swell the amount of
their exports?
If no feeling of personal
convenience will animate, us, shall we be
insensible to state pride? What North-Carolinian is
there who does not feel the glow of mortified
pride when he is told that the little State of Maine
exports domestic produce, annually, to the value
of $964,664, while our exports are only $553,390?
And that Alabama, of yesterday’s growth, exports
upwards of $138,500 more than we do?
We shall resume this subject again soon.
[North Carolina Journal – Wednesday, June 7, 1826]
In our number of June 7th, in speaking of the
Cape-Fear Navigation Company, we expressed our
regret, “that the Board of Internal Improvements
had not employed a Civil Engineer, and our fears,
that for the want of one, the affairs of the
Company would again fall into disorder; that two
persons, as we understood, were engaged at a
salary of $1,000 each to superintend hands
working on the River, and that 100 labourers were
or would be engaged to work under them.” The
information, respecting the superintendants and
the labourers, was obtained from a gentleman of
the highest respectability, who is a Stockholder in
the Company, and was present at the meeting.
The matter was openly spoken of both in and out
of doors, and formed, we believe, the subject of a
memorial or remonstrance from the Company to
the Board of Internal Improvements. But the
Editors of the Register say that it is “not correct,”
that two superintendants of the work on CapeFear are engaged at a salary of $1,000 each.” As,
we presume, this is semi-official information, we
must consider it as correct, though it is a matter
past controversy, that the Cape-Fear Company, at
their late meeting, believed that Hinton James
and Otway Burns, Esquires, were engaged as
superintendants at $1,000 each, and that each
was to have the charge of a gang of 50 hands; and
under the influence of this belief, and of the
“fears and apprehensions” of the fallacy of this
policy, they unanimously adopted a resolution
instructing their Board of Directors to
“memorialize the Board of Internal Improvements
upon the necessity of procuring a Civil Engineer as
soon as practicable, and to represent to them, the
probably ruinous consequences to the interests of
the Company, and the cause of Internal
Improvements at large, of expending any money in
opening the river until a suitable Engineer is
employed.’ Thus you see, gentlemen, that “fears
and regrets” were not confined to our bosoms, but
were felt by all those most immediately interested
in the navigation of the Cape-Fear.
That the public may understand why the CapeFear Navigation Company deemed it expedient to
memorialize the Board of Internal Improvements
on this subject, it may be necessary for us to
state, that in the Session of 1823, the General
Assembly passed an act authorizing the Board of
Internal Improvements to subscribe, on behalf of
the State, the sum of $25,000 to the capital stock
of the Cape-Fear Navigation Company, on
condition that the Stockholders should give their
assent to a reduction of the Capital Stock from its
nominal value of one hundred dollars for each
share, to a sum not exceeding fifty dollars per
share, and that “the President and Directors of
the Company shall consent, in writing, that the
Board of Internal Improvements shall have the
sole and exclusive direction of the operations of
the works, the making of contracts for the same,
and all the improvements to be made on the
River.” Be it remembered, that at this time the
State had in its employment an Engineer who
stood high in public confidence, and there was
every expectation that he or some other Engineer
would continue to be employed, until the great
work of Internal Improvement was effected.—
Under these views, and with these expectations,
the Stockholders of the Company did, in February,
1824, accept of the proposition of the State, and
upon the required terms; so that from that time,
to the present, the Board of Internal
Improvements “have had the sole and exclusive
directions of the operations of the works, the
making of contracts for the same, and all the
improvements to be made on the River. “ The
Navigation Company know, by dear bought
experience, how idle, how worse than idle, how
ruinous it is to have “superintendants” working on
the river with a gang of hands under them, unless
their operations be directed by a skillful and
competent Engineer. Year after year had they
ried the experiment, and although their
“superintendants” were industrious, and as
“intelligent,” and as “efficient” as any which are
now employed, it always resulted in abortion and
loss—thousands of dollars were spent, and for
want of the requisite practical skill, the
navigation of the river, instead of being amended,
became more dangerous and troublesome. Hence
they could not perceive, without regret that the
Board of Internal Improvements, even without the
lights which their experience had shed upon them,
were pursuing the same path which always had led
to disappointment and loss.
But, say the Editors of the register, “the Board
have acted wisely not to engage, at present, a
Civil Engineer in the place of Mr. Fulton,” as
“neither the affairs of the Cape-Fear Company,
nor those of any other Company, will suffer for
the want of such an officer—for the following
reasons: 1st, Because our last Legislature was
decidedly opposed to the employment of an
engineer. 2d, Because there is no object at
present which calls for the services of one.” In
these two reasons we behold a virtual
abandonment of the cause of Internal
Improvement; and when the Secretary of the
Board, who is supposed to speak an official
language, justifies the non-employment of an
Engineer on the ground “that there is no object at
present which calls for one,” well might a Virginia
editor
exclaim
“that
North-Carolina
had
abandoned the subject of Internal Improvements
in disgust.” What! Are we to be told that because
the last Legislature were opposed to the
employment of an Engineer, that therefore the
interests of Improvement will not suffer for the
want of one? Yielding to this body all the respect
due to them, we ask, are they infallible? Is there
every act formed in the depths of wisdom?—But if
the next Legislature should not be opposed to the
employment of an Engineer, will it then be
expedient to employ one? Why this versatility of
opinion?
Why should the march of public
improvement be thus interrupted and disordered
to answer temporary purposes? Besides the shock
thus given to this all-pervading interest, we
conceive that the Stockholders in the CapeR{F}ear Navigation Company are, by the nonemployment of an Engineer, injured in their
essential rights; for we state unhesitatingly, that a
principal inducement with them in surrendering to
the Board of Internal Improvements, the exclusive
right of directing the operations on the Cape-Fear
River, was the well-grounded expectation, that
those operations, and all the contracts for them,
would be made and conducted under and by a
“competent and suitable Engineer.”
In the second reason assigned by the Editors of
the Register, why a Civil Engineer is not wanted,
we would give, as a sufficient answer for the
present, the resolution of the Stockholders of the
Navigation Company, before quoted. We have
already occupied so much space, that we must
defer what we have to say on this point, to
another time.
------Freshet.—On Monday last the waters of the
Cape-Fear rose ten feet in height, but have fallen
so rapidly since as to render the passage of Steamboats, for Wilmington to this place, still difficult if
not impracticable.
[North Carolina Journal – Wednesday, June 21, 1826]
Married,
In this Town, on Wednesday the 6th inst. By the
Rev. Mr. Hamlin, Mr. JOHN WILKINSON, to Miss ANN
MCKENZIE, daughter of Mr. John McKenzie,…
[North Carolina Journal – Wednesday, July 12, 1826]
NOTICE.
AT the annual meeting of the Stockholders of
the Cape Fear Navigation Company, in June last, a
Dividend of 4 per cent. On the Capital Stock of
said Company was declared; which dividend will
be payable on the 1st day of October next.
JOHN CRUSOE, Treas’r.
Fayetteville, N. C. Aug. 9th, 1826-t21
***Editors of the Raleigh Register will please insert
the above 9 weeks and forward their account to
the subscriber for payment. J. C.
[North Carolina Journal – Wednesday, July 12, 1826]
The Board of Internal Improvements met in this
town on Friday last, and the Cape fear Navigation
Company also held a meeting on the same day;
and after finishing their business, the Members of
the Board proceeded, on Saturday morning, in the
steam Boat Henrietta, for Wilmington, for the
purpose of viewing the river and the work carrying
on below Wilmington, and, also, the operations of
the dredging machine. Measures were taken for
resuming the exertions of the Navigation Company
to remove any obstructions which may yet remain
to a free navigation between this town and
Wilmington. We are informed by the Raleigh
Register, that the Board intend visiting the Club
Foot and Harlow Creek canal before they return,
which they are required to inspect and report on,
before the Public Treasurer is authorized to
advance the $12,000, loaned to that corporation
by the Legislature; and as this tour of examination
will detain the Governor from the Seat of
Government two or three weeks, persons having
business with him can make application to him on
his route, or, should the business be urgent, and it
not convenient to meet him, they can make
application to his Private Secretary at Raleigh,
who will dispatch an express to him.
[North Carolina Journal –March 28, 1827]
The Weather.—A great deal of rain has fallen
within the last ten days. Serious apprehensions
are entertained for the safety of the wheat crops.
Accounts from different parts of the country,
represent the prospect as rather discouraging.
The Cape Fear is now in fine boatable order.
The Steam Boats Henrietta and Cotton Plant
arrived here on Sunday night.
[North Carolina Journal – Fayetteville, N. C. – May 30,
1827]
JUST RECEIVED,
BY THE HENRIETTA,
6 BARRELS JAMISON’S FRESH CRACKERS
1barrel fresh Lime Juice
For sale by
DAVID SHAW.
May 27, 1827.—55-3t57
[North Carolina Journal – Fayetteville, N. C. – June 13,
1827]
Wilmington Sept. 23.
Launch.—On Wednesday last, was launched
from the Wharf of Mr. John K. McIlhenny, a Steam
Boat named the Enterprise, the property of Genl.
E. B. Dudley and Mr. J. K. McIlhenny. She is
intended to run as a packet between this and
Fayetteville; it is contemplated that with all her
Machinery on board, she will not draw more than
from 20 to 24 inches water, in which case she will
be able to run nearly the whole season, we hope
that the proprietors will be amply compensated
for their ENTERPRISE.
Mr. John K. McIlhenny has the greater part of
the work finished, for a Machine to beat rice, to
be attached to his Steam saw Mill.
Messrs.
William G. Beatty and Jas. S. Green, are about to
erect a Steam Rice Machine to the south of the
one already in operation, owned by Mr. Beatty.
When these two get into operation we shall have
nine Steam Machines: five Saw Mills, three Rice,
and one Grist Mill, in this place.
Reporter.
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Afternoon, October 2,
1828]
DIED,
In Chesterville, S. C., on the 9th inst. of a kick
from a horse, Mr. JOHN WILKINSON, lately a
resident of this town. By this sudden stroke of
Divine Providence, an affectionate wife is
bereaved of a devoted husband, and two small
children of a kind father. He was fully sensible
from the reception of his mortal hurt, that he
could not survive but a short time. He spoke,
being in his senses to the close of life, with
composure of his future prospects of happiness.
He had been for several years a regular
communicant in the church. May this unexpected
loss be abundantly sanctified and blessed to all
the bereaved!--[Communicated.]
------
Steam Boat HENRIETTA.
[steamboat image]
THE Subscribers having been appointed Agents for
the Henrietta Steam Boat Company, give notice to
the Merchants of this place and in the Country,
that the Steam Boat is in fine order; the Lighters
are good and sufficient, and kept always ready in
case of low water. Warehouses at Campbellton
are provided for the reception of goods and for
the storage of cotton. They assure the public,
that every attention and facility will be afforded
to render these Boats worthy their patronage.
The Subscribers will attend to the receiving
and forwarding of Goods to the interior, and to
the shipping of Cotton or other produce.
WILLKINGS & CO.
October 2, 1828.
91-2m.
[Carolina Observer - Thursday afternoon, Oct. 23, 1828]
COMMERCIAL.
------Arrived, last evening, the Steam Boat
Henrietta, Capt. Rush, with the boat James in
tow, to Wilkings & Co., Agents, with a full load of
Salt, Sugar, Coffee, dry Goods, &c., to Whitehead
& Fuller, C. T. Haigh, James Kyle, H. G. Nelson
and others.
------Departed, Feb 28, Tillinghast’s Boat Eliza,
Capt. M’Laughlan with a full load of Wheat and
Flour for R. F. Yarbrough, Saml. W. Tillinghast and
owner.
March 4th, Tillinghast’s Boat Commerce, Capt.
Tootle,, with a full load of Flour, Flax seed and
Tobacco, for Saml. Tillinghast and owners.
-------
STEAM-BOAT
[steamboat image]
HENRIETTA.
THE subscribers having been appointed
--Agents for the
Henrietta Steam Boat Company,
Give notice to the Merchants of this Place and in
the country, that the Steam Boat is in fine order,
the Lighters are good and sufficient, and kept
always ready in case of low water; Warehouses at
Campbellton are provided for the reception of
goods and for the storage of Cotton. They assure
the public that every attention and facility will be
afforded to render these boats worthy of
patronage. The subscribers will attend to the
receiving and forwarding of goods to the interior
and to the shipping of Cotton and other Produce.
WILKINGS & CO.
Fayetteville. Sept. 29, 1828 – 25t52
[North Carolina Journal – March 4, 1829]
Married,
On Tuesday evening, the 7th inst. At the
residence of Mrs. Martha Newberry, in this county,
by the Rev. Benjamin Hoskins, Mr. Augustus J.
Erambert, of Fayetteville, to Miss Martha
Newberry, daughter of the late Isaac Newberry,
Esq.
[North Carolina Journal – April 15, 1829]
COMMERCIAL.
------Arrived on the 11th inst. Steam Boat Henrietta,
Capt. Rush, from Wilmington, to Wilkings & Co.
(agents,) with Dry Goods, Groceries, Iron, &c. to
Horton, Hutton & Co., Jas. Kyle, K. T. Morgan, H.
G. Nelson, Wilkings & co. and others, of
Fayetteville, Caldeleugh & Dusenbury, of
Lexington, # Torrence & Co. of Salisbury, J. C.
Hunt, of New Castle, Wm. Lindley, of Cane Creek,
W. & T. Carter, of Chatham, and others.
Departed, on the 12th inst. Steam Boat
Henrietta, Capt. Rush, for Wilmington, with a load
of Cotton, Flour, Tobacco, Bacon, &c.
ARRIVALS FROM HAYWOOD.
Boat, Clara Fisher, owner Jno. Haralson, with
thirty Bales of Cotton, consigned to Jos. Baker.
Boats, Polly Hopkins & Pocahontas, owner
James Mebane Esq. with 90 Bbls. Flour and 9 Bales
of Cotton.
[North Carolina Journal – May 13, 1829]
COMMERCIAL.
------Arrived, on Friday, the 22d inst. Steam Boat
Henrietta, Capt. Rush, with the boats Jackson and
Eliza Neal in tow, to Willkings & Co, agents, with
Salt, Sugar, Coffee, Groceries, Dry Goods, &c. to
C. T. Haigh, Jno. Huske, Horton, Hutton & Co, K.
T. Morgan, Jno. M. Dobbin, Jas. Baker, G. W.
McDonald, J. W. Baker, Wm. Nott, Jordan Howell,
Henry McLean and F. Smith—also, Turner &
Philips, Hillsborough, Johnson & Hargrave of
Orange county, J. Small and G. Warmoch, of
Pittsborough, and M. Buie.
Departed, on the 24th inst. Steam Boat
Henrietta, Capt. Rush, with the Eliza Neal in tow,
with Cotton, &c.
ARRIVAL FROM HAYWOOD
Arrived, on the 26th boat Clara Fisher,
belonging to Jonathan Harralson Fl### with
Cotton, consigned to Joseph Baker Esq.
-------
NOTICE.
ON Thursday the 28th inst. Will be sold at Public
Auction at the Town House in Fayetteville, for
Cash, Thirty Four Shares of Cape-Fear Navigation
Stock. For further particulars apply to
JOHN CRUSOE.
Fayetteville, May 16.—tds.
[North Carolina Journal – May 27, 1829]
COMMERCIAL.
------Arrived on Friday evening, May 29th, the Steam
Boat Henrietta, Capt. Rush, with the Boat James
in tow, to Willkings & Co. agents, with Salt,
Molasses, Coffee, Crates, Nails, Rice, Sugar, Dry
Goods to Tho. J. Curtis, W. Whitehead, Horton,
Hutton & Co. L. J. Pardee, Hall & Johnson, R. F.
Yarbrough, John M. Dobbin, Thos. Fuller, C. & P.
Mallett, Jo. Baker and C. T. Haigh, of this place,
Caldeleugh & Duzenbury of Lexington, Jno.
Murphy of Salisbury, and Jo. Gales & Son, of
Raleigh.
Departed, on the 27th ult. Tillinghast’s boat
Commerce, with Cotton, Flour, Wheat and
Tobacco.
Departed, on the 30th ult. J. Waddill, jr’s. boat
Post Boy, with Cotton for O. P. Stark; Flour and
Cotton for owner, and Cotton for C. T. Haigh.
Departed the Steam Boat Henrietta on Sunday
morning, 31st ult.
[North Carolina Journal – June 3, 1829]
Notice.
AT
a meeting of the President and Directors of
the Cape Fear Navigation Company, holden in
Fayetteville, on the 21st day of November last,
(pursuant to a Resolution of the Stockholders of
said Company, passed at their last annual
meeting) it was Resolved, that a Dividend of two
per cent. On the original capital stock, and on the
amount expended by the Board of Internal
Improvements,
between
Fayetteville
and
Wilmington, be, and the same is hereby declared,
payable at my Office in Fayetteville, on the first
day of February next.
JOHN CRUSOE, Treas’r.
December 14, 1829.
54t1F.
------
Take Notice.
WHEREAS,
persons owning lands on the banks of
the Cape Fear River do frequently, and contrary to
law, fall timber into the said river, and thereby
obstruct the navigation, and involve the Cape Fear
Navigation company in considerable expense in
removing the same—Therefore, this is to give
notice, that from and after this time, the said
company are determined to prosecute to the
uttermost extent of the law, all persons so
offending; and reward of Five Dollars will be paid,
on conviction, of any person giving information of
the same to the Subscriber. By order of the
President and Directors.
JOHN CRUSOE, Agent.
December 17, 1829.
54-2m.
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Morning, December 24,
1829]
----------
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT.
----------
REPORT
Of James Mebane, Esq., concerning the Works on
the Cape Fear River, for the year 1829.
------To the President and Directors of the Board
For Internal Improvements in North
Carolina.
GENTLEMEN:
As Superintendent of the public works on the
Cape Fear River during this year, it has become
my duty to give you some account of the progress
made in that work. I would in the first place
remark that the difficulties we have had to
contend with, have been greater than we had
anticipated. The first and not the least of these, I
would mention, was that of obtaining and keeping
in the service good hands. Having learned by the
experience of last year, that it was very difficult
to have employed, at all times, a sufficient force
of good able hands, by hiring them monthly, and
that it was very difficult to keep white hands
under proper discipline, I made an effort to hire
negro men by the year; and for that purpose got
agents to attend the negro hirings in most of the
counties near the works; but had the mortification
to learn, that guardians and owners would not hire
their hands to work in the water, and was then
compelled to hire such hands, and for such periods
of time, as I could, but in no instance for less than
one month. Hence it happened that we had many
very indifferent hands, and their time would often
expire and they leave us by the time they would
become much skilled in their work; and if they
could learn that we considered them as good
hands, and the work was pressing, they would
demand an increase of pay, or leave us. Another
serious obstacle to the progress of our work, was
high freshets in the river, which prevented the
hands from working for many whole days, and
some weeks, during the spring and summer
months. This was accompanied by sickness, which
prevailed among the hands at one time, to an
alarming degree; so much so, that several of them
forsook the works. We lost two by sickness, and
had the misfortune to have one drowned.
But notwithstanding these difficulties, I trust it
is not going too far to say, that very important
improvements have been made during this year on
the Cape Fear river between Fayetteville and
Haywood.
Indeed we have a tolerable good
navigation the whole distance between these two
places, which is probably by water near sixty
miles. For although much remains to be done
before the navigation is as good as it can and
ought to be made for boating, but especially for
rafting; yet all those places in the river, which
have formerly been viewed as the worst, or so bad
that they could not be rendered navigable, are
completed, and can now be safely passed in boats
either down or up stream. And what remains to
be improved, are very many places, which
although not near as bad or difficult to improve as
those which have been completed, will yet require
a great deal of work. It is doubtless very well
known to your honorable Board, that the lands on
and near the Cape Fear river and its branches, are
covered with an immense quantity of the most
valuable timber, and that for many years great
quantities, both in plank and scantling, as well as
in tun {??} timber, from near and below
Averasborough, have been rafted to Wilmington.
Very few have ever attempted to descend the
whole of Smylie’s Falls on rafts; and of the few
that have made the attempt, all have done so at
the risqué of their lives, and frequently with the
loss of their rafts. I have not heard that any have
ever attempted to descend Buckhorn Falls on
rafts. Hence it has so happened, that those
people who live below these Falls, have enjoyed
the advantage of sending their lumber to
Wilmington by water, such as reside above them,
have been entirely cut off from this market.
There is no obstruction to the passage of rafts
down any part of the Cape Fear in time of high
water, but what is called Smylie’s and Buckhorn
Falls. These obstructions are numerous large
points of rocks, which project above the water at
its common height, in some instances six or eight
feet, but gradually less. They appear in different
places for some two or three miles in Smylie’s
Falls, and probably for one fourth or one half a
mile in Buckhorn Falls. Rafting in Cape Fear is
never attempted above Fayetteville but in time of
high waters and all that is necessary to give the
rafts a safe passage over these Falls will be to
blast off the tops of these rocks level with
common winter water, in a proper direction, so as
to form a clear passage of something more than
one hundred feet in width. Some of the raftsmen
say that the sluice should be so wide that a raft,
when the foremost end happens to strike a rock,
should have sufficient space to wheel quite round,
for they cannot be stopped in these rapids; and if
in wheeling the other end should also strike a
rock, the raft must be destroyed or broken, and
the lives of the hands endangered.-- It has been
found on examination, that these projecting rocks
are generally surrounded by deep water, so that
after they are shattered by a proper use of
gunpowder, they can, by means of iron crowbars,
be easily thrown into the water, where they will
be entirely out of the way. This work can be done
when the weather is too cold and the water too
deep to work in the boat sluices, and when the
hands could not be otherwise well employed.—On
this account many of the projecting rocks in
Smylie’s Falls have been blasted off during the
past season. And it would seem, that for this
reason, as well as for the great importance of the
work, a raft as well as a boat navigation should be
made on this river. But it is believed, that
although the balance of the funds now on hand
may be sufficient to complete the boat navigation
to Haywood, it will not be equal to the expense of
making a raft navigation also. Whilst speaking of
what remains to be done on this river, I hope it
will not be considered as going beyond my
province, if I solicit the attention of the Board to
the branches of the Cape Fear above Haywood.
It seems to be admitted generally, that the
Cape Fear is one of the most important rivers of
our State, and has justly, heretofore, obtained the
first attention of our Legislature; and that
although much money hath been wasted by
unskillful and badly directed measures yet that, at
this time, it is in a progressive state of
improvement, which promises, at no distant day,
to realize the hopes of the friends of Internal
Improvement in our State; and to make it what it
seems by nature to have been intended for, the
great thoroughfare, through which all the produce
of the middle, and many of the western counties
of this State will be conveyed to the Atlantic.
From Wilmington to Fayetteville, we have an
excellent navigation for vessels properly
constructed, and from Fayetteville to Haywood,
enough has been done to prove, beyond a
reasonable doubt to those who will take the
trouble to inform themselves properly, that, as
good a descending, and not very inferior ascending
navigation will soon be had for the kind of boats
suited to such rivers.—Above Haywood we have
the Deep and Haw rivers, and New Hope creek; all
of which are capable of being made navigable for
many miles.
The Deep river, in its course,
approaches the Yadkin and affords, probably, the
most convenient route through which to turn the
products of the country bordering on that stream
to a market within the State. The Haw river is a
rocky stream, but will, at no great expense, afford
a pretty good sluice navigation for many miles.
The New Hope creek is a deep flat stream, with
very little fall, with no obstructions to the passage
of boats for a great part of the year, but logs
which have either fallen or been thrown into it,
and a few mill dams, and can easily be made
navigable to a spot within nine miles of
Hillsborough.
One powerful inducement to improve this
stream, is the immense quantity of excellent
timber which grows on and near its banks,
especially of white and red oak of the best quality
for staves. The people living on and near this
stream, encouraged by the certain prospect of
good navigation from Haywood to Fayetteville,
have lately held several public meetings, with a
view, in some way, to effect its improvement; but
it is doubtful whether they will be able to
complete so large and important a public work
without the aid of the Legislature and the Board
of Internal Improvements. It is well known to your
Board that these streams are all included within
the charger of the Cape Fear Navigation Company;
and it is equally well known that that company
has not the improvement of the river under its
control, and that its funds are by no means equal
to its completion. Would it not, then, be best
that it should be called upon to surrender these
branches of the river either to the State, or such
other companies as the General Assembly may
incorporate for their improvement? Or that
instead of dividing the tolls collected on the river
among the Stockholders, they apply them to the
improvement of the several branches thereof,
under the direction of your Board? But before this
can be cone, the General Assembly must consent
that the dividends accruing to the State from
stocks held in this company, and now appropriated
to the Literary Fund, may be applied to his
subject also.
--But I must leave this subject to those who have
entrusted to them the power of providing the
ways and means of promoting the internal
improvement of the State, and proceed to give
you a more particular account of the work done on
the river this year.
On the 17th day of January, Mr. Keen, the
overseer of this work, arrived at Buckhorn Falls,
with his family, and about the 21st commenced
building cabins for the hands, and a smoke house
to preserve his provisions. By the last of January,
we had about twenty-five hands, and the number
fluctuated from twenty to near forty; but we
usually had about thirty. As soon as the necessary
houses were built, they began to get timber for
the locks, and to excavate the lock pits and
basins. The following is an account of the work of
different kinds: Excavated 3 lock pits, 98 feet
long and twenty-five feet wide; the upper one 4
feet deep; the middle one 8 feet deep; and the
lower one 8 feet deep likewise. Nearly all this
excavating, as well as that of the basins, was done
in a very close, compact white flint gravel, which
nothing but a sharp pointed pick would penetrate.
Some part of the middle lock, and 4 feet of the
lower one, for the whole length, had to be blasted
through very hard rock. From the lower lock to
the river on Buckhorn creek, blasted 3 feet deep,
13 feet wide, and twenty-five feet long.
Excavated 2 basins; the one extending from the
upper end of the lower lock to the lower end of
the middle one, is 32 by 28 yards. The upper
basin, at the entrance of the upper lock, is 34 by
25 yards. Thirty-six feet on one side of this basin,
and cross the old canal, is secured by a stone wall
of solid masonry thirty-six feet long, well puddle
in front. Likewise made an embankment on the
upper side of the locks, level with the bank of the
canal, which extends towards the river 60 yards,
and up the canal forty yards, protecting the locks
from any freshet that may overflow the low
grounds between the canal and the river. The
canal was nearly full of drift wood, which with the
great quantity of mud and gavel that had washed
into it for the fifteen years that have passed since
it was dug, was cleared out for 700 yards, and
several hard rocks, that had been left when this
canal was first made, were blasted, and with
many loose rocks, taken out. Built three locks 98
feet long, ten feet wide and ten feet high, having
about four feet left each, so as to overcome a fall
of 15 feet, all the posts, plates and gate frames of
the locks are of good lightwood, and all the plank
of the best heart pine, without sap, well kiln
dried, and nailed on with twenty penny nails.
Besides this, there has been a considerable
quantity of work done at [at – repeated] Buckhorn
Falls, in repairing the dams across the Buckhorn
creek, the many sluices that make into the river,
and the dam that extends across the river, to one
end of which was added 30 feet. Since the locks
were completed covered boats have passed
through them both up and down, and they promise
to answer the purpose for which they were
intended very well.
After the locks were completed, the hands
were removed to Smylie’s Falls, near Averasboro,
where they had in the first place, to erect a house
for Mr. Keen’s family, a smoke house and kitchen;
and then, whenever the water was low enough,
they were engaged in blasting rocks, and making
sluice dams, &c.
The following is an account of the work done
on that part of the falls called Stewart’s Stand, or
Hodge’s Falls:
Built one towing wall of stone, 252 feet long, 4
feet high, 6 feet wide at the bottom and 4 at top,
laid in rough masonry.
One wing dam on the left hand, 36 feet long;
one on the right hand, 52 feet long; two left hand
do, one 194 fee long, and the other 50 feet do.
Blasted and cut out a channel 200 yards, 50 of
which was done last year. Blasted down, at the
same place, three large ledges, and some points
of rocks for raft navigation. One of these ledges
was eight feet high, 50 feet long and 20 feet wide.
At the place called Harralson’s Landing—Built
one towing wall of stone, 342 feet long, six feet
wide at bottom and four at top, laid on rough
masonry; one side wall, averaging three feet wide
and three feet high, 605 feet long, built of the
same materials, and in the same manner; blasted
a channel through hard stone, 300 feet long and
12 feet wide, averaging two feet deep; cut and
quarried through a soft rock and gravel, 300 feet
long, averaging two feet deep and 12 feet wide;
blasted down one ledge, 60 feet long 30 feet wide
and 3 feet high, for rafts. One day’s work with 27
hands, blasting and removing large stones and
pulling up fish stands and dams.
At Shaw’s Falls—Built one towing wall, 204 feet
long, 6 feet wide at bottom and 4 as top, and five
feet high; one side wall, 50 feet long; cut out a
channel in soft rock, 15 feet wide, 204 feet long,
averaging two feet deep; blasted down 3 large
ledges and some points of rocks for raft
navigation. Having now completed the last very
bad place in Smylie’s Falls, the hands were
removed to a fall near Norrington’s mill, where
they made 1 set wing dams, 6 set hand dams, 100
feet long; eight hand dams, 40 feet long; one side
dam, 42 feet long; one do. 164 feet long; one
check dam, 155 feet long; one ledge about 3 feet
long and 10 feet wide.
Blasted through the
Harmon rock ledge, 12 feet wide, 12 inches deep
and 15 feet long; and removed some gravel, logs
and promiscuous rocks, by blasting, for one half
mile.
Soon after the work at Norrington’s mill was
completed, it became necessary to dismiss the
hands, for this year, on account of the sicknessof
Mr. Keen, the overseer.
I have now, gentlemen, given you a general
description of the work done on the Cape Fear this
year, although many small pieces of work are
omitted. The amount of expenditure, including
about five hundred dollars expended the last year,
and for which vouchers had not been obtained
previous to my settlement with the Board in
November, 1828, is $4,759.45, exclusive of one or
two small sums for which I have not had it in my
power to procure vouchers, and which, when
obtained, will be very inconsiderable. I flatter
myself that the work done has been both well
planned and executed, and that it is in a great
degree proportionate to the expense.
For
whatever success may have attended the labors of
this year, we are much indebted to the practical
knowledge, persevering industry and integrity of
Mr. Keen, the overseer. All the boats and canoes
belonging to the Company, are secured in the
basin, at the entrance of the locks; and the tools,
tents, iron, steel, gun-powder and provisions, on
hand when the hands were dismissed, are
carefully put away in a secure house at Buckhorn
Falls, and will be ready for use whenever the
works may be resumed.
I remain, gentlemen, most respectfully, your
obedient servant,
JAMES MEBANE, Superintendent.
[North Carolina Journal – Fayetteville, NC – January 6,
1830]
Duncan G. MacRae,
Steam Boat Agent, Wilmington, N. C.
Has a large Wharf with convenient Ware
Houses, for the storage of cotton and other
produce.
December 16, 1829.
55-4w
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Morning, January 7, 1830
TAKE NOTICE.
THE
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders of the
Cape Fear Navigation Company will be holden in
Fayetteville on Friday the 4th day of June next, at
which time and place, the Stockholders are
requested to attend either in person or by proxy.
JAMES MEBANE, President.
April 28th, 1830.
-t’12
------A meeting of the President and Directors of the
Cape Fear Navigation Company, will be holden in
Fayetteville, on Thursday, the 3d day of June
next.—Members of the Board are particularly
requested to be punctual in their attendance.
By order
JOHN CURSOE, Sec’y.
April 28th, 1830.
***Editors of the Raleigh Register will insert
this and send a paper to Jas. Mebane, Esq. Mason
Hall, Orange County.
[North Carolina Journal – Fayetteville, NC – May 12,
1830]
The Cape Fear Navigation Company had their
annual meeting in this Town last week.
We understand that the Stockholders
determined to declare no Dividend for the last
twelve months.
All the officers of the Company, of the last
year, were re-elected, except John Crusoe, Esq.,
Agent and Treasurer, who declined reappointment.
George McNeill, Esq., was
appointed in his stead.
[North Carolina Journal – Fayetteville, NC -- June 9,
1830]
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
-----COLLECTION OF TOLLS.
WHERAS
the Cape Fear Navigation company at a
general annual meeting of the Stockholders, held
in Fayetteville, July 1819, proceeded to establish,
in conformity to the provisions of the charter, the
following Rates of Tolls upon commodities
transported on the Cape Fear, between
Fayetteville and Wilmington, of which public
notice was at the time given. All persons whom it
may concern, will therefore
[pointing finger image>] TAKE NOTICE,
That from and after this date, agreeable to a
Resolution of the President and Directors of said
Company, the lower edge of Tillinghast’s Landing,
on the Cape Fear River, at Campbellton, is fixed
on as the point at which all Boats ascending and
descending the river between Fayetteville and
Wilmington, shall pay the Tolls levied by the
Ordinance aforesaid.
The amount of Tolls
estimated at the annexed Rates, will be required
to be paid to the Agent and Collector of the
Company by the master or owner, before the boat
will be permitted to pass. And in order to
facilitate the collection of the tolls, and prevent
delay of the boat, it is required of the Skipper or
owner of the boat, to keep a correct list of the
freight taken on board, a true transcript of which
must be delivered to the Agent and Collector at
the point designated. On failure to comply with
these requisitions, the boat will be subject to
detention, and the expense of the examination
will be a charge against the owner of the boat, to
be collected with the tolls. The following section
of the charter will be rigorously enforced against
every oat attempting to pass without paying the
tolls, to wit: “And if any vessel shall pass without
paying the tolls, then the said Collectors
respectively, may lawfully seize such boat or
vessel, and sell the same at auction for ready
money, after advertising the sale at least ten
days; the money arising from which sale, so far as
is necessary, shall be applied towards paying the
said tolls and all expenses of seizure and sale, and
the balance, if any, shall be paid to the owner;
and the person having the direction of such vessel
shall be liable for such tolls if the same is not paid
by the sale aforesaid.”
The following are the Rates of Tolls established
by the Company, to wit:
RATES OF TOLL DOWN THE RIVER.
On each and every hhd. Of Tobacco,
20 cts.
bale of Cotton,
10
barrel of Flour ,
3
bushel of Wheat,
1
bushel of Corn,
1
barrel of Spirits,
5
cask of Flaxseed,
7
All other articles 10 per cent. On the amount
of freight, to be established from the printed
Rates of the 7th August, 1825.
RATES OF TOLL UP THE RIVER.
On each and every bushel of Salt,
1 ct.
On each and every pipe or hhd. of Spirits }
Sugar, Molasses, Crockery, Hardware, } 25
Dry Goods, or other articles,
}
On each and every ton of bar Iron,
20
barrel of Merchandize,
5
tierce of ditto,
10
tierce of Lime,
5
Dry Goods and other packages of Merchandize
on articles not enumerated, 10 per cent. On the
amount of freight, by the printed Rates of the 7th
August, 1825. By order of the Company,
GEO. McNEILL, Agent.
September 16, 1830.
||94-6w.||
[Carolina Observer – Thursday Morning, September 23,
1830]
MARRIED.
In this vicinity, on Sunday evening, the 26th
ult., by Rev. Mr. McInnis, Capt. BENJAMIN RUSH to
Miss ETTA K. MOONEY.
[Carolina Observer – Tuesday Evening, July 5, 1831]
To Country Merchants and Planters.
[steamboat image]
THE Proprietors of the
Henrietta Steamboat Company having large and
commodious Wharfs and Ware Houses in
Campbellton, their Agent in Fayetteville will
receive and forward Produce to Wilmington, and
Goods from Wilmington for Country Merchants and
others
free
of
Storage,
Wharfage
and
Commissions, if shipped in the Company’s boats.
All Goods and Produce landed on the
Company’s Wharf in Wilmington, and shipped on
board the Company’s boats, will be free of
wharfage and storage. Produce stored in the
Company’s Warehouses, and not shipped by their
boats, will be charged two thirds rates.
JOHN CRUSOE, Fayetteville,
JEREMIAH LIPPITT, Wilmington,
Agents.
Fayetteville, 22 August, 1831.
42-2m
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC – Wednesday
Morning, August 24, 1831]
A new steam boat, called the John Walker, was
launched at Wilmington, (N. C.) on the 10th inst.
She is a large boat, and is intended to ply between
that place and Fayetteville, and occasionally tow
vessels to sea.
Charles. Gaz
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC – Wednesday
Morning, November 23, 1831]
Notice.
ALL
Persons are hereby notified, that we the
Subscribers, Proprietors of the Henrietta Steam
Boat Company, have given a general Power of
Attorney, to Mr. John Crusoe, to settle the affairs,
and to act in future as our Agent to manage the
concerns of said Company.
BENJAMIN RUSH,
SAMUEL F. NELSON.
Fayetteville, August 4th, 1831
40-tf
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC -- Wednesday
Morning, December 14, 1831]
The new Steam Boat John Walker, Capt. Patrick,
from Wilmington, made her first appearance here,
on Saturday last. We had ### to pay her a visit,
but it is agreed on ###nds that she is calculated to
make a valuable addition to the means of
communication ### our sister town. She departed
on Monday for Wilmington.
The Henrietta, Capt. Taws, which arrived Monday
forenoon, brought goods which had been shipped
from New York only five days before.
She
unloaded nearly a full cargo, and ### again on her
way to Wilmington the same ###ng, having been
stopped here only about ###n hours. We hope
Judge Seawell will #### himself of these facts,
when he makes his next speech on the subject.
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC – Wednesday
Morning, December 21, 1831]
Notice.
THE
Boat ELIZA NEAL and FURNITURE, attached
to the Steam Boat John Walker, and used as a
tender for the conveyance of freight, having been
seized by the Cape Fear Navigation Company,
agreeably to the provisions of its charter, for a
forfeiture incurred by a refusal to pay the Tolls
due theron, the said Boat will be exposed to sale
at the Campbellton Landing, on Saturday, the 21st
inst., at 12 o’clock, to satisfy the debt due to the
Company.
Terms of Sale cash.
GEORGE McNEILL,
Agent of the Cape Fear Nav. Company.
January 11, 1832.
63.
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC – Wednesday
Morning, January 18, 1832]
NOTICE.
ALL persons are hereby notified, that I the
Subscriber have given a general power of Attorney
to John Lippitt, to act in future as my agent.
SAM. F. NELSON.
December 31, 1831.
61 3m.
-----Notice is hereby given,
THAT the power of Attorney appointing John
Crusoe Agent of the Henrietta Steam Boat Co.,
and signed by Benjamin Rush & S. F. Nelson,
proprietors of said Company, is revoked as far as
respects the Subscriber’s interest in said
Company.
SAM’L F. NELSON,
Per JOHN LIPPITT, Attorney.
January 3, 1832.
61-tf.
-----[pointing finger image]
NOTICE.—The public are
hereby notified, that Mr. John Crusoe is the sole
Agent of the Henrietta Steam Boat Company, and
that he is alone authorized to make contracts, and
receive payments for freights. Persons having
transactions with the Company, will please govern
themselves accordingly, as no other agency, or
authority will be recognized as valid.
BENJAMIN RUSH,
For the Henrietta Steam Boat Company.
Fayetteville, Jan. 4.
62-tf.
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC -- Wednesday
Morning, January 25, 1832]
STEAMBOAT STOCK for sale.
[steamboat image]
On Monday, the 2d day of
April next, will be sold at Public Auction at the
Town House in Fayetteville, on half of the
HENRIETTA STEAM BOAT, her three Tow Boats,
CLARENDON, ONLY SON, and MESSENGER, and the
Flat SPIDER, being one-half of the Capital Stock of
the Henrietta Steam Boat Company, incorporated
in 1827 and 1828, for twenty-one years. The
above Stock will be sold in any number of Shares
to suit purchasers. The Henrietta has undergone a
thorough repair last Fall, and the Tow Boats are
all nearly new and in good repair.
Any
information required can be obtained by
application to the Subscriber. Terms made known
at sale.
JOHN CRUSOE, Attorney
of B. Rush, Proprietor.
Fayetteville, February 6, 1832.
66ts.
-----[pointing finger image] NOTICE.—Persons having
claims against the Henrietta Steam Boat Company,
will please present them to the Subscriber on or
before the 15th day of March next.
JOHN CRUSOE, Ag’t H. S. B. CO.
Fayetteville, February 6, 1832.
66ts.
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC – Tuesday Evening,
February 7, 1832]
Important Decision. – At our Sup’r Court now in
session, Judge Norwood presiding, came on the
trial of an Indictment, State vs. the Captain and
Agent of the John Walker Steam Boat, for an
Assault and Battery, alleged to have been
committed by them on a person employed by the
Agent of the Cape Fear Navigation Company, in
assisting him to enforce the collection of Tolls, by
a seizure of the Boat. A verdict was rendered for
the State subject to the opinion of the Court, on a
case agreed. The facts, so far as we could gather
them, were these:
The Collector of the tolls, who is also the general
Agent of the Company, had demanded the tolls
due by the Boat, on merchandize brought up the
river from Wilmington to Fayetteville, at a point
below Campbellton Landing, which had been
designated by the Company as the place where
tolls should be collected, and which was well
known to the Captain of the boat. The boat
refused when hailed to come to, but proceeded on
her voyage, until she arrived at the wharf, her
usual place of discharging her cargo. The collector
went on board the boat immediately, the next
morning, accompanied by force, he again went on
board to enforce the collection, by a seizure with
intent to sell the boat for the dues then unpaid.
He was resisted by the Defendants, and the
assault and battery was committed which was the
subject of the Indictment.
The
case
turned
principally
upon
the
Constitutionality of that part of the charter, which
gives to the Company the right of enforcing the
collection of the Tolls by a seizure and sale of the
Boat. A variety of questions arose in the progress
of the cause, involving the true construction of
the act of 1815 (the act incorporating the
Company;) and whether if the Legislature had a
right Constitutionally to grant such a power, the
authority had been regularly exercised. For it was
admitted that if the Legislature had power to pass
the Act, and the provisions contained in it, had
been strictly pursued, the Collector was justified
in his entry upon the Boat, and the Defendants
would be Guilty.
It was contended on behalf of the Defendants,
among other things, — that the Boat could not be
seized for the tolls due on the merchandize
conveyed in her: — that the right to exact tolls
accrued to the Company, only from the use of the
Canals, Locks, and Sluices, and as there were no
artificial constructions of this description on the
Cape Fear, between Fayetteville and Wilmington,
tolls could not be demanded for using the ordinary
navigation of the river: — that if the seizure was
not made before the boat passed the point
designated for the collection of tolls, she could
not be seized after she had been suffered to pass,
and had arrived at her place of destination: — and
that as the Act incorporating the Cape Fear
Navigation Company, had copied certain sections,
and re-enacted them, of the Roanoke Charter, and
in the clause of that Act authorizing the collection
tolls had designated “a point at or near the Falls
on Roanoke” and no other, the Cape Fear
Company was confined to that place, and would
be held to a strict construction of her powers, as
to the time, place, and manner, in which the
franchise granted to her, should be exercised.
On all these points, his Honor Judge Norwood was
against the Defendant. But on the main question,
whether the act of incorporation, as to this
remedy given for collection, did not contravene
the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, he agreed
with the Defendants, and gave judgment in their
favor. His Honor remarked, that in his opinion the
Legislature had transcended their authority, in
conferring on the Company a power to collect
their tolls by a seizure and sale, as it had the
effect of constituting them Judges in their own
cause, and enabled them to ascertain for
themselves the amount of their demand, and issue
execution for their debt, without affording to the
other party an opportunity of controverting their
claim, or contesting its lawfulness, either as to
the sum demanded, or the manner of enforcing it.
— That he had no doubt that it was competent for
the Legislature to have directed a seizure of the
Boat, on a failure to pay the tolls, if it had taken
care to have secured to the Boat owner some
mode by which he might have had his defence
heard and passed upon. If for instance, it had
allowed the party whose property was seized to
replevy , and upon giving security at appear to the
County Court, where he might have an issue made
up, and tried by a Jury, before he was divested of
the possession of his property, it would have
clearly been within the constitutional scope of the
Legislature. But as by this summary made of
proceeding, the right of Trial by Jury had been in
fact, and virtually denied to the defendants, the
Law, so far as this particular remedy was
concerned, was unconstitutional, and therefore
void. The Judge also noticed argument which had
been urged for the prosecution, that the State ,
being largely interested as a joint corporator, and
having assumed to herself by the act of 1823, the
entire control and management of the
improvements on the river, and deriving from it a
considerable revenue for the support of
Government, might direct the mode in which that
revenue should be collected, in the same manner,
as she enforces any other branch of taxation. But
in reply, he denied that the State had any right to
delegate her sovereignty in this particular to any
individuals, — that she could not authorize any
corporation, whether public or private, to collect
money to be expended upon other than public
purposes; — and that her interest in the Company
constituted her no more than an individual private
corporator.
We do not pretend to give any thing more than a
mere outline of his Honor’s argument. The case,
we understand, will go up to the Supreme Court,
and its final decision will settle the law upon a
point, which it is important to the rights of the
Company which it is important to the rights of the
Company and the Boat owner, should be clearly
understood.
[Carolina Observer – Tuesday Evening, May 15, 1832]
Wilmington, Aug. 11, 1832.
[steamboat image] THE Subscriber returns his
thanks to all those that have given him freight
between Wilmington and Fayetteville of their own
free will and accord. The Fall Goods are now
coming on—the Steamer John Walker has started
this day and will continue to run while the water
holds up.
Every exertion will be used to take the freight
up, as it is a known fact the injury to goods lying
in boats on the river, is not only a great risk to the
owner of the Goods but a serious loss on account
of the delay, and my opinion is, that the goods are
more safe lying in the ware house than tied up in
a boat lying on the river that cannot stem a
freshet.
I offer you a new Boat, with a skilful Captain,
that does not draw but 36 inches with a common
load in, and with her hold full and a deck load on,
does not exceed four feet.
I hold myself
responsible for the good condition of my boats as
well as the good conduct of her officers, every
thing connected shall be properly attended to,
dangers of the river excepted.
No distinction will be made about freight, light
or heavy—it will be taken as it comes, without any
Jockeying; for hereafter to obtain freight.
I hereby feel it a duty to state to shippers of
Cotton, I care not who it comes to, who it came
from, or in whose boat it came down, it is
notorious that it lays on the wharves in
Wilmington taking in the rain to the injury of the
grower, the owner and the market that the article
goes from.
I am preparing to put up suitable sheds for the
protection of this valuable article from the
weather: the advantage to be derived from this
plan the Country Merchant is as well aware of as I
can inform him. The Agent for the Steam Boat Mr.
D. G. MacRae will receive and ship at the same
rates as other consignees are in the habit of
doing, it matters not whether it comes in my
boats or others, the business will be promptly and
effectually attended to. Opposition is the life of
trade and I like a fair one, I cannot afford to work
for nothing, neither can my agents. Another
important question—but I am the principal in this;
about the payment of freight—some of my
acquaintances have been very slack in stays—they
will take due notice, I am to be paid for freight on
its being called for, as soon as the bills can be
made out after delivery. Rates of freight the
same as published in April last. For the faithful
performance of what I promise I refer all that
want information to
GEN. E. B. DUDLEY,
J. K. McILHENNY,
P. K. DICKINSON,
A. & J. MACRAE.
DOYLE O’HANLON.
August 27.
96-2m.
[Carolina Observer – Fayetteville, NC – Tuesday Evening,
October 9, 1832]
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE ANNUAL MEETING of Stockholders in this
Company will be held in the town of Fayetteville,
on Friday 29th inst., (May.)
JAMES MEBANE, Pres’t.
May 5th, 1835.
35-6w
------
NOTICE.
A
MEETING will take place at Haywood, on
Tuesday 26th May, 1835, with the view of forming
a new Company to render the Cape Fear River and
its tributary streams navigable above Fayetteville.
Such persons as feel an interest in effecting the
same, are requested to attend said meeting.
Haywood, 24th April, 1835.
34-tw.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday Evening, May 19, 1835]
Notice to Merchants and Consignees.
WHEREAS, difficulties
have arisen on the subject
of the delivery of Goods at the Fayetteville Boat
Landing, the undersigned, engaged in the
transportation of Goods, in boats of various
descriptions on the Cape Fear River, deem it
proper to remind all whom it may concern, that
their undertakings in transporting Goods from
Wilmington on the River extending farther than
the Fayetteville Boat Landing. We therefore give
this Public Notice, that after the delivery of Goods
the regularly licensed Town Wagons, Drays and
Carts, and to all other vehicles used commonly for
the transportation of Goods from the Fayetteville
Boat Landing to the Town, that our undertaking is
fully completed.
Furthermore, we invite all
persons who do not approve of this disposition of
their Goods on their arrival at the Boat Landing,
to come forward by themselves or by other
persons whom they may authorize, and receive
their Goods in person at the place of discharge.
We hereby express our willingness to adapt any
other plan for the delivery of Goods which
Merchants and Consignees may think proper to
adopt or suggest, so that the same may operate
generally, and accomplish the desired end with
the most beneficial consequences to all
concerned, provided that no further burdens or
inconveniences are thereby imposed upon us, to
extend beyond the undertakings we are lawfully
bound to perform, in the prosecution of the
boating business on the Cape Fear River. After
this Notice we ##### the trouble of hunting up
Goods which have been our #####ed in ######
#### our willingness to give such information as all
times our Books may afford.
DOYLE O’HANLON,
#. #. TILLINGHAST,
HALL & JOHNSON.
October 12, 1835.
####
[Fayetteville Observer – October 13, 1835]
Take Notice.
THE
public are hereby notified, that we the
Subscribers, Proprietors of the Capital Stock of the
Henrietta Steam Boat Company, have nominated,
constituted, and appointed James Hart and A. W.
Horton, Esquires, our true and lawful Attorneys
for us, and in our names, to receive all moneys
due said Company, and grant #### for the same,
and to pay all moneys due by said Company. All
persons having claims will please present them at
as early an opportunity, as possible, to those
gentlemen.
BENJ’N RUSH,
JOHN CRUSOE.
January 9, 1835
19tf.
------
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
A
DIVIDEND of ONE DOLLAR per share on the
capital stock, will be paid on the 1st September at
the Office of
GEO. McNEILL, Treasurer.
July 7, 1835.
[Fayetteville Observer – October 27, 1835]
44tf
COMMERCIAL RECORD.
----ARRIVED, Jan. 31st. Steamer Wilmington, of the
New York line, with lighter Peter Ross in tow, with
Molasses and Salt, for Wilkings & Belden, and
others.
Also, Jan. 28th, Steamer Henrietta with
Messenger and Only Son, in tow, with Goods, for
sundry persons of this place and the interior.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, February 2, 1837]
COMMERCIAL RECORD.
----ARRIVED, Feb. 2d, Steamer Clarendon, with
Passengers; and goods, for C. J. Orrell, Thos. J.
Jordan, Willkings & Belden, Geo. McNeill, Beverly
Rose, and James Sundy, of this place, and for J.
Small, W. & A. Stith, Thos. Hill, and f. J. Swann,
of the Interior.
------SACK SALT.
SACKS of Liverpool Salt now landing from
the Steamboat Wilmington,
for sale by
WILLKINGS & BELDEN.
1135
Dec. 28.
21-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, February 9, 1837]
STEAMER CLARENDON
And Tow Boats.
FOR FREIGHT OR PASSAGE,
Apply to
C. J. ORRELL, Ag’t.
Feb. 22, 1836
29tf.
-------
Steamer Cotton Plant.
[steamboat image] THE new Steamer
Cotton
Plant, in connection with suitable Tow Boats, will
commence operating on the Cape Fear River in
fifteen or twenty days. The Proprietor is now
constructing on the River bank a commodious
Warehouse, where Goods and Merchandise, to and
from the Interior, may be stored, free of charge
and in comparative safety from the danger of Fire.
Such fixtures will be connected with the
Warehouse as to land goods in better order than
formerly, and without incurring the expense of
drayage. The Cotton Plant is entirely new, with a
draft of water adapted to the River navigation,
and offers to the public the surest and most
convenient mode of Transportation. Goods and
Merchandize will be received and forwarded at
the customary rates by
DOYLE O’HANLON.
Agent at Wilmington, N. C.
THOS. SANDFORD & CO.
Agent at Fayetteville, N. C.
Fayetteville, March 10, 1837.
32tf
The Charlotte Journal, Salisbury Watchman,
Lincolnton
Transcript,
Rutherfordton
Gazette,
Greensborough Telescope, Hillsborough Recorder,
Raleigh Register, Salem Scrap Book, Ashborough Citizen
and Wilmington Advertiser will insert the above 3
weeks.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, March 16, 1837]
We are much gratified to learn, that
arrangements are in progress, for placing a small
Steam Boat on our River, to run regularly between
this place and Wilmington, in connection with the
Steamer Boston, from Wilmington to Charleston,
and the Wilmington and Roanoke Rail Road. She
will be of such light draught of water as to run in
the driest seasons, three times a week each way,
and calculated only for passengers.
-----COMMERCIAL RECORD.
{partial listing – first for Cotton Plant}
…. Also, May 4, steamer Cotton Plant, from
Wilmington, to Thos. Sandford & Co. (Agents)
DEPARTED. May 8, steamer Cotton Plant, for
Wilmington, with passengers and freight.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, May 10,
1837]
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE ANNUAL MEETING of the Stockholders will be
held on Friday, 2d June next, in the Town of
Fayetteville.
JAMES MEBANE, President.
May 15, 1837
41tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, May 17,
1837]
MOLASSES At Auction.
ON
arrival of steamer Cotton Plant, will be sold,
without reserve, for cash, at our Auction Store, 23
Hhds. Good Cuba MOLASSES.
THOS. SANDFORD & CO.
June 6, 1837
44-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, June 7,
1837]
Administrator’s Sale.
WILL
BE SOLD, on Monday the 10th day of July
next, at Public Auction, in the town of
Wilmington, N. C., on a credit of six months, all
the perishable property belonging to the Estate of
William Dougall, Esq., dec’d, viz:-2600 Bbls. TURPENTINE, (or thereabouts,) on the
Wharf, in shipping order,
17 bales Cotton,
25 hhds. Molasses,
57 bags Coffee.
ALSO, Sugar, Salt, Household and Kitchen
Furniture, Stock of Ship Chandlery, &c. &c.
--ALSO—
Schooner CAROLINE, 3 years old, coppered and
copper fastened, 189 tons, high deck, built in this
State of the most durable materials—is a fast
sailer, and in every respect a first rate vessel,
well found in every particular, and ready to
receive cargo, draws 10 ½ feet, deep loaded.
Schooner CALEB NICHOLS, 4 years old, 163
tons, high deck, built also in this State, and of
same materials as the Caroline—carries and sails
well, is well found and in first rate order, draws
10 feet, deep loaded.
Steamer WILMINGTON, not twelve months old,
built also in this State, and of very best materials,
125 feet long, 24 feet beam, 7 ½ feet hold, with
promenade deck, draws only 3 ½ feet light, has a
horizontal high pressure Engine of (80) horse
power, 19 ½ inch cylinder, 7 feet stroke, 5
wrought iron boilers of 24 feet length of 30 inches
diameter, working Jno. Kirkpatrick’s patent valve.
This Boat was built expressly for the shoal waters
of the Cape Fear River, and is well calculated for
any trade where large cargo, very light draught of
water, speed and power, are required. She has
proved to be a first rate tower.
Tow Boat PETER ROSS, 98 feet long, 16 feet
wide, 3 ½ feet deep, draws 10 inches light, six
months old, and carries over 100 tons.
Tow Boat FAYETTEVILLE, 88 feet long, 16 feet
wide, 3 feet deep, draws 6 inches light, about 4
months old, and will carry equal to 80 tons. Both
these boats have complete sets of Tarpaulins.
Also, and open FLAT, intended for very shoal
water.
At the same time will also be Hired, a number
of NEGROES, for the balance of the year.
ALSO, in Fayetteville, on Saturday the 15th
July, a quantity of Molasses, Sacks Salt, &c.
Bonds with approved security will be required,
before the property is changed. The Sale will be
continued from day to day until all is sold.
O. G. PARSLEY, Administrator.
Wilmington, N. C., June 15, 1837.
46-ts
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, July 5, 1837]
COMMERCIAL RECORD.
ARRIVED, July 18, Cotton Plant’s tow boat Lady
of the Lake, with a full load of materials for the
U. S. Arsenal, to Capt. Bradford.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, July 19,
1837]
NOTICE.
THE
subscriber gives notice to all whom it may
concern, in shipping, receiving, and paying
freights on the Cape Fear between Wilmington
and Fayetteville, that he is compelled to raise the
price or lay up his Boats.
By a careful
examination of the business of the steam boats on
our river, the Proprietors all agree, that there is
nothing made at the prices of carrying. The
expenses of the Boats are paid monthly; the Tolls
increase to an enormous amount and must be
paid. After working twelve months, by the most
rigid economy the Boat Owners are satisfied by
fair experiment, they cannot make a surplus
sufficient to repair the boats. This is the season
that the merchant is preparing to go North to
purchase his Goods, and I consider it the proper
time to advise him, at what rate I will agree to
bring his freights up. I am well prepared to do a
part of the carrying trade of the river, having a
good Steam Boat, sufficient Tow Boats,
convenient Warehouses on the bank of the river,
and will receive and forward up and down,
freights at the following rates: 25 per cent. on
the amount of the freight bill, the bills to be paid
when the Goods are delivered—all payments in
North Carolina notes.
A well qualified Agent will attend in
Fayetteville, to all business of the concern. I wish
those persons who suffered by the loss of the John
Walker, to observe this notice particularly, as it
would be a matter impossible to pay them that
loss, without an increase on the rates; also, those
persons that have given me the Agency of their
Goods, as pay day, twenty-five per cent.,
exclusive of the tolls, and cash payment, may
change the character of our understanding. All
now have due notice; ship where you please. I
offer no reference, as I have always done a
straight business and intend to pursue my old
track. Goods will always be forwarded by the first
boat.
DOYLE O’HANLON.
July 5, 1837.
48tf.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, July 19,
1837]
DIED
In this town, on Sunday, 6 inst., MARTHA ANN,
youngest daughter of A. J. and Martha Erambert,
aged 9 months 28 days.
‘Tis done! Grand Mother! Now I need
No more thy kind supporting arms,
To soothe my pains, and lull my head,
I’m going far from earthly harms.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, August 23,
1837]
BOATS For Sale.
THE
Subscriber offers for sale, FIVE POLE BOATS,
on the Cape Fear river, now lying at the
Fayetteville Landing, either and all of which may
be fitted for immediate use at trifling expense, to
wit: The Eliza, Commerce, Packet, Anna Pink and
Water Witch, carrying from about 20 to 55 tons
weight each. The four first are decked and fitted
with hatches, the latter open, and has been found
to answer the purpose of a Lighter on the lowest
water, to relieve other loaded Boats whenever
there was sufficient water to use a ferry flat.
Three of the decked Boats draw when loaded,
from two to three feet water, but with a full
ordinary freight of Dry Goods and some deck load,
will only draw from 20 to 24 inches. The largest
boat, the Eliza, will draw with an ordinary heavy
freight, about four and a half feet. These Boats
are all well constructed for the navigation of the
Cape Fear river, and are well known to run well
under Poles or in tow of a steamer, having been
used in both ways. The four lesser Boats would
suit Planters on the river above or below, in
conveying any kind of Produce to market, being
prepared to convey grain in bulk.
Reverence for further particulars, to Mr.
William O. Jeffreys, at Wilmington, or to the
Subscriber, or Messrs. Thomas Sandford & Co. at
this place.
Very low prices will be accepted for these
Boats, and ample time allowed for payment, upon
good paper.
P. I. TILLINGHAST.
Fayetteville, August 28, 1837.
56tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, August 30,
1837]
STEAM BOAT
[steamboat image>]
For Sale at Wilmington.
------THE Steamer CLARENDON, and her TOW BOATS,
Jack Downing and Henry A. Wise, will be sold at
Auction, on Monday the 12th day of March.
The Steamer was built in 1833, of best Carolina
materials, say live oak, red cedar, and yellow
pine, coppered and copper fastened.
Her length is 103 feet; beam 18 ½ feet, depth
of hold 7 ½ feet; her engine is high pressure, 40 to
50 horse power, vertical and constructed by
Watchman and Bratt, of Baltimore; her speed is
fair, and for strength and durability, she has no
superior.
The TOW BOATS,
Are well adapted to river transportation, new and
substantial. Terms, 6, 12 and 18 months credit,
with approved paper. They will be sold positively
and without reserve.
Purchasers to pay for
necessary papers.
WILL. O. JEFRFREYS, Auct’r.
The Tow Boats, it is presumed, are well known
on the river as new, substantial Boats, of great
capacity for carrying, and of light draft of water.
Any further information may be had on
application to John P. Brown or W. O. Jeffreys.
February, 1838.
81 ts.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, February
21, 1838]
BOAT ELIZA, at Auction.
ON Thursday the 15th March, at 12 o’clock, M. will
be sold before our Door, at Public Auction, the
Boat ELIZA, together with a good supply of
Tarpaulins, some Poles and Oars, and good Row
Locks, belonging to her: This Boat has been lately
fitted up for immediate use, and is now ready for
Cargo. Persons interested, are requested to view
the Boat and examine the Furniture above
mentioned, when all necessary information will be
furnished.
THOMAS SANDFORD & CO.
March 5, 1838
83 2w
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, March 7,
1838]
CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION COMPANY.
This Company held its Annual Meeting on the
1st inst. The following persons were elected
Officers for the next year:-EDW’D L. WINSLOW, Esq , President.
JAMES MEANE,
}
NATHAN MENDENHALL,
} Directors,
JOHN H. HALL,
}
C. J. WILLIAMS,
}
Geo. McNeill was reappointed General Agent of
the Company.
James Mebane, Esq., the former President,
having declined a re-election, the following
resolution was unanimously passed:
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be
tendered to James Mebane, Esq., for his long and
faithful services as President of the Cape Fear
Navigation Company.
The following articles were transported on the
River the year ending 1st May last:
DOWN.
8,838 bales Cotton,
4,625 barrels Flour,
255
hhds. Tobacco,
35
barrels Spirits,
4,981 bushels Grain,
967
casks Flax Seed,
$552 01
freight
on
articles
not
enumerated.
Tolls, $1,245 53
UP.
41,737 bushels Salt.
2,116 Hhds. And Pipes,
2,747 Barrels,
374
Tierces,
318 ½ tons Iron,
569
casks Lime,
$8,235 45 freight on articles not
enumerated.
Tolls, 2,635 71
---------$3,281 24 Gross.
Being a decrease in Tolls, compared with the
previous year, of $868 94, (and about $2000 from
the highest point the Tolls ever attained.) This no
doubt may be attributed mainly to the general
depression of trade. The decrease in the Imports.
There is an increase of Exports in the article of
Cotton 971 bales, and Flour 2046 barrels, and in
the amount of Tolls on Exports $128 03, which
shows that we are getting right—that is, that we
have sold more and purchased less than usual the
past year.
Owing to the extra expenses in removing the
obstructions carried into the River by the great
storm in August last year, and to the decrease in
the amount of Tolls, the Company did not make a
dividend as usual 1st March last.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, June 6,
1838]
Notice to Merchants.
THE
Subscriber is about to resume the BOATING
BUSINESS on the Cape Fear River, and is now
repairing among others the light draught boat
Commerce, which will be in readiness in a few
days for the transportation of merchandise.
D. G. McRAE.
August 28, 1838
7 2w
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Evening, August 29,
1838]
{Fayetteville
Observer advertisement
regarding
Thomas Sandford, moving to Vicksburg, MS about the
1st of October, 1838. Formerly in business as THOMAS
SANDFORD & CO. with S. W. Tillinghast.}
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders will be
held in Fayetteville, on Friday the 31st inst.
E. L. WINSLOW, Pres’t.
May 11
11-tf
[The North Carolinian – Saturday May 11, 1839]
[COMMUNICATED.]
CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION COMPANY.
The Stockholders held their Annual Meeting on
the 31st May. From the Treasurer’s report it
appears that the following articles were
transported on the river the year ending 1st May,
1839.
DOWN.
4,279 bales Cotton,
7,654 barrels Flour,
118
Hhds. Tobacco,
2
barrels Spirits,
6,229 bushels Grain,
1,639 Casks Flaxseed,
$977 66 freight on articles not enumerated
above.
UP.
69,309 bushels Salt,
2,273 Hhds. And Pipes,
3,225 barrels,
441
Tierces,
356 ¾ tons Iron,
1,856 casks Lime,
$14,629 09
freight on articles not
enumerated.
Being a decrease in Cotton of 4,659 bales, and
an increase in Flour of 3,627 barrels, and Flaxseed
672 casks, and shewing an aggregate increase of
up freight of 50 per cent. compared with the
previous year, (the year of general depression.)
The Stockholders have placed Cotton Yarn
among the enumerated articles, and fixed the Toll
at 5 cts. Per bale.
The Officers were all re-elected, to wit:
E. L. WINSLOW, Esq. President.
James Mebane,
}
Nathan Mendenhall, }
Directors.
John H. Hall,
}
C. J. Williams,
}
G. M. McNEILL, General Agent, Treasurer,
&c.
[The North Carolinian – Saturday June 15, 1839]
MARRIED.
In this town, on Thursday evening, by the Rev. Mr.
MacNair, Mr. A. P. HURT, and Miss MORGIANA C.
ERAMBERT, daughter of Mr. Henry Erambert, all of
this place.
The printers acknowledge the receipt of the
customary present, and wish the donors a pleasant
journey through this life, and a happy union in the
next.
[The North Carolinian – Saturday Morning, November 21,
1840]
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE Annual Meeting of the Stockholders will be
held on Friday, 2d June, 1843, in the Town of
Fayetteville.
E. L. WINSLOW, Pres’t.
May 19, 1843
The Raleigh Register will copy.
55tt
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday, May 24, 1843]
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE Annual Meeting of the Stockholders will be
held on Friday, 31st May, (inst.) in the Town of
Fayetteville.
E. L. WINSLOW, Pres’t.
May 17, 1844
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Morning, May 22,
1844]
FOR SALE.
-----The Cotton Plant Line of Steam
Boats and her Pole Boats.
-----THE Proprietor, finding his health not adequate to
the task of keeping up the Line, is determined to
sell.
The Line consists of the TWO STEAM BOATS,
the Cotton Plant and the Wm. B. Meares. The
latter is a New Boat, of 200 tons, built of the best
materials, draws when light 28 inches, and 3 ½
feet when loaded. The character of these Boats is
so well established, that further description is
unnecessary. In addition there are FOUR POLE
BOATS, two of them new and two second hand.
These are quite sufficient to serve as Lighters, and
make the Line complete, and fully adequate to
the wants of the River, either in high or low
Water. If not disposed of by the first day of June,
they will be offered for Sale at Public Auction on
that day, at the Market House in Fayetteville, on
liberal terms, to be made known at the sale. The
Books and accounts of the Line are at Mr. John
Waddill’s Store, and may be inspected by persons
wishing to purchase, and will show the value and
profit of the Business. Applications can be made
to the Subscriber at his residence, or to the
Auctioneer.
DOYLE O’HANLON, Proprietor.
E. W. WILKINGS, Auctioneer.
May 14, 1845.
58-ts
------
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE Annual Meeting of the Stockholders will be
held on Friday, 30th May, 1845, in the Town of
Fayetteville.
E. L. WINSLOW, Pres’t.
May 10, 1845
The Raleigh Register will copy.
58tm
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Morning, May 14,
1845]
DIED.
In Baltimore, on Thursday morning last, DOYLE
O’HANLON, Esq. of this place, aged forty-five
years.
Mr. O’Hanlon was a native of South
Carolina, but for about 25 years past had resided
in this place. His whole life was a model of
enterprise, energy, industry, and perseverance
under all circumstances, whether of prosperity or
adversity, sickness or health.
Of ardent
temperament, he was remarkable for the warmth
of his friendships, and the extent to which he
would go to serve a friend, or indeed any one in
distress. Many years of sickness and suffering
worked no change in these prominent traits of his
character, though they served to soften and
chasten his naturally indomitable spirit. He had
gone as far as Baltimore in search of Medical
advice, when his journey was arrested by the hand
of death. There he was attended, not only by his
devoted wife, but by warm friends, who
“smoothed his pillow of affliction and softened his
path to the grave.” These friends were once
strangers here, sick and in distress.
With
characteristic generosity, he ministered to them,
and they have sought at home to repay the debt
of gratitude thus incurred. One of them writes, “I
was with him at his last moment, and so easy was
the departure of his spirit that it was some time
before the watchers at his bed-side could
convince themselves that it had fled.”
His remains were brought to this place on
Sunday last, and were followed to the grave on
Monday by a very large concourse of citizens, and
interred with Masonic honors.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Morning, July 16,
1845]
RAIN.
We see by our exchanges that many parts of
the country which have suffered from the late
severe drought have at length been visited by
copious showers.
Here we have had abundance of rain for nearly
a week. The River rose about 10 feet on Thursday
last, but afterwards fell. It is now rising, with
plenty of water for Steamboats.
The Steamer Henrietta arrived on the 5th, with
Goods for numerous merchants of this place and
the interior. We have not room to publish the list
of consignees.
A large number of Rafts have gone down.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Morning, August 6,
1845]
Communication.
-----FOR THE OBSERVER.
Mr. Editor: Permit us a small space in your
paper, to correct a misrepresentation contained in
a communication in the Observer of last week,
under the signature of “One of the Sufferers.” He
says, “I would ask is there not enterprise enough
in the community to establish a communication
between this town and Wilmington, in the
forwarding of goods upon our river, that would
insure an effort to get the goods forward in the
low state of the river at this season of the year?
Or must they remain stored in Wilmington at the
risk of fire, to have sufficient water to run a
steamboat drawing six feet water, that it may be
more profitable for the owners of the chartered
line of oats? This has been the second season we
have been left without any effort to get goods up
on a low state of our river.”
We will now state a few facts, leaving the
public for the present to draw their own
conclusions in regard to the correctness of the
statement of “One of the Sufferers.”
For years past the Henrietta Steamboat
company has owned, and kept constantly
employed, in low water, five of the best class of
Lighters on the river, and during the present
season, two of them have been employed between
Wilmington and the cove, the other three
between the cove and this place; two of the
Lighters draw, when light, but five inches water,
and will carry, one 100, the other 170 bales cotton
in 18 inch water. We have during this season,
employed all the hands that could be procured,
and have had from 20 to 40 men in these boats at
a time. During the month of September, when the
water has been as low as it well could be, we have
delivered at our landing, one hundred and ninety-
five wagon and dray loads of goods, among which
there was over 60 hhds. Molasses for one article.
We can say that we have used all the energy and
exertions in our power, and have spared neither
trouble nor expense to forward the goods.
In regard to the goods shipped on the 9th Sept.,
they were taken with the full knowledge that
there was a large cargo in advance of them, and
that they would have to take their course in turn.
HALL & JOHNSON,
Agents Henrietta Steamboat Co.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Morning, October 8,
1845]
COMMUNICATION.
-----FOR THE OBSERVER.
Mr. Editor; I would not have again troubled
you, but for the communication of last week
signed Hall & Johnson, Agents Henrietta Steam
Boat Company, which they say is to correct a
misrepresentation under the signature of “One of
the Sufferers.” Now in writing the article alluded
to, I had no desire to misrepresent those
gentlemen or the Henrietta Steam Boat Company,
but simply to state what I believed to be a fact,
that on a low state of water they did not give that
dispatch to goods shipped by their boats which
they were bound to do by their own interests,
being public carriers, and the interests of their
patrons. This fact I believed would be attested by
many in this community.
The other circumstance, of goods shipped by
Boat Odd Fellow on 19th, and delivered on 27th
ult., while goods shipped by their Boat on 9th ult.,
were still on the river, which goods they say were
taken with full knowledge that there was a large
cargo in advance of them, and that they would
have to take their course in turn; of which I must
say I was not apprized. I would ask how many of
those goods in advance had been delivered
between the 9th ult. And 7th inst! I know of only
tow open Flat loads. Of this I complain, and in
regard to the 60 hhds. Molasses brought up last
month, but few can flatter themselves thus
favored. I hope that with the new Steam Boat
Company recently formed, and the long standing
of the Henrietta Steam Boat Company, together
with the private Boat Owners, that we shall have a
fair and honorable competition on the river, that
will insure despatch, and that we shall none
hereafter
SUFFER.
Oct. 8, 1845
-----THE RIVER—is at last in a navigable state, from
which appearances lead to a confident hope that
it will not again recede during this Fall and
winter. It rose on Saturday and Sunday upwards
of 20 feet—more rain having fallen from Saturday
morning to Sunday morning than, we think, fell
during any month for the last 18 or 20. A very
large quantity of goods for this place and the
interior may be expected up in a day or two.
We ought heretofore to have stated, that the
Steamer Wm. B. Meares, and three Lighters,
belonging to the estate of the late Mr. O’Hanlon,
were sold at auction some days ago for $11,100,
and were bought by a company of our most
wealthy and enterprising merchants, whose
arrangements are already made to run them on
this river.
A new Steamer, of very light draught of water,
built by the Henrietta Company, was launched by
the rise of water on Sunday night. She is intended
to ply on this river, and will be a material
accession to the line, especially in periods of low
water.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday Morning, October 15,
1845]
THE NEW STEAM BOAT.—The Evergreen, the
new boat just put upon our river by the Henrietta
Steam Boat company, is unquestionably the
desidera’um, so long desired, and so necessary to
the prompt and cheap transportation of goods and
produce on our waters. We are told that previous
to the late rise of water, she came up from
Wilmington on less than two feet of water, having
four loaded boats in tow, and that she did not
once touch bottom at the worst shoals. With such
boats we hope that our boat owners will not only
regain all the freight which they have lost lately in
consequence of low waters, but that low rates and
expedition will attend to them business which has
heretofore taken other directions.
By the way, a gentleman who formerly owned
and run a pole boat for eight years on our river,
informs us, that during all that time he never had
ten dollars worth of freight for a merchant in the
interior. All that kind of business has resulted
from the improvement of the river by the
Navigation Company, and the consequent
navigation by Steam Boats.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday Afternoon, December 30,
1845.]
Our Steam Boat Landing presented an
animated spectacle on Thursday last. For the first
time, we believe, there were five Steamers up at
once, all busy delivering or receiving freight,
whilst the river itself was rising with almost
unparalleled rapidity. It rose 25 feet in less than
24 hours.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday Afternoon – January 13,
1846]
The new Steamer Evergreen arrived from
Fayetteville on Sunday, and takes her station in
the Henrietta Steam Boat Line, now consisting of
three Steamers, the Henrietta, Fayetteville, and
Evergreen, and six lighters. The Evergreen is built
mainly of juniper, is 121 1-2 feet long, 22 feet
wide, 6 ft. 5 in. deep, and draws with wood and
water on board only 18 inches. She has a double
engine of 60 or 70 horse power, and measures 160
78.95 tons. This light draft boat will add very
materially to the facilities of transportation on the
Cape Fear, and it is to be hoped that hereafter
the merchants of the interior will not be
subjected to the delays and expenses which have
heretofore been necessarily incident to a low
stage of the river.
The Steamers Cotton Plant and William B.
Mears are likewise running regularly on the river,
each having a supply of lighters, so that the means
of transport for goods are ample.
Wilmington Chronicle.
-----GREATER
“Reduction in the expenses of getting goods by
the way of Wilmington and Fayetteville, to the
interior of North Carolina.”
-----THE MERCHANTS’
Steam Boat Company,
Of Fayetteville, N. C.,
TAKE this opportunity to inform Merchants and
others shipping goods by the way of the above
named places, that they have made arrangements
in Wilmington, to have all goods addressed to
their care in that place, forwarded through FREE
OF ALL CHARGES FOR STORAGE, DRAYAGE,
WHARFAGE AND COMMISSIONS, when the funds are
in hand to pay freight to Wilmington; when not,
10 per cent. On the freight bill will be charged.
And they further inform the public, that having
spacious Warehouses on the bank of the river at
this place, they will receive, and forward all goods
through, that may arrive by this line, FREE OF
CHARGE OF COMMISSION. Goods can be stored at
the river at a considerable saving of drayage, or
up town, as shippers may wish.
This Company mention in connexion with the
above, that this line of Boats has been long and
favorably known as safe and expeditious carriers
on this river, and they hope to be so known for a
long time to come.
And they remark further, that this Company’s
freight, alone, is sufficient to pay the expenses of
running their Boats, and that they, consequently,
ARE PREPARED, AND WILL FOLLOW UP, all and
every concession made to the shipping public by
any other company on the Cape Fear River.
The Merchants of this town can avail
themselves of the arrangements in Wilmington, as
they are intended alike for them as for Merchants
of the interior.
Address all goods and letters to The Merchants’
Steam Boat Co., at Wilmington and Fayetteville.
THOS. S. LUTTERLOH,
E. J. LILLY,
J. WADDILL, Jr.,
HENRY LILLY,
J. D. WILLIAMS,
H. L. MYROVER,
Merchants’ Steam Boat Company.
March 10, 1846.
1-tf
Salisbury Watchman and Greensborough Patriot
will publish 3 times, and send bill to this office.
-----Agency Cape Fear Steam Boat Company, }
March 11, 1846. }
THE CAPE FEAR STEAM BOAT COMPANY, having
thoroughly placed in order the favorite Steamer,
Cotton Plant, and being now building Lighters of
the most approved style, peculiarly adapted to
the low stages of the River, are prepared to give
despatch to Goods to Fayetteville, and the
interior, on the most favorable terms. The keel of
a new Steamer has been laid, which will soon be
completed, of such light draught of water, as to
suit all stages of the River, and which in lightness
of draught, WILL NEVER BE SURPASSED.
Goods will be received, and forwarded
promptly, through Wilmington, free of all charges
for
Storage,
Drayage,
Wharfage,
and
Commissions; and will be attended to at
Fayetteville, free of Commission. Goods can be
stored there, up town or at the river, as shippers
may desire.
The Cape Fear Steam Boat Company are
determined to carry Goods on as favorable terms
as any other Company; and from the long
experience of their agents at Wilmington and
Fayetteville, have no doubt of giving their friends
entire satisfaction.
Letters addressed to the Agents, at either
Fayetteville or Wilmington, will meet with prompt
attention.
E. W. WILLKINGS,
Agent at Fayetteville.
ROBT. G. RANKIN,
Agent at Wilmington.
2-3w
[Fayetteville Observer - Tuesday Afternoon - March 17
1846]
STEAMER EVERGREEN,
DRAWS 17 inches water, carries 750 bales Cotton.
Shippers will do well to remember this, as low water
may soon be expected.
------
REDUCTION
In the expenses of getting Goods by the way
Of Wilmington and Fayetteville to the
Interior of North Carolina.
THE Agents of the Henrietta Steam Boat Company
take pleasure in informing the merchants of North
Carolina, that they have made arrangements
(where funds are in hand to pay the freights to
Wilmington,) to receive and forward through that
place, all goods entrusted to their care, FREE of
charges for storage, drayage, wharfage and
commissions, but when no funds are in hand, 10
per cent. On freights will be charged.
The facilities of the Henrietta Steam Boat
Company for the transportation of Merchandize on
the Cape Fear River, are greater than ever before
possessed by any Company running Boats on this
river and very far superior to that possessed by
any other Company now running boats between
Wilmington and Fayetteville.
This Company have three Steamboats in first
rate order, one of which draws but 17 inches
water, and will carry freight equal to 750 bales of
cotton. The Company have, in addition to the
boats above named, six Lighters, suitable for low
water, and to run in connection with the
Steamboats.
We would respectfully invite all who desire to
get their goods forward to Fayetteville
expeditiously and safely and at very little
expense, to consign their goods at Wilmington to
HALL & JOHNSON,
Agents for the Henrietta Steam Boat Co.
March 30, 1846.
4tf
All letters directed to Hall & Johnson at
Wilmington or Fayetteville, will have due
attention. All who desire to do so may consign
their goods to Hall & Johnson, Wilmington and
Fayetteville, and due attention will be given
them.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday Afternoon April 21,
1846]
CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION COMPANY.
THE
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders will be
held in Fayetteville on Friday, 29th May.
ED. LEE WINSLOW, Pres’t.
May 16, 1846.
Raleigh Register copy.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday Afternoon – May 19,
1846]
[boat image]
[boat image]
HENRIETTA
EVERGREEN
[boat image]
FAYETTEVILLE
THE attention of the public is called to the Great
Reduction in the expenses of getting Goods by
way of Wilmington and Fayetteville to the
Interior of North Carolina. And also the great
facilities for the transportation of Goods and
Produce on the Cape Fear River by the
HENRIETTA STEAM BOAT COMPANY.
All Goods consigned to HALL & JOHNSON,
Wilmington, N. C., (with funds in hand to pay
Freight.) will be forwarded through that place
Free of Charge for Wharfage, Storage, Drayage,
and Commissions. And if consigned to Hall &
Johnson, Fayetteville, with funds in hand for
expenses, will be forwarded free of charge for
Storage and Commissions.
This Company are running on the Cape Fear
River three Steamers and six Lighters. One of the
Steamers draws but 17 inches water, and will
carry equal to 750 bales of Cotton. With these
facilities, and a full determination to spare no
pains in the speedy Transportation of Goods on
the River, they confidently ask the patronage of
the public, and pledge themselves to use their
best efforts to promote the interest of their
patrons, and may add, that Goods by their Line
will come as low as by any other. Produce from
the country will be shipped at Fayetteville and
Wilmington free of Commission.
All letters addressed to HALL & JOHNSON, at
Wilmington and Fayetteville, will have due
attention.
-----JOHN H. HALL Surviving Partner of Hall &
Johnson, has been appointed Agent of the
Henrietta Steam Boat Company, in the place of
Hall & Johnson, as in their Circulars.
The Subscriber gives notice, that all business
matters, as per annexed Circular, will have the
strictest attention; and he pledges himself to use
all possible exertion to promote the interest of all
such as may entrust their business to his care. All
letters addressed to Hall & Johnson, or to myself
will meet with proper attention.
JOHN H. HALL, Ag’t.
Henrietta Steam Boat Co.
Nov. 2, 1846
35tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday afternoon, January 12,
1847]
[boat image]
GREAT
REDUCTION IN FREIGHT,
ON THE CAPE FEAR RIVER.
Comparison in a few articles of the former and
present rates:
Former.
Present.
Box Goods, cubic foot,
8
7
Salt, sack,
30
25
Salt, coarse Liv., bus.,
10
8
Iron, ton,
3 00
2 50
Coffee, per sack,
30
25
Sugars, per 100,
17 ½
15
Castings, per 2000 lbs.,
5 00
4 00
We continue to run our usual number of Boats.
The Evergreen lost but one trip during all the last
dry season. She is unquestionably the lightest
draught of water (17 inches) running on the river.
Our present terms for receiving and forwarding
goods, as follows:
Receiving and forwarding in Wilmington free of
commission for the same. All goods consigned to
us in Fayetteville, on freight up the river, 15 per
cent. We have five safe Warehouses at the river,
where they may be stored, so as to save one-half
the hauling. Produce down the river shipped free
of commissions.
Passage, $3 up and down.
This arrangement to take effect after 20th inst.
Thankful for past favors, we solicit a
continuance of public patronage.
JOHN H. HALL, Agent
Henrietta S. B. Co.
Jan’y 18, 1847.
46tf
Salisbury Watchman, Greensborough Patriot,
and Charlotte Journal, copy 3 times; and send
paper; and accounts to this Office.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday afternoon, January 19,
1847]
CAPE FEAR
[boat image]
Steam Boat Company.
THE
proprietors of the Cape Fear Steam Boat
Company have put on the river the new Steamer
GOV. GRAHAM, to run regularly between
Wilmington and Fayetteville, at the late reduced
freights. She draws but 20 inches water having
two engines and locomotive boiler, with superior
accommodations for Passengers.
All Goods consigned to J. & W. L. McGary,
Wilmington, will be forwarded up the river free of
commissions.
All Produce from the country will be forwarded
down the river and to its destination free of
commissions.
We are now building two tow boats, which will
be completed before the Fall freights begin.
Communications addressed to J. & W. L.
McGary, Wilmington, and W. L. McGary,
Fayetteville, will have attention.
W. L. McGARY, Agent.
April 15, 1848
11-Y
The undersigned is also building a large
warehouse at the river, where he will receive and
forward all goods sent to his address, at the usual
charge, saving one-half the up-town hauling.
W. L. McGARY.
-----[boat image]
MERCHANTS’
Steam Boat Company
Of Fayetteville and Wilmington.
-----The Boats comprising this Line are
The New Steamer
ROWAN, (low water Boat)
“
“
“
W. B MEARES,
“
“
“
COTTON PLANT,
Tow Boat
ODD FELLOW,
“
“
MIKE CRONLY,
“
“
BEN BERRY,
“
“
WASHINGTON,
“
“
READY MONEY,
“
“
T. J. CURTIS,
“
“
MARY ELIZA.
THE above line of Boats continue to run regularly
between this place and Wilmington, at the
reduced rates for Freights and Passage established
by this Company, in connexion with the Henrietta
Steam Boat Company, in January 1847. Flattered
by the very liberal patronage from the shipping
and traveling public, this Company has recently
paid out several thousand Dollars Building,
refitting, and repairing Boats, and can now say
with confidence, that they are prepared to do the
Freighting business of the approaching season with
as much dispatch as is can be done by any Boating
concern. Terms as last year, viz: All Goods
shipped to care of this Company, or to the Agent
at Wilmington, will be forwarded through that
place free of commissions; all other charges to be
made to shippers.
The undersigned will forward all Goods shipped
to care of the Company at this place, on his
individual account, at the usual commissions, viz:
15 per cent. On Freight up the River
Passage each way $3.
Address all letters to J. C. Latta, Agent
Wilmington, and to the undersigned at this place.
J. D. WILLIAMS,
Agent Merchants’ Steam Boat Co.
Fayetteville, Jan. 29, 1848.
100-tf
------
FALL TRANSPORTATION
Via Cape Fear River.
[boat image] [boat image]
HENRIETTA
Steamboat Company’s Line.
THE Steamers Henrietta and Evergreen having
been thoroughly repaired, are now ready to carry
Freight up and down the River with dispatch.
Thankful for former, we solicit a continuance of
patronage.
This Line will carry Freight and
forward as low as any Line on the River.
DANIEL JOHNSON, Agent
Henrietta Steamboat Co.
Fayetteville, August 1, 1848
26tf
NOTICE TO SHIPPERS
By Henrietta Steamboat Company.
JOHN H. HALL having sold his interest in this
Company, has nothing to do with the Agency at
Wilmington or Fayetteville, either individually or
as surviving partner of Hall & Johnson. Shippers
designing their Goods to the care of our Company,
will please fill up their Bills Lading and mark their
Packages, Care “Agent Henrietta Steamboat Co.,
Wilmington and Fayetteville.”
All Letters
addressed as above will have prompt attention.
DANIEL JOHNSON, Agent.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday January 2, 1849]
[boat image] [boat image]
Spring Goods Expected.
------
Henrietta Steamboat Company’s Line.
-----AS the Spring Trade will soon commence, this
Company take this method of informing Shippers
via Cape Fear River to this place and the interior,
that we have the Steamers Henrietta and
Evergreen, Boats Ben Rush, Nelson, Diligence and
Henry Clay. All of said Boats are in good order
and condition, having been recently examined and
repaired. The Steamer Fayetteville is used as a
Receiving Boat at Wilmington. We are thankful
for former patronage, and solicit a continuance of
our old customers and a large increase of new
patrons, pledging ourselves to use our best
endeavors to give satisfaction.
We have
heretofore, in our “printed Circulars,” said that
we would carry and forward Goods on as favorable
terms as any Company on the River.—this offer is
still in force, and will be complied with.
DANIEL JOHNSON,
Agent Henrietta Steamboat Co.
Fayetteville, Feb’y 20, 1849
55tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday February 20, 1849]
HALL
& HALL, Grocers, Commission Merchants,
and Forwarding Agents, are prepared to attend to
all business entrusted to their care. Particular
attention will be given to the sale of Produce, and
the purchase of Groceries. Having commodious
Warehouses at the River and up town, they will
receive and forward all goods consigned to their
care with prompt attention, and upon as
reasonable terms as any House in the place.
Fayetteville, August 7, 1848
27-t
------
THE
Subscriber has no interest in the Henrietta
Steam Boat Company; is thankful for past favors
from the public, and will add that any Goods
consigned to him individually, at Wilmington, will
have attention, and will be forwarded through this
place by Hall & Hall.
JOHN H. HALL.
Fayetteville, August 7, 1848
27-tf
------
DIED.
In Wilmington, on the 20th inst., after a
lingering illness, Mrs. ELIZABETH RUSH, wife of
Capt. Benj. Rush, of this place, aged 36 years.
------
To Shippers by the Cape
Fear River.
[boat image]
The Merchants’ Steamboat Co.
BEG leave to say to their patrons in the back
country and the public generally, that the Boats of
their Line are all in order for the Spring business,
so that patrons of this line can and shall be as well
served, both as to expedition and price, as by any
other line of Boats on the River. Bills of Lading
should be filled up, “deliverable at the Merchants’
Steamboat Co’s Wharf, Wilmington,” which will
save wharfage to shippers.
JNO. D. WILLIAMS, Agent
Merchants’ Steamboat Co.
Feb’y 26, 1849
56tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday March 27, 1849]
To Shippers of Goods and Produce
upon the Cape Fear River.
THE
Henrietta Steamboat Company, by Circular
dated 13th Dec’r 1847, made known the Rates of
Freights and the charges for Forwarding, as
established by the former owners with the other
Company on the Cape Fear.—also asserting that
they would Freight or Forward as low as any other
Company or Firm. Having information that other
Companies have made private offers to particular
houses (or firms) that have usually shipped by our
Line, which is a reduction upon our former rates
of Freight, we hereby inform our patrons and
friends, and also all others disposed to favor us
with their business, that the Company will make a
deduction of 10 per cent. Upon all freights from
Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore, to
Wilmington.
The receiving and forwarding in Wilmington to
be free of all Commissions.
Shippers by our Line since the 1st Jan’y 1849,
whose bills have been settled, will be entitled to
the 10 per cent.; and those unsettled will have
that amount credited to their accounts upon the
Company’s books.
To all shippers upon the Cape Fear, the
Henrietta Steamboat Company take pleasure in
saying, they have good Boats in good order, and
possess such facilities as will insure to those who
patronize the Line a speedy transportation of all
Goods and Produce committed to their care.
Goods intended for the Henrietta Co. should be
plainly marked, and the Bills of Lading fitted up –
“To be delivered at the Company’s Wharf,
Wilmington, N. C.”
GURDON DEMING, Pres’t
Henrietta S. B. Co.
Fayetteville, May 20, 1849
68tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday May 29, 1849]
[boat image]
TO SHIPPERS ON THE CAPE FEAR RIVER
THE undersigned having become the sole
proprietors of the Cape Fear Steam Boat Co., are
now running the Steamer Gov. Graham, together
with her Tow Boats, and are prepared to forward
Goods and Produce with great dispatch, and on as
good terms as any other Line.
All goods sent to our address in Wilmington,
will be re-shipped free of commissions, and if
requested by the shipper, will be shipped by any
other Boat if ours is not ready to sail.
We have a commodious Warehouse near the
landing in Fayetteville, where we will receive and
forward goods for the usual commissions.
A share of the patronage of the public is
solicited.
DIBBLE & BROTHERS.
Fayetteville, August 20, 1849.
81-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, August 21, 1849]
DESPATCH LINE for WILMINGTON.
FOR the accommodation of Delegates going to the
Convention at Wilmington, on Monday the 11th
instant, the Steam Boat Gov. Graham will leave
her wharf at Campbelton on Saturday the 9th inst.,
at 1 o’clock precisely, and will be at
Elizabethtown during the night, giving passengers
from that place an opportunity to take Boat on
the morning the 10th, and will stop at Whitehall at
8 o’clock. A. M. and at the other landings on the
river during the forenoon, on her way down.
The Boat will leave Wilmington for this place,
without a Tow, on the adjournment of the
Convention.
JNO. D. WILLIAMS,
Ag’t Cape Fear Steam Boat Co.
Fayetteville, Monday, March 4, 1850.—9
-----In time—for the Convention to be held in
Wilmington 11th instant.
Steamer Henrietta
WILL leave this place on Saturday the 9th instant,
at 9 o’clock A. M., stopping at Elizabeth to take
Passengers on board.
Proceeding down, will
expect to stop at White Hall to take in Passengers
same day, and arrive at Wilmington next day.
DANIEL JOHNSON,
Agent Henrietta Steam Boat Co.
Fayetteville, March 4, 1850.
1w
------
For Wilmington.
THE Merchant Co’s Steamer, ROWAN, Capt. Hurt,
will be in readiness on Saturday next, 9th instant,
to receive Passengers for the Wilmington
Convention, and will stop at every point on the
River where Signals are held out.
JOHN WADDILL, Jr., Agent.
Fayetteville, March 5, 1850.
1w
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, March 5, 1850]
A CARD.
MR. LORING; My attention was called by a friend,
this morning, to a Card which appears in your
paper, signed by Messrs. London, Reid, Baker, and
other gentlemen of Wilmington, which , in effect,
charges me with gross neglect of my duty to the
traveling public, and all indifference to the
property of freighters committed in my charge.
These are very gross offences in one of my calling,
and if I am guilty of them, are calculated not only
to destroy the public confidence in me, and thus
take away my present means of obtaining an
honest living but also to compromise the interest
of my employers. I am constrained therefore,
however unwilling, to intrude myself upon the
public, and to beg that they will not condemn me
unheard. These charges could not well be more
loose and general. They cover indeed almost
every species of delinquency of which as an
officer of a Steamboat line, I could be guilty, but I
am persuaded that the only occasion which I have
given these gentlemen for their wholesale
denunciation of me, through the public prints, is
the fact, that they happened to have been left at
Elizabethtown last Saturday, after the Henrietta
passed that place, on her way down to Wilmington
under my command. How far I am responsible for
this accident, the public can better decide , when
they learn, that notwithstanding the inference
which may well be drawn from the suppositions of
the “Card,” no one of these gentlemen did
present themselves upon the landing, and desire
transportation upon the boat, nor did I learn that
they had any such intention, until my arrival in
Wilmington.
As soon as the circumstance was brought to my
notice by the Agents here, (Messrs. Carroll &
Fennell) I expressed my regret, for I would not
willingly disoblige them, or any one, and although
it would have been lightly inconvenient in the
swollen state of the river on Saturday morning, to
have obtained a landing at Elizabeth, and I had
not on board any freight, nor had I any other
occasion for stopping there, the fact that Messrs.
Reid, Baker, London and M. B. Smith, were in the
town, and might desire transportation to
Wilmington, would have been sufficient to have
induced me to stop the boat for their
accommodation, but so far from the truth being
that they of either of them, or any other
gentleman, were on the landing and hailed the
boat and desired a passage, as might be inferred
from the ambiguous language of their Card. I did
not even know they were in the town, or in the
vicinity.
I cannot well understand, what these
gentlemen mean, by there being “ a general and
almost universal sentiment,” (of dissatisfaction, I
presume against me; if an earnest desire to
discharge my duty, so far as my poor ability goes,
to my employers and the public, deserves
condemnation and reproach, then indeed am I
guilty, but I am indebted to them, and to the
circumstance of their unfortunate detention, for
this information. I have been for two years and
better, in the employment of the Henrietta
Steamboat Company, and it is certain that neither
my employers or my friends or myself, have known
it before. And I cannot but complain that without
giving me an opportunity for explanation or
apology these highly respectable gentlemen
should have suffered their names to be used for
the purpose of injuring an unfortunate young man,
whose sole crime is, that he has unintentionally
and innocently provoked their displeasure. And
being it is true but a poor and humble citizen, had
they not deemed it necessary to have demanded
from me an explanation, there are those here,
who would I think have satisfied them, that I am
not ordinarily so unmindful of my own interests or
those of the Company as to have voluntarily given
them or any others just cause of offence, and that
on the contrary, they might have been reminded,
that on quite a recent occasion, upon being
notified by Mr. Reid, that two of their number,
(Messrs. M. B. Smith and London.) were in town,
and probably disposed to take passage on the
boat, I waited some time, perhaps twenty minutes
after discharging all my freight, for their
appearance at the landing.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM T. EVANS,
Capt. Hen. S. B. Co.
April 11.
1w
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, April 16, 1850]
For Wilmington
Steamer “Henrietta,” Capt. W. T. Evans, will
leave her wharf at Campbellton on Tuesday next,
at 6 o’clock A. M. For freight or passage, apply to
DANIEL JOHNSON, Agent
April 23, 1850.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, April 23, 1850]
STEAMER FAWN,
WILL
ply regularly between Wilmington and
Fayetteville, leaving Wilmington at 6 o’clock
every Monday morning, touching at Elizabethtown
and other landings en route. Returning, will leave
Fayetteville at 6 o’clock every Wednesday
morning for Wilmington, stopping at any of the
landings for passengers or freight.
For freight at passage apply on board.
DAVID SCOTT, Master.
May 11, 1850.
19tf
------
Cape Fear Navigation Company.
THE
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders will be
held on Friday, the 31st May, in the Town Hall, in
Fayetteville.
EDW’D LEE WINSLOW, Pres’t.
May 8, 1850.
19
------
To Stockholders in the Cape Fear and Deep
River Navigation Company.
THE
Fourth Instalment of twelve and a half per
cent. Per share on the Capital Stock of said
Company, will be due on the 15th of June next.
B. I. HOWZE, Treasurer
C. F. & D. R. Nav. Co.
May 14
19-4w
-----NOTICE TO DELINQUENT STOCKHOLDERS
In the Cape fear and Deep River
Navigation Company.
THE Treasurer of the above Company has been
instructed by the Board of Directors thereof, to
notify “all present delinquent Stockholders to
make immediate payment, or on failure to do so,
that their share or shares will be sold at public
auction,” according to the provisions of the
Charter.
Notice is accordingly hereby given to all such
Stockholders, that unless they make payments of
or before the fourth day of June next, their share
or shares will, on that day he sold at public
auction, in the town of Pittsborough, between the
hours of 11 A. M. and 5 P. M.
B. I. HOWZE, Treasurer
C. F. and D. R. N. Co.
April 24, 1850.
17-1m
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, May 21, 1850]
THE STEAMER FAWN
IS
taken off the regular line between Wilmington
and Fayetteville, on account of low water.
J. & D. SCOTT, Proprietors.
June 20, 1850,
25-4w
------
Notice to Stockholders.
THE
next Annual meeting of the Stockholders on
the Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation
Company, will be held in Pittsborough, on
Thursday the 18th day of July next.
It is confidently hoped that the great
importance and present progression of this
improvement, will draw together a large
attendance of Stockholders and visitors.
S. MCCLENAHAN, Pres’t
C. F. & D. R. N. Co.
Pittsborough, June 17, 1850.
25-4w
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, July 2, 1850]
Cape Fear and Deep Rivers.
The Raleigh Register learns from the President
of the C. F. and D. R. N. Co. that “the work
around Smiley’s Falls, looked upon as the greatest
impediment, is completed, and answers the most
sanguine expectations.”
[The Weekly Communicator – Fay., N.C. – Friday
Morning December 13, 1850]
A new Steamer, called “The Brothers,” has
been placed upon the Cape Fear, by Messrs. John
and David Banks, of Wilmington. She is small and
of light draft, and is intended mainly as a tow
boat. This makes seven steamers now running
between this place and Wilmington, and the
increasing business and travel will, we hope,
amply reward them all.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, January 21, 1851]
REGULAR LINE.
[boat image]
THE Cape Fear Steamboat Co’s Steamer CHATHAM
will run regularly between Wilmington and
Fayetteville, commencing on Monday the 27th
instant.—leaving Fayetteville every Monday and
Thursday at 9 o’clock A. M. and arriving at
Wilmington same evening giving Passengers going
north an opportunity to take the cars next
morning at 9 o’clock. And leave Wilmington on
Tuesdays and Fridays at 2 o’clock P. M. giving
passengers by the cars, which arrive at Wilmington
at 1 o’clock daily an opportunity to take the Boat
to Fayetteville.
The Steamer GOV. GRAHAM, with the Tow
Boats belonging to the Line will run in connexion
with the Chatham, making one or more trips a
week as circumstances may require.
Passengers and Freighters may rely upon the
above arrangement.
It is hoped that the
necessary expenses to be incurred by this
arrangement will be rewarded by an increased
patronage: otherwise a loss will probably be
sustained by the company, which will lead to a
discontinuance of regular time of running.
JNO. D. WILLIAMS, Agent.
Cape Fear Steam Boat Co.
Fayetteville, Jan’y 20, 1851.
55tf
------
FOR SALE.—A second-hand ENGINE of fifteen
horse power, in good working order. For further
information, apply to the subscribers at
Wilmington.
DIBBLE & BROTHERS.
Jan. 16, 1851.
55-3wpd
-----HENRIETTA LINE OF
[boat image]
[boat image]
Steam and FreIght Boats,
ARE all in excellent order for business. Our Tow
Boats have been recently repaired and made good
as new. We have also added a new Flat for low
water, and well adapted to the service. She will
carry 700 bbls. merchandize, and draw only 20
inches water.
Those favoring us with their patronage, may
expect as prompt and cheap service in every
particular as any other Line can offer.
G. DEMING, Pres’t.
R. M. ORRELL, Agent.
A. D. CAZAUX, Agent at Wilmington.
Fayetteville, Dec. 21, 1850.
50-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, January 28, 1851]
MERCHANTS’ LINE.
[boat image]
THIS LINE OF BOATS is still in successful
operation on the Cape Fear River, and continue to
offer many facilities to the shipping public.
Persons patronizing this Line, may rest assured
that their Goods will be brought up with dispatch,
and at the very lowest rates of freight.
A. W. STEEL, President.
T. S. LUTTERLOH,
Agent at Fayetteville.
Feb. 15, 1851.
59tf
[Fayetteville Observer – February 15, 1851]
We are grieved to state that the Steamer
Fanny Lutterloh was sunk last evening by coming
in collision with the Steamer Gov. Graham. The
boats met a short distance below Mrs. Owen’s
plantation, and owing it is supposed to some
misunderstanding of each others intention of
passing to the right or left, the Graham struck the
bow of the Fanny and sunk her in three minutes.
There were 40 or 50 passengers on board, mostly
Delegates to the Wilmington Bar Convention,
(among them the Junior Editor of this paper) but
including several ladies and children, all of whom
were saved, but wet, and with the loss of all their
baggage, which floated out of the boat. It is
feared that one Negro man, the property of Capt.
Stedman, was drowned, as he was missing when
our informant left. The collision occurred before
dark. If it had been half hour later it is thought
many would have been drowned.
We learn that the passengers generally went to
the house of Isaac Wright, Esq., where they were
no doubt hospitably entertained during the night.
It is probably that some of the passengers will
return to town on the Graham, and we learn that
Mr. Lutterloh will engage the Sun to go down for
the others. When he left the Fanny’s smoke stack
was lying across the Graham’s deck.
It is surprising that some understanding does
not exist on our river as to the direction which
boat shall take when they meet, either to the
right or the left.
There was imminent danger of a similar
collision on Tuesday morning last, when the Senior
Editor of this paper was coming up on the Sun, but
for the presence of mind of Capt. Rush, who, as
always, was at his post, and made a signal to the
down boat as to the direction to take.
Fayetteville Observer, 25th inst.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday Evening, May 25, 1851]
Above: I did not record the above from the microfilm.
This was an article transcribed to the Cumberland
Genealogical Society’s Newsletter.
BROTHERS LINE.
THE
Steamer BROTHERS, and Tow Boats
Stevenson, David Lewis, and James Cassiday, are
prepared to forward with dispatch all goods
consigned to the Proprietor.
The Steamer Brothers is of light draught, and
well suited to run in low water. She possesses
power and speed, and is admirably adapted to
towing, and can accommodate about 20
passengers.
The Proprietor contemplates running the Boat
himself, and will give special attention to way
freight and naval stores; to towing, and will also
attend to the comfort and convenience of
Passengers. From his long experience as Agent in
Wilmington of the several Steamboat Companies,
he thinks he can give satisfaction.
To Merchants in the interior he would say, that
all Goods shipped by him, will be delivered to
their Agents in Fayetteville.
His Agent in
Wilmington is DAVID BANKS, to whom all
communications may be addressed, as Agent of
the Steamer Brothers.
JOHN BANKS, Proprietor.
Wilmington, Feb. 4, 1852.
63tf
[Fayetteville Observer – February 4, 1852*verify]
[boat image] The Steamer Chatham will
resume her semi-weekly trips between this place
and Wilmington, on Monday the 16th inst., leaving
Fayetteville every MONDAY and THURSDAY
thereafter, at 7 o’clock A. M., and running
through the same day.—Leaving Wilmington every
TUESDAY and FRIDAY, after the arrival of the cars
from the North. The Steamer Gov. Graham, with
as many Tow Boats as may be necessary, will run
in connexion with the Chatham, as often as may
be necessary to carry all Freights that may ##fer.
The addition of another large Flat (the Gen’l
McRae,) to this Line, affords increased facilities
for the shipping public. Goods shall certainly have
as quick transit by this Line as any other.
JNO. D. WILLIAMS, Ag’t
Cape Fear S. B. Co.
Feb’y 9, 1852.
63tf
[Fayetteville Observer – February 9, 1852]
New Steamboat. – We notice at our wharves
this morning a new stern-wheel steamer, of light
draft, called “Southerner,” but built at
Fayetteville for the Henrietta Steamboat
Company, and intended to run on the Cape Fear
River between that town and Wilmington. She is
112 feet long, 17 ½ feet wide, has 3 feet depth of
hold, and has berths for thirty passengers, and
with her light draft and great power in proportion
to size, (40 horse) she will no doubt be chiefly
employed as a passenger boat. She is quite
creditable to our Fayetteville friends.
Wil. Journal
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday. April 27, 1852]
Henrietta Steam Boat Co’s New Steamer,
SOUTHERNER,
WILL be in order to take her place in the line in a
few days. She is one hundred twelve feet long,
seventeen feet beam, and four feet hold: and
draws not exceeding twelve inches water. The
Company confidently expect that with this Boat,
in addition to their other Steamers and tow boats,
they will be in a condition to transport all freight
sent by their line with as much certainty and
despatch as any line upon the river.
The
Southerner being of such light draft of water, she
will be enabled to run at all times.
G. DEMING, Pres’t.
R. M. ORRELL, Agent.
Jan’y 28, 1852.
60-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, May 11, 1852]
STEAMER SOUTHERNER
WILL
leave Fayetteville every Wednesday and
Saturday at 7 o’clock, A. M. and arrive in
Wilmington at 7 o’clock P. M.
And will leave
Wilmington every Monday and Thursday, at 12
o’clock, M., and arrive in Fayetteville next
morning.
R. M. ORRELL, Agent.
April 26, 1852.
85-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, May 11, 1852]
The Zephyr.
Tuesday afternoon we paid a visit to the new
steamer by the above name, which has just
arrived from Wilmington, Delaware, and is
intended to run as a passenger boat between this
place and Fayetteville. She is 129 feet in length,
21 ½ feet beam, 5 ½ feet hold, -- has two inclined
engines, the combined power of which is over one
hundred horse; the engines capable of being
uncoupled, and acting separate; when tried on the
Delaware river, she attained a speed of fourteen
miles an hour. She will not draw, with all on
board, more than eighteen inches.
From the above dimensions, power and speed,
it will be seen that the “Zephyr” is a larger and
more powerful class of boat than has heretofore
been used in this business, at the same time that
her draught of water is graduated expressly for
the trade of the Cape Fear River. She is fitted up
in the most beautiful and convenient style, with
all the modern appliances, and is equal in every
respect to the Delaware or North River boats of a
similar class. Her saloon is 48 feet in length.—the
ladies’ portion divided from the rest by handsome
curtains; the woodwork painted white, and the
panels ornamented with gilding, and decorated
with papier mache scrowls, also gilt.
The
windows between the saloon and the deck are
fitted with stained glass. Being intended as a day
boat, she has no berths. It is calculated that she
will make the run up in about fourteen hours; that
down in about ten hours.
Upon the whole, her appearance and general
arrangement reflects credit upon her builders,
Messrs. Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington,
Delaware and she promises to be a valuable
addition to the trade of this place and
Fayetteville. We hope that she will receive the
patronage which the enterprise of her owners,
Gen. McRae, Col. John McRae, Capt. R. McRae,
and it may be one of two others, richly deserves.
We believe that her cost has been about sixteen
thousand dollars.
We think our Fayetteville
friends will be equally pleased with her.
-----SALE OF FERRIES.—On Monday the Causeway
and Ferries over Eagle’s Island, immediately
opposite town, the property of the Wilmington &
Manchester Railroad Co., were sold at auction for
$3,450.—on credit of one, two and three years.
Martin Schulken & Co., were the purchasers.
There were one or two reservations connected
with the sale, but it is unnecessary to relate
them.—Herald.
[Wilmington Journal – Friday, December 17, 1852]
[steamboat image]
THE New Iron Steamer Zephyr will leave
Fayetteville every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
morning at 7 ½ o’clock. Returning, will leave
Wilmington every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
morning at 7 o’clock. For freight or passage,
apply to Captain R. McRae on board, or to
T. S. LUTTERLOH,
Agent at Fayetteville.
J. & D. McRAE & CO.
Agents at Wilmington.
January 10, 1853.
58tf
-----[steamboat image]
The Brothers’ Steamboat Company,
OR BANK’S LINE,
IS
prepared with Steamers “Brothers” and
“Douglass” and a complement of Tow Boats, to
carry with dispatch all Freights shipped by them,
between Fayetteville and Wilmington, or to any
intermediate landings on the River.
JOHN BANKS, Ag’t. Wilmington.
D. & W. McLAURIN, Ag’ts. Fayetteville.
Sept. 18, 1852.
28-6m
-----[steamboat image]
A CARD.
THE return of low water renders it necessary that
the Steamer Chatham should be employed as a
tow boat.
She will not therefore run as
heretofore, on any regular days, until further
notice.
JNO. D. WILLIAMS, Ag’t Cape Fear S. B. Co.
May 12, 1852.
90-tf
-----[steamboat
image]
THE Steamer FANNY
LUTTERLOH will in future leave Fayetteville on
Tuesday and Friday mornings, at 6 o’clock, and
Wilmington Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12
o’clock, and run regularly, carrying freight and
passengers with dispatch.
T. S. LUTTERLOH.
July 22, 1852.
8tf
[Fayetteville Observer, Thursday, January 20, 1853]
Steamboats at Auction.
ON THURSDAY the 10th of February next, will be
sold at Public Auction, at the Market House in the
Town of Fayetteville, at 12 o’clock M., all the
STEAM and TOW BOATS belonging to the
“Henrietta Steamboat Company.” Viz: The
Steamers Evergreen and Southerner and tow Boats
Henry Clay, Ben Rush, Lady of the Lake,
Averasborough, and Chapel Hill.
Terms – Three, six, nine and twelve month’s
credit for approved Notes. Sale positive.
J. H. COOK,
President.
Jan’y 22, 1853.
62ts
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, January 25, 1853.]
MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.—We regret to learn
that Captain Wilkinson, of the Steamboat
Southerner, running between this place and
Fayetteville, was accidentally drowned on
Thursday night last, by falling from the deck of
the boat, somewhere above Elizabethtown, on her
way up. Mr. Wilkinson was a young man in the
prime of life, recently married, and with every
prospect before him of future life, happiness and
usefulness. His sudden death is deeply to be
regretted.
[Wilmington Journal – Monday, January 31, 1853]
MELANCHOLY CASUALTY. – We regret to
learn, that on Thursday night last, Capt. James
Wilkinson, of this town, was lost from the Steamer
Southerner, of which he was the Captain, whilst
on the way up the river, about 2 miles above
Elizabeth Town. Passing along the boat’s guards,
he is supposed to have slipped upon the ice which
had formed there, and plunged into the river.—
The boat was immediately stopped, and every
effort made to rescue him, but he was neither
seen nor heard, probably having passed under the
boat, or been struck by the wheel. The night was
intensely cold.
What adds to the sadness of this calamity, is the
fact that he had been married only a few weeks
ago; and further, that he was the only surviving
child of his widowed mother.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, February 1, 1853.]
Marine Intelligence
Arrived
Feb. 1 Steamer Maj. Wm. Barnet, McLaughlin,
from Philad., to E. J. Lutterloh
[The Wilmington Journal – Friday, February 4, 1853]
New Steamer. -We have a new steamer in the Merchant's Line
between this and Fayetteville, called the Maj.
Wm. Barnet. She is a very fine vessel; her saloon
is 38 feet by 13, and handsomely fitted up for the
accommodation of passengers. The Boat is 115
feet long, 132 including wheel, and 32 feet beam,
including guard, and 4 feet depth of hold, draws
14 inches water, ligt: has 2 engines, 14 inch bore,
5 feet stroke; the two supposed to be 100 horse
power. She was built in Camden, N. J.-- Wil
Commercial.
----It was reported in this place on Thursday that the
body of Capt Wilkinson had been found; but it
appears to have been a mistake. The body has not
yet been recovered.
----Cape Fear & Deep River Navigation Company
We learn that Col. Alexander Murchison of this
county has accepted the Presidency of the above
company, (made vacant by the resignation of J. N.
Clegg, Esq.,) with an annual salary of $2,000. His
well known energy of character will afford an
ample guaranty that this work will be pressed with
the greatest vigor. Capt. Clement Smith has been
appointed an engineer of the Company with a
salary of $1,500 per annum. We learn that at the
meeting held on 22d ult. at Summerville, and
subsequently, about six thousand dollars have
been subscribed to the capital stock of the
Company, which added to the amount obtained by
the recent meeting in Wilmington ($30,000) leaves
only $4,000 to be raised to secure the $80,000
appropriation made at the late session of the
Legislature.
[The North Carolinian - Fayetteville, N.C. - Saturday,
February 5, 1853.]
Marine Intelligence
Arrived
Feb. 6 Steamer Maj. Wm. Barnet, Barber, from
Fayetteville, to E. J. Lutterloh
[The Wilmington Journal – Friday, February 11, 1853]
FREIGHTING ON THE CAPE FEAR.
THE
subscribers having purchased the Steamers
Evergreen and Southerner and Tow Boats, lately
the property of the Henrietta Steamboat
Company, are now prepared to forward with
despatch, between Wilmington and Fayetteville,
all freights or goods entrusted to them.
F. N. & J. H. ROBERTS.
Fayetteville, Feb’y 14, 1853.
68tf
Carolinian copy.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday, February 15, 1853]
THE ZEPHYR.—We had the pleasure during the
last week of making a trip on this delightful Boat
to our sister town of Wilmington and back. We
started from this place at half past 7 o’clock. A.
M., and reached Wilmington about 8 o’clock, P. M.
Returning we left Wilmington at 7 A. M., and
reached Fayetteville at about 9 P. M.—thus
performing each trip in a day.—The Zephyr is an
elegant, commodious, comfortable and fast
running boat. She has added very greatly to the
traveling facilities of the River, and deserves
encouragement at the hands of the public.
North Carolinian.
-----Sale of Boats.
On Thursday last, the Boats belonging to the
Henrietta Steamboat Company were sold at
auction for $13,340. There were two Steamers
viz: the Evergreen, and Southerner, and 3 pole
boats, viz: the Ben Rush; Lady of the Lake, and
Averasboro. The purchasers are Messrs. F. & J. N.
Roberts, who will proceed to put the new line into
operation under the name of “The Frank & Jerry
Line.” The energy and business qualifications of
the proprietors will we doubt not, secure for this
line a large share of the public patronage.—N.
Carolinian.
[Wilmington Journal – Friday, February 18, 1853]
STEAMBOAT COLLISION. – On Friday last, the
Southerner coming up, and the Fanny Lutterloh
going down, came in contact. Both sustained
injury – the Southerner very considerable, we
understand.
[Fayetteville Observer – Tuesday. February 22, 1853.]
INQUEST.—Coroner Conoley held an inquest on
Monday last over the body of J. F. Stidham, an
Engineer, who fell into the River from the steam
Boat Spray some two weeks ago and was drowned.
Verdict of the Jury “accidental drowning.” The
deceased was but a short time in this place; he is
said to have been a man of unexceptionable
integrity—much respected by those who knew
him.—Wilmington Herald, March 2.
[The North Carolinian – Fayetteville, NC – March 5, 1853]
TOW-BOAT BURNT AND A LIFE LOST.
The tow-boat Lady of the Lake, belonging to
Messrs. F. N. & J. H. Roberts, of this place, was
entirely burnt on Tuesday evening last at about 9
o’clock. She was not freighted at the time. The
loss is about $700. There was some loose rosin in
the bottom of the boat, and it is thought that fire
was accidentally communicated to it. There were
two hands on board at the time—one of whom
escaped—the other, an Irishman by the name of
Jerry Hays, is supposed to have perished in the
flames.
[The North Carolinian – Fayetteville, NC – March 12,
1853]
Another Boat,--A steamer, built after the
model of the Ferry Boats at the North; we learn,
will be launched to-day, from Mr. Cassidey’s
shipyard. She was built for the Wilmington and
Manchester Rail Road to convey passengers from
the terminus on the other side of the River to the
Depot of the W, & R. Rail Road Company.
Wilmington Herald.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday, March 14, 1853]
STEAMER “SPRAY” FOR SMITHVILLE,
THE
Steamer “SPRAY,” Capt. J. W. Sterett, will
leave for Smithville, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
and Sunday mornings, at 9 o’clock. Returning
same days, will leave Smithville at 3 o’clock, P.
M., landing both ways at Orton wharf.
Passage 50 cents in all cases.
Freight 25 cents per barrel, other articles in
proportion.
Apply to Capt. Sterett on board or to
A. H. VANBOKKELEN,
No. 2, South Wharves.
February 16th, 1853
139-ly
-----THE STEAMER “SPRAY,” commanded by
Captain STERETT, well known to this community
as a most skilful seaman and polite gentleman, is
now making regular tri-weekly trips between this
place and Smithville. The “Spray” is a handsome
and swift boat. A Smithville correspondent speaks
of her as follows:
“As far as the traveling public between this
place and Smithville is concerned, we commend
them to the steamer Spray, and its polite and
skilful Captain, and we sincerely wish we could
procure for it, the transportation of the mails.”
-----“STEAMER ZEPHYR.”—We have heretofore
noticed the Iron Steamer Zephyr, commanded by
Capt. R. McRae. All who have seen the boat can
but admire her. It affords us pleasure to notice
the rapid increase to her passenger list. On her
last trip down, we learn, she brought fifty
passengers. She has fulfilled her engagements
with unprecedented punctuality, often coming
down from Fayetteville in 7 ½ hours, running
time.
She is now making semi-weekly trips
between this place and Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Journal – Friday, March 18, 1853]
The Zephyr on her last trip from Fayetteville,
came gallantly to the wharf with 50 passengers on
board.—1b. {from the Wilmington Journal}
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday, March 21, 1853]
The body of Capt. James Wilkinson of this
place, who was lost overboard from the Steamer
Southerner, which he commanded, on the night of
the 27th January last, was found in the river on
Monday night last, taken on board the Steamer
Chatham, Capt. Evans, and arrived here yesterday
morning. It was consigned to the grave yesterday
afternoon, attended by the Independent
Company, of which he was a member, and a large
concourse of friends of himself and his family.
We understand, that notwithstanding the long
period since his death, the body was but little
defaced, and that in his pocket were found his
money, notes, and papers, (including a note
written to his young wife just before starting from
Wilmington, which something prevented his
sending,) all in a good state of preservation.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening. March 24,
1853]
BODY FOUND.—The body of Capt. James
Wilkinson; late of the Steamer Southerner, was
found last Monday, about 20 miles above this
place in the Cape Fear River. The body was
identified from the clothes and papers found upon
it. His pocket book contained about $100, and a
note of $100—and other papers, which were but
slightly defaced. Capt. Wilkinson was lost on the
night of the 27th January last, from off the
Steamer Southerner which boat he commanded at
the time, and was running between this place and
Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Journal – Friday, March 25, 1853]
[pointing finger icon>>] The Steamer “Zephyr”
arrived here from Fayetteville last Monday
afternoon, at fifteen minutes before 5 o’clock.
This is the quickest trip which has ever been made
between the two places, being only ten hours
including all stoppages.
[Wilmington Journal – Friday, April 22, 1853]
EXCURSIONS TO OAK ISLAND.
STEAMER
“SPRAY” will make excursions every
[<<sailing ship image] Saturday during month of
May to Oak Island, visiting Fort Caswell, and
landing at Smithville and Orton.
Tickets $1; children under 12 years, half price.
May 5th, ’53.—[206-tf]
A. H. VanBOKKELN.
[Wilmington Journal -- Friday, May 6, 1853]
NOTICE.
THE 4 Flat Boats or Lighters belonging to the
Bladen Steam Boat Company, will be sold on the
1st Monday of August next, at the Elizabeth Town
Landing. The Boats are of good material, and in
running order.
Terms, 90 days negotiable note at Bank.
GEO. CROMARTIE, Sec’y.
July 12, 1853.
14*ts
[Fayetteville Observer -- Monday Evening – July 18, 1853]
The Annual meeting of the Stockholders of the
Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Company
was held at Summerville on the 21st ult. Reports
by the President and Directors and the Chief
Engineer were submitted, accepted and directed
to be published.
Col. Alex Murchison was unanimously reelected President. Messrs. Jno. H. Haughton , A.
S. McNeill, L. J. Haughton, Peter G. Evans, and
Elias Bryan, were elected Directors.
The next Annual meeting will be held on the
third Thursday in July 1854.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening -- August 8,
1853]
[steamboat image]
Notice to Merchants.
THROUGH BY DAY LIGHT.
THE
swift and commodious Steamboat Alice,
Capt. Sam’l Beery, will commence her regular
semi-weekly trips between Fayetteville and
Wilmington in a few days. Those who desire their
goods with certainty and dispatch will obtain them
by shipping by her. Due notice of days and hours
of departure from each place will be given. Goods
consigned to J. R. Blossom, Agent, will be
promptly and carefully forwarded, as usual.
August 1853.
EJL
18tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening – August 11,
1853]
EXPLOSION ON THE CAPE FEAR.—We regret to
learn that the Steamer Chatham burst her boilers
on Saturday morning last, on her downward trip,
about 15 miles above Elizabeth.
The Captain, who was standing upon the upper
deck, immediately above the boilers, was blown
into the river, scalded, and otherwise injured.
The fireman, a free negro named Dick, is missing,
and is supposed to have been killed. One of the
hands also, was seriously injured. The boat sunk
immediately.
The Chatham is owned by the Cape Fear
Company.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening – August 15,
1853]
Steamboat Accident.
We learn that the Steamer Chatham, belonging
to the cape Fear Line, running between this place
and Fayetteville, burst one of her boilers on
Saturday last, when about thirty miles below
Fayetteville, on her way down. She sank in seven
feet water. A negro fireman was killed by the
bursting of the boiler. The Captain was knocked
overboard and another person slightly injured.
Loss not known. We presume the Chatham can be
raised and put again in order.
[Wilmington Journal – Friday, August 19, 1853]
STEAMBOAT BLOWN UP.
On Saturday evening last our citizens were
startled by the announcement that the Steamer
Chatham, on her downward trip, about thirty
miles below this place, had met with a serious
accident by the explosion of her boiler.
We understand the explosion was caused by
allowing the water to get too low in the boiler and
then pumping in cold water while it was in a
heated state.
The boiler was bursted all to pieces, throwing
the smoke-stack a considerable distance on land
and shattering the boat so badly that it sunk in six
or eight feet water. Capt. Evans was knocked into
the River and narrowly escaped drowning, the
Boat floating over him. It was reported that his
arm was broken, but we learn that his injuries are
not as serious as at first supposed.
A free man of color, named Dick, from
Newbern, who acted as fireman, was killed.
A negro man by the name of Fred, belonging to
Mrs. Martin of Moore county, we understand was
seriously injured.
The Chatham, never having complied with the
steamboat law, did not carry passengers. Her
freight consisted of Spirits Turpentine, Sheeting,
and Printing Paper from the Mill of David Murphy,
Esq. We suppose it will nearly all be saved in a
damaged state.
The Boat, we believe, was owned by the Cape
Fear Company, and was only insured against fire.
[The North Carolinian – Fayetteville, NC – Saturday,
August 20, 1853]
STEAMERS ON CAPE FEAR.—Messrs. Rush & Orrell,
of this place, have built a new Steamer—“The
Sun”—for the Cape Fear River.
The Sun is
propelled by 2 engines, 32 horse power each, will
run in 13 inches water, is 118 feet long, 18 feet
beam, and 4 feet deep, in the hold. Whole length
128 feet—breadth, 28 feet.
Mr. Lutterloh has refitted the “Barnett,” and
changed its name to the “Alice,” now making
regular trips between this and Wilmington.
For particulars, see advertisements in this
paper.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, September 12,
1853]
STEAMER HENRIETTA,
THROUGH from A. Wessell’s wharf in Wilmington,
to her old wharf in Fayetteville, with a sufficient
number of Flats to accommodate those wishing to
ship through or way freight.
R. M. ORRELL,
Agent at Fayetteville.
Sept. 9, 1853.
27tf
------
THE STEAMER “SUN.”
THIS
new and very light draught Steamer has
commenced running, though not quite finished.
She is taking freight, drawing only 13 inches
water. She possesses superior advantages for low
water service.—She has also a large amount of
warehouse, shed and wharf room, where Naval
Stores or other freight may be stored with safety.
R. M. ORRELL, Ag’t.
Sept. 10, 1853.
27tf
------
THE STEAMER “ALICE”
WILL
commence her regular trips on Wednesday,
31st August: will leave Fayetteville WEDNESDAY
and SATURDAY mornings at 6 o’clock, and
Wilmington on MONDAY and THURSDAY mornings
at 6 o’clock.
She has superior accommodations for
passengers.
T. S. LUTTERLOH,
Agent at Fayetteville.
J. R. BLOSSOM,
Agent at Wilmington.
August 29, 1853.
28-1m
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening – September
15, 1853]
Frank & Jerry Steamboat Line.
The undersigned having added three new boats
of large capacity, to their before efficient Line,
now offer their services to Merchants, Naval Store
Shippers, and all other persons that have freight
to ship.
F. N. & J. H. ROBERTS.
Jan. 11, 1854
1-tf
[North Carolina Argus – Fayetteville, NC – Wednesday
March 1, 1854]
A CARD.
THE undersigned have associated themselves
together for the purpose of doing a general
Boating Business on the Cape Fear River. They
would therefore give notice to the public, that
they are now prepared to accommodate them at
all times with a Steam Boat at both ends of the
Line.
JAMES E. METTS.
M. J. RAMSEY.
N. A. RAMSEY.
FRED’K C. METTS.
Oct. 16, 1854
41tf
------
A Boat and Several Building Lots.
THREE
and one-tenth acres of Land in
Cambellton, and the Pleasure Boat which was
exhibited at the County Fair, for sale. Apply to
F. N. & J. H. ROBERTS.
Dec. 13, 1854
57-tf
------
TO PASSENGERS.
THE
Steamer SUN will leave this place every
TUESDAY, at 12 o’clock, with Passengers and
Freight.
R. M. ORRELL, Agent.
Fayetteville, May 31, 1854.
1-tf
------
LUTTERLOH & CO.
THE undersigned having on the 20th May last
formed a Copartnership under the name and style
of “LUTTERLOH & CO.” for the purpose of
transacting a general Boating business on the Cape
Fear River, the Steamer Fanny Lutterloh has been
repaired, and is now in superior order for
freighting and carrying passengers. She will make
regularly two trips a week, leaving Fayetteville
Mondays and Thursdays at 15 minutes after
Sunrise, and Wilmington Tuesdays and Fridays at
10 o’clock. The Steamer Rowan with a full
complement of Flats will make one trip or more a
week, as circumstances may require. The Boats of
this line being of very light draft of water,
shippers may rely on dispatch. The Steamer
Fanny Lutterloh has made two trips a week, for
the last twenty-two months, up to the 20th May,
during the lowest state of the River. Shippers by
our line may rely with certainty on dispatch.
W. P. ELLIOTT, Agent Wilmington.
J. F. MARSH, Agent Fayetteville.
T. S. LUTTERLOH,
H. B. ELLIOTT,
J. F. MARSH,
W. P. ELLIOTT,
J. B. TROY, Jr.
July 25, 1854.
17tf
[Fayetteville Observer – January 1, 1855]
THE DEEP RIVER IMPROVEMENT.—We find in the
Wilmington Journal the very remarkable Report of
F. A. Douglass, the Engineer employed by the
Deep River Company to examine their works. It is
dated at Philadelphia, Nov. 13th, 1854, and we
suppose has been presented in the Legislature. Of
that, however, we are not certain; for we cannot
procure the documents printed by order of the
Legislature, except when the courtesy of a
member or two induces them to send us one.
When this session commenced, we authorized a
friend to order for us, and pay for, every printed
document, bill, and report and in pursuance of the
arrangement he made with the State printer, we
received one small parcel only. The legislation of
the State is but poorly understood by the people
when even the newspapers cannot obtain a sight
of the information on which it is founded.
But to return to this remarkable Report.
Mr. Douglass says,-“The gentle declivity of the Cape Fear and
Deep Rivers, averaging only about two feet per
mile, together with the high banks on both sides,
extending throughout the whole distance from
Fayetteville to the head of your works, renders
the improvement by slack water navigation, as
adopted by your company, peculiarly applicable to
those Rivers; and is the best that could be
devised. Its failure (if it can be so characterized)
may be attributed to three causes. 1st, defect in
the plans of the different parts of the work; 2d,
careless and unfaithful execution of the same; 3d,
the unfinished and unprotected state in which the
work has been left.”
“From information derived from others, and
from my own observations, I am induced to
believe that it would be much better for the
shipping port of Fayetteville if the Cross Creek
lock and Dam was located some miles lower down
the River. In connection with this I will remark
that I am inclined to believe that the River
between Fayetteville and Wilmington can, at a
moderate expense, be improved so as to admit of
the passage of crafts of at least 300 tons burden,
at all stages of water. If this can be done without
incurring too much expense, it would be of vast
importance to Fayetteville and the country
bordering on the River above that place to have it
done.”
Mr. Douglass says that the base of the dams,
instead of being only double their height, should
have been three or four times the height, with a
slope on the lower side of three or four base to
one perpendicular.
The materials in the Locks have not been put
in the right shape. The packing has been badly
done, the stone having been thrown in loose.
Most of the mechanical work has been “passably
well executed.”
“The Dams at Jones’ Falls, Silver Run, Red
Rock, and Gulf, are built on rather treacherous
foundations, and have become a good deal
undermined from the action of the water falling
over them. To secure these Dams it will be
necessary to increase the base about 30 or 35
feet, and build the addition in deep water below
the Dam, and give it a slope down stream of about
four base to one rise, and covered with timer six
inches in thickness, well secured with bolts and
treenails.” &c., &c.
Reeve’s Dam and Farrish’s Fish Trap Dam are
located in short bends of the River, so that it will
be difficult or impossible for boats to enter them,
especially in high water.
He therefore
recommends that they be abandoned, and the two
dams below them raised, so as to flow the water
higher. The cost will be $3,769.
The old mill dam at P. G. Evans’s is
condemned as insufficient, and another below
recommended.
“The Locks at Silver Run and Red Rock, are so
much impaired that I am apprehensive that it will
be difficult to make them stand a length of time
without incurring a large expense, and then they
will be quite imperfect.
I would therefore
recommend securing them temporarily by bracing
and cribbing, and proceed as soon as practicable
to rebuild them in a more permanent and
substantial manner.
“The Lock at the Gulf is placed in the pool
above the Dam, and the pressure of the water
from the outside has pressed in the side about one
foot, and burst off the planking. In order to
secure this, there will have to be a crib built
outside of the Lock in the pool about 12 feet
distant from the Lock, and the wall brought back
to its place and secured with long sure bolts to
the crib, and the space between the Lock and crib
filled with good pudling.
“All the other Locks can be secured by
constructing cribs on the river side to prevent
them from being undermined, and by supporting
the walls with braces and buttresses. I would
recommend that in all cases where the Locks are
not completed, that an alteration be made in the
head of the Locks, so as to place the gates on a
level with the top of the breast wall, and a stepe
gate be placed at the head of the Locks, and wing
cribs constructed both above and below all the
Locks. I will further suggest—building the Lock at
Cross Creek, and these to be rebuilt at Silver Run
and Red Rock, of rubble masonry laid in cement,
and as fast as the other Locks require rebuilding,
to build them in the same manner, and make
them 24 feet in width. The additional cost with
the aid of the navigation to transport the
materials will not exceed $3,000 each Lock. I
would also recommend that the depth of water be
increased to five feet instead of three feet eight
inches, the present depth. The additional cost
will not exceed $10,000.”
The above are the principal recommendations
of Mr. Douglass. He appended estimates, but the
Journal has not published them, nor have we seen
them.
-----Dobbs, having read very attentively the report
of Mr. Douglas the Engineer, concerning the
present condition of the Deep River Improvement,
and ascertained that for the most part the works
will have to be done over again, expressed his
concurrence in the views of the Engineer after this
expressive fashion “DEEP RIVER BE DAMNED.”—
Wil. Herald.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening – January 11,
1855]
To the Freighting Public.
THE Brothers’ Steam Boat Co. is now prepared
with the following boats:
Str. DOUGLASS,
Str. BROTHERS,
Tow Boat STEVENSTON,
D. LEWIS,
ALFRED ELLIS,
JAS. CASSIDEY,
KINSBURY, and
ELIZA McDANIEL,
To transport all Naval Stores, Produce and other
Freight intrusted to their care, with as much
dispatch as any other line of Boats on the River.
They are provided with suitable Wharf and WareHouse accommodations to do a general business,
and hope by strict attention to the interest of
shippers, to meet a share of public patronage.
J. S. BANKS, Ag’t,
Fayetteville.
JNO. BANKS, Ag’t
At Wilmington.
Sept. 19, 1853.
[Fayetteville Observer – January 18, 1855]
Express Steam Boat Line.
STR.
SOUTHERNER,
FAIRY,
for passengers and Freight:
Str.
EVERGREEN, and
ELIZA,
for Freight only.
Lighters –
J. R. BLOSSOM,
ELIZA McDUGALD,
29tf
F. FRIES,
RED FOX,
GOV. MOREHEAD,
EXPRESS,
NORTH STATE,
A. B. CHESNUTT.
RAMSEY & BRO.,
} {W. H. McRARY & CO.,
Ag’ts at Fayetteville } { Ag’ts at Wilmington.
All goods sent to the care of the “EXPRESS
STEAM BOAT LINE” will be taken on Freight, and
forwarded with the greatest despatch.
As our facilities for accommodation are greater
than ever before known on our River, it will be our
greatest pleasure and effort to give still the more
satisfaction.
JAMES E. METTS.
N. A. RAMSEY
M. J. RAMSEY.
FRED’K C. METTS.
Oct. 16, 1854.
4xtf
[Fayetteville Observer – January 29, 1855]
REMOVAL.
THE Office of the Brothers’ Steam Boat Company
is removed to the Huske Building, on Green street,
next door to P. Taylor’s.
J. S. BANKS, Ag’t.
Nov 6, 1854
46tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening – April 12,
1855]
We understand the Cape Fear River is
completely beside itself. It is running around the
eastern end of the Cross Creek lock-as hard as it
can tear.
[North Carolina Argus – Fayetteville, NC – Saturday
January 5, 1856]
FREIGHTING ON CAPE FEAR RIVER.
AT
a meeting of the Boat owners interested in
navigating the Cape Fear River between
Fayetteville and Wilmington,
On motion, D. McLaurin was called to the
Chair, and R. M. Orrell was appointed Secretary.
On motion of James F. Marsh,
Resolved, That from and after the 1st day of
January, 1856, will carry Guano from Wilmington
to Fayetteville at 10 cents per bag; Lime at 25
cents per cask, and ground Plaster at 30 cents per
cask, and that a reduction of 20 per cent, from
the printed and established rates on all other
articles will be made from and after that date, all
Cartage and Drayage being paid by the shippers.
On motion of James Banks.
Resolved, That the foregoing be published in
the Town papers.
D. McLAURIN, Chair’n.
R. M. ORRELL, Secretary.
Dec. 24, 1856.
104-tf
[North Carolina Argus – Fayetteville, NC – Saturday
January 26, 1856]
The meeting of the ‘stockholders in the Cape
Fear and Deep River Navigation Company will be
held at Haywood on the 17th inst.
[Fayetteville Observer – April 14, 1856]
CAPE FEAR AND DEEP RIVER NAVIGATION
COMPANY.—From the Wilmington Herald we learn
that the Stockholders met at Haywood on the 17th
inst., Hon. Hugh Waddell presiding, and Messrs. H.
A. London, D. E. McNair, and John Manning,
Secretaries.
Seth B. Jones, Esq. represented the State.
The Reports of the President, Engineer and
Treasurer were read, received and ordered to be
filed.
Nathaniel Clegg, Esq., offered the following
preamble and resolutions, viz:
WHEREAS, By a resolution passed at the last
annual meeting of the Stockholders of this
company, requesting the Directors to secure the
services of E. A. Douglass, Esq., of Pennsylvania,
or some other competent engineer, to superintend
the work on the Cape Fear and Deep Rivers; and in
compliance with which the Directors did employ
said Douglass for the sum of $5,000 per annum:
Resolved, That though we have the utmost
confidence in the skill and ability of said Douglass,
we are of opinion that he has not devoted that
time and attention to our work which the salary
given him would justify and demand.
Resolved, That if said Douglass cannot devote
more of his time and talent to our work, that the
Directors are hereby requested to reduce his
salary or to discharge him.
Which resolutions, on motion of M. Q. Waddell,
Esq., were laid on the table.
M. Q. Waddell, Esq., offered the following:
Resolved, That no portion of the $300,000
appropriated by the Legislature of 1854-‘5 shall be
applied in payment of any interest or preferred
stock until the completion of the work on the
Cape Fear and Deep Rivers.
On motion of Isaac Clegg, Esq., this resolution
was indefinitely postponed.
M. Q. Waddell, Esq., offered the following
resolutions, viz:
Resolved, 1st., That the balance of the
$300,000, be kept by the Treasurer of the
company, for the purpose of paying the interest
upon preferred stock.
Resolved, 2d., That it was unwise and impolitic
in the Directors of the Company to fritter away
the funds of this Company, in holding their
meetings at so many different places in the state,
involving an expense in traveling, by the payment
of the per diem of each member of the Board,
wholly useless and at war with the best interests
of the company. [Unanimously rejected.]
M. Q. Waddell, Esq., then offered the following
resolution, viz:
Resolved, That the Directors of this Company
have delayed this work unnecessarily, by refusing
to accept bids for the work on Deep River from
persons who were responsible, and offered to take
the work and run the chance of getting their pay
out of any funds remaining after the Cape Fear
River should be finished; and, finally when the
work on Deep River was let out, they let out only
a portion of it, greatly to the detriment of those
residing and owning lands above the points, to
which the work is now only to be finished.
Adopted by a majority of 21—the State voting
no.
John H. Haughton, Esq., offered the following:
Resolved, That the President and Directors
shall put to contract all the remaining work on
Deep River, or so much thereof as the means of
the company will justify, having a due regard to
the completion of the Cape Fear, as contemplated
by the resolution of the last general meeting at
Wilmington on this subject; and that, in carrying
out this resolution, said Board are hereby
authorized to employ the slaves of the company,
or to sell them, and apply the funds thereof, as in
their discretion they may deem best for the
speedy consummation of the object herein
expressed; and that the resolution of last
Wilmington meeting, or so much thereof as is in
conflict with this, be rescinded.
Resolved, 2d., That the work Deep River be
done on the most economical plan upon which the
Chief Engineer can have the same executed,
having a due regard to a good navigation.
[Adopted.]
Col. John McRae offered the following
resolution:
Resolved; That the President and Directors of
this Company be and are hereby authorized and
requested, if in their opinion they shall deem it
advisable, to enter into an agreement with some
private individuals or companies, for putting on
boats and transporting produce and merchandize
over such portions of the work as may or shall be
completed; and that, in making any such
arrangements, they shall fix the rate of tolls to be
paid on such produce and merchandize, and a
maximum rate of freight to be charged by such
individuals or companies. [Passed.]
The following preamble and resolutions were
offered by Col. McRae:
WHEREAS, It is an essential feature in the
operations of any Corporation or Company, that
there be some head man possessing suitable
qualities, who shall be responsible for the
successful prosecution, and management of its
operations, and whereas, in the prosecution of the
enterprise, undertaken by this Company, the
suitable qualifications required, are skill and
experience, such as we believe to be possessed by
Mr. E. A. Douglass, the gentleman chosen by the
Directory as Engineer, with the approbation of this
Company. Therefore
Resolved, That while we hold him responsible
for the success of his plans adopted by our
Directory, it would be manifestly unjust, that they
should be changed, or that he and his agents
should be interfered with, in the execution of
them, without his consent. Which were adopted.
Col. Alex. Murchison was re-elected President,
and Messrs. Haughton, McNeill and Cassidey,
Directors.
On motion of H. A. London, it was
Resolved, That the Treasurer of the Company
be authorized to receive subscription for
preferred stock and the first moneys raised by said
subscription be used by him, first to pay off John
C. Smith and Henry Elliot, and after that Alex.
Murchison and all others.
On motion of John A. Moore, it was
Resolved, That the President and Directors be
instructed at as early a day as possible to raise
from the preferred stock, any deficit that the
contemplated alterations in the work may not
meet, for the completion of the work at the Gulf,
and at P. G. Evans’. Provided, however, that this
resolution be understood as applying to the work
only so much of said stock as may not be
necessary to pay old debts against the Company.
On motion of N. M. Clegg, it was Resolved,
That the President and Board of Directors be and
are hereby authorized to make such an
arrangement with the Trustee for the use of the
steamboat J. H. Haughton by the Company as may
be to the best interest of all parties.
The following Preamble and Resolutions
offered
by
Dr.
S.
McClanahan,
passed
unanimously, viz:
Whereas there is now pending before the
Military
Committee
of
the
House
of
Representatives of the United States, a resolution
of enquiry as to the propriety and expediency of
establishing on Deep River a National Foundry and
Armory, and whereas such a work would not only
add greatly to the value of the Coal region and to
that of the Agricultural interests of the
surrounding country by furnishing a large home
market for all surplus produce, but to that of the
State of North Carolina at large. Be it therefore
Resolved, That a committee of six persons be
appointed by the President of this Convention who
shall memorialize Congress on this subject and
visit Norfolk and Charleston if deemed proper, at
which points there are Navy Yards interested in
this subject and procure their aid and that of their
Representatives in Congress in obtaining for the
State of North Carolina, the benefit of the foundry
and armory.
On motion of J. C. Smith, the president of the
Convention was added to the committee.
The Convention then adjourned.
------Mr. Cassidey, one of the Directors of the above
Company, has published a card in the Wilmington
Herald, stating that Messrs. Dugan Cartwright &
Co., had submitted a proposition to the Directors,
to take the entire work on Deep River, and
complete it in August next, at the Engineer’s
estimates, and according to his plans and
specifications; and not to be paid for, until all the
work on the River below was completed, and then
if our fund fell short (the $300,000) they would
take (if necessary) to the amount of $25,000 of
preferred stock as payment.” This proposal, says
Mr. C., was rejected: For it, Messrs. John H.
Haughton, and James Cassidey. For rejecting the
proposi{ti)on, Hon. A. Rencher, J. J. Jackson, R.
E. Rives. Col. A. S. McNeill absent.
[Fayetteville Observer – April 28, 1856]
NOTICE.
FROM and after this date the Brothers’ Steam Boat
Company, will not be responsible for any damages
or loss on way Freight, unless the consignee or his
agent, is on the river bank when the goods are
delivered, to make his objection or claim.
A. D. CAZAUX, Agent
Brothers’ Steam Boat Company.
Jan. 10, 1856.
105-tf
-----WILMINGTON AND
Fayetteville Passenger Line.
THE NEW STEAMER “MAGNOLIA” will leave
Fayetteville Tuesdays and Fridays at 15 minutes
after sunrise, and Wilmington Wednesdays and
Saturdays at o’clock. Passage $4.
T. S. LUTTERLOH.
June 14, 1855
77-tf
-----Freight and Passenger Line between Wilmington
and Fayetteville.
------
STEAMER MAGNOLIA,
Leaves Fayetteville on Monday and Thursday
mornings, 15 minutes after sun-rise.
Leaves Wilmington on Tuesday and Friday
mornings.
Steamer
FANNY
LUTTERLOH,
leaves
Fayetteville on Tuesday and Friday mornings, 15
minutes after sun-rise.
Leaves Wilmington Wednesday and Saturday
mornings. Both carrying Freight and Passengers.
Steamers ROWAN, with full sets of Lighters,
runs regularly, carrying Freight only.
The regularity of our Boats on all stages of the
River, and the dispatch and promptness in
delivering goods, are too well known to require
comment.
To our patrons we tender our thanks for the
very liberal patronage heretofore bestowed, and
can assure all shippers that no effort will be
spared in future, and feel confident that our
facilities for dispatch are equal if not superior to
any line on Cape Fear River.
W. P. ELLIOTT,
Agent for Lutterloh & Co.
Fayetteville, Oct. 1, 1856
146-tf
[North Carolina Argus – Fayetteville, NC - Saturday,
April 25, 1857]
ASSIGNEES’ SALE.
[boat image] BY VIRTUE of a deed of trust made
by John and James Banks, to the undersigned, on
the 3d day of March, 1857, we will proceed to sell
at public Auction in front of the Custom House, on
20th May, at 11 o’clock. A. M., the Steamer
BROTHERS AND 4 LIGHTERS.
Terms made known on day of sale.
JAS. T. PETTEWAY, }
JESSE T. WARDEN,
} Assignees.
Wilmington, April 25.
2-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – April 25, 1857]
STEAM BOAT NOTICE.
THE Steamer JAMES R. GRIST, with Lighters,
having changed owners, will continue to run
between Fayetteville and Wilmington, stopping at
intermediate Landings. Prompt personal attention
will be given to all freights entrusted to my care.
PETER P. JOHNSON, Agent.
April 14, 1857
172-2n
[North Carolina Argus – Fayetteville, NC – Saturday May
15, 1857]
W. P. ELLIOTT,
Commission Merchant,
Fayetteville, N. C.,
Agent for Lutterloh & Co.’s Steam Boat Line.
Will attend promptly to all business intrusted to
his care.
October 21, 1856
146-tf
[North Carolina Argus – Fayetteville, NC – Saturday
August 15, 1857]
The steamer J. H. Haughton, which left here
for Lockville, on the 26th inst., took up with her a
quantity of merchandize, and also a lot of
materials for the Deep River Improvement. We
learn that the work in the Egypt Coal mines is
going on rapidly, and that, from present
appearances, coal will soon be ready for delivery.
Wilmington Herald.
[Fayetteville Observer – February 1, 1858]
A TERRIBLE STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT!
MANY LIVES LOST!!
Our community is intensely shocked this
morning by intelligence that the Steamer
Magnolia, Captain John M. Stedman, burst her
boilers and sunk in deep water, near Whitehall, on
the Cape Fear River, yesterday morning. A brief
letter from one of the passengers sent by private
hand to Mr. W. H. Lutterloh, gives us all the
reliable news as yet received.
The letter is dated Wednesday 1 o’clock, and
at the time of writing the bodies of seven persons
had been found. The only names mentioned
among the killed are those of Captain Stedman
and a negro man Charles, one of the boat’s crew,
belonging to Mrs. John Murchison.
Thos. S.
Lutterloh, Esq., the owner of the Magnolia, was on
board and severely hurt.
It is supposed, from the location of the
disaster, that there was, as usual, a number of
way passengers; and it is feared that some, ladies
and children among them, went down with the
boat.
Capt. Stedman leaves a large and helpless
family, (his wife the daughter of the late Judge
Potter.) We learn that he had a Life Policy of
$2000 in the Greensborough Mutual Company.
In addition to the above particulars, we have
seen a letter from the Rev. A. Paul Repiton, of
Wilmington, who was a passenger on the Magnolia,
and who writes from the W. & M. Rail Road, (9
miles from the scene of the disaster,) which he
had reached on his return to Wilmington. He
says,-“By request of Mr. Lutterloh, of your place, I
write to inform you that the Magnolia burst her
boiler last night about 12 o’clock. Some 12 or 15
passengers are dead.
Capt. Stedman is also
among the missing, and had not been found up to
the time I left White Hall, where the accident
happened. Mr. Lutterloh has sustained no injury
except in his left shoulder, which it is thought
may be dislocated. I left him at White Hall,
where he requested me to write from this point
for the sake of his family.”
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, February 18,
1858]
FATAL STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT.
We learn that about midnight of Tuesday last,
the Steamer Magnolia of the Lutterloh line, which
left this place on the afternoon of the same day,
stopped at Whitehall landing, Bladen county,
some forty-nine miles from Wilmington, to put a
passenger ashore. While at the landing, her boiler
exploded, making a complete wreck of the boat,
and killing and wounding a number of persons.
The following are all the particulars of the loss of
life that we have been able to learn.
White Persons Killed. – Capt. Stedman,
commander of the boat, Dr. Fellows, a young
gentleman from Philadelphia, said to have been
raised in Sampson; Mr. Tyson; a female from
Wilmington, and boy about eight years old, -neither names known.
Colored Persons Killed. -- Simon, the cook;
Charles, the Pilot, and two or three others. –
names unknown. A colored man named Carver, or
Carter, was mortally wounded, and another
colored man badly hurt, although he may possibly
recover.
Mr. T. S. Lutterloh of Fayetteville, was pretty
severely injured in the shoulder, but his situation
is not supposed to be dangerous. It is proper to
remark that the body of Captain Stedman has not
been found, but no doubts are entertained of his
death. It is believed that some fifteen persons
were killed, but our accounts are very meager.
Rev. A. P. Repiton, of Wilmington, was on board
and made a narrow escape. There were some
thirty passengers aboard. The boat was valued at
$10,000 . No insurance.
P. S. -- We learn that a man named George
Payman, or Pearman, from Wilmington, was
aboard, accompanying a corpse, which he was
carrying up to Fayetteville for interment. The
coffin and what it contained were blown to
pieces, and the many has not been heard of, so
that there is too much reason to fear that he also
has been killed.
[WDJ Thursday Evening, February 18, 1858]
THE EXPLOSION ON BOARD THE MAGNOLIA.—
The only additional particulars of this melancholy
affair that we have received, are contained in the
communication of our attentive correspondent
“Bladen,” who has our thanks for his courtesy.
We would also call attention to the advertisement
of Mr. Sikes, who seeks an owner for one hundred
and twenty-two dollars in gold found in a buckskin
purse, hanging to an oak near the scene of the
accident.
The scene must, indeed, have
presented a melancholy and pitiable sight, as
described by our correspondent, and the news will
carry wailing and distress to many a fireside.
----For the Journal.
WHITE HALL, Feb. 17th, 1858.
MESSRS. EDITORS: An awful and heart-rending
scene is presented here this morning.
On last night, (Tuesday, the 16th inst.,) at 12
o’clock, the steamer Magnolia, Capt. Stedman,
while delivering passengers and freight at this
place, exploded her boilers, scattering wreck, ruin
and death around. I have only time to state a few
of the particulars.
Among the whites we have found
Captain John Stedman, killed.
Dr. Milton Fellows, of Bladen, killed.
Thomas J. Tyson, of Cumberland, killed.
James O. West, of Bladen, on the boat, not
found.
Susan E. Larry, (or Leary,) formerly of Marion
C. H., S. C., late of Norfolk, Va., on the boat, not
found.
A small boy named Andrew Bell, on the boat,
not found.
Negroes. -- Five dead bodies found.
It is though that from five to ten others, white
and black, are lsot.
Badly Hurt. – T. S. Lutterloh, arm broken,
doing well; Geo. Peaman, Wilmington, badly
scalded and otherwise injured; Archibald McRae,
son of John McRae, of Harnett county, badly
burned; together with several others.
The boat is a total ruin. Parts of her hull,
machinery and apparel cover the shore for two
hundred yards around.
Harrison Driver, the mate, after being blown
overboard into the river, swam to the flat lying at
the landing, and was instantly active and efficient
in rendering relief. Driver’s conduct merits much
praise. The sufferers are being well attended to.
Those of the whites, not here named, who
were known to have been on the boat, are saved.
The most melancholy and pitiable sight is
presented here. Frightful and horribly distorted
corpses lie scattered around.
Yours in great
haste,
BLADEN.
[Wilmington Daily Journal – Friday Evening, February
19, 1858]
THE WHITEHALL DISASTER.—Nothing positive
has been added to the statement published in the
last Observer, except the names (in part) of the
killed and wounded. We have been unable to
obtain a list of those on board the Magnolia,
(supposed to number 35 to 40) at the time of the
explosion, or a complete list of the saved. Eleven
persons are known to have been killed, and one of
the wounded negroes has since died. From five to
ten other negroes are reported among the
missing, and are believed to have been killed.
The fullest statement we have seen is
contained in the annexed letter, which from its
date, should have reached us in time for the last
Observer, but only came to hand by yesterday’s
(Sunday) mail.
The general opinion here as to the cause of the
disaster differs from that entertained by our
correspondent’s informants. It is most commonly
supposed that the explosion was caused by the
rush of cold water upon the heated and exhausted
boilers; not by a head of steam too large for their
capacity. We have heard that the Magnolia was
permitted by the U. S. Examining Officer to carry
125 lbs., and that there were not on board
weights to enable her to carry more. But all these
matters will of course be investigated, and it is
proper in the meantime that the views of those on
board should be made known, as they are by our
correspondent, that if erroneous, they may be
rectified. Mr. Lutterloh, as soon as he recovers,
intends, as we hear, to make a thorough
investigation.
Letter to the Editors of the Observer, dated,
ELIZABETHTOWN, Feb. 17, 1858.
MESSRS. EDITORS:
The citizens of this
community were called upon, on yesterday, to
witness the most melancholy and awful scene
perhaps ever exhibited within the borders of our
State.
The steamer Magnolia, Captain John M.
Stedman, while lying at the wharf at Whitehall, on
Tuesday night the 16th inst., exploded her boilers,
scattering wreck and death on every hand!
From all the information which I could gather
in the hurry and confusion incident to this
accident, it appears that the boat had been
running under unusual pressure of steam, which
was not permitted to escape after she was
stopped to deliver a passenger and a few articles
of freight. The fire in the furnace was very high,
steam was fast generating, and an additional
weight having been applied to the lever which
commands the escape at the safety-valve, no
change was given it to expend its force, save in
the way it did.
At about the hour of 11 o’clock “there came a
burst of thunder sound,” shaking, jarring and
blowing into a million of atoms the hull, apparel
and machinery of the boat, and burling for
hundreds of feet on every side human bodies,
fragments of iron, wood and clothing, strewing
and lining the shore so completely with particles
of the wreck that one could scarcely have escaped
unhurt had he been standing a hundred feet away
on any side.
The report of the explosion was heard for nine
miles so distinctly as to awaken persons from
sleep.
The boiler, weighing two or three thousand
pounds, was blown at least three hundred feet
over a store-house some 30 or 40 feet high,
striking in its flight and breaking a stick of tontimber 16 inches square, upsetting two others,
and cutting off two trees at least eight inches
through!
Of the immense force exerted in this
explosion, I can give you no adequate idea.
Description is too meager to convey a
commensurate sense of it. Bolts and bars of iron
were cast as mere playthings from its giant blast.
The tree-tops round about are hung full of great
sheets of the deck, and articles of clothing flutter
from the branches as though they had been
vomited from her boiling cauldron and hung there
to dry.* A portion of a door, with the lock
attached, was found at least six hundred feet
from the wreck!
The hull of the boat is torn to fragments, and
presents the idea of a huge mastodonic skeleton
exhumed, with its big ribs alone remaining to
outline its form!
One can hardly conceive that so much force
and power could possibly be shut up and confined
in so small a compass. In short, sirs, the Magnolia
is a total wreck. Her furniture, machinery and
fixments generally are torn into fragments. Had
natural and artificial force combined to despoil
her of her fair proportions, they could not have
succeeded more effectually in accomplishing her
end.
I am not, at this time, sufficiently quiet in
feeling to give you a particular account of all that
this scene presented. I have not been accustomed
to look upon death in such hideous and distorted
shapes as there seemed to mock the observer.
Here and there lay the dead, bruised, blackened
and mangled; ghastly wounds, exuding blood,
shocked me on every side, and my tears were
dried up in their very fountain by this sirocco of
death! May it never blow in our midst again!
Among the whites killed the bodies of the
following persons have been found: Capt. John M.
Stedman, dreadfully torn and disfigured; Dr.
Milton Fellows of Bladen, (a bar or bolt of iron
entered his throat just under his chin, and passed
out at or near the mould of his head); Thomas I.
Tyson, Cedar Creek, Cumberland.
In addition, the following whites are thought to
have been killed,--(they were known to have been
on the boat and have not since been heard from)—
James O. West, Bladen; Susan E. Leary, formerly
of Marion Court House, S. C., late of Norfolk, Va.;
Andrew Bell, a small boy, in company with the
above.
Among the negroes, have been found the
bodies of five. It is believed that from five to ten
others are lost.
Wounded.—Mr. Lutterloh, arm broken and
bruised—doing well; Arch’d, son of John McRae, of
Harnet, badly scalded; George Pearman,
Wilmington, slightly scalded and otherwise
injured; several negroes, one mortally.
-----Mr. John W. Sikes advertises in the Wilmington
Journal for the owner of $122 in gold, found in a
buck-skin purse hanging to an oak near the scene
of the disaster.—OBS.
It is thought that at least thirteen lives have
been lost by this explosion. It is not for me to say
how it occurred. No one can tell positively where
the blame, if any, should lie.
I have been told that one of the Captains of
the boats on the River gives it as his opinion that
the boiler exploded from gas; that the boiler was
perfect and capable of resisting a pressure of one
hundred and sixty pounds of steam without
danger, if properly supplied with water. Persons
who were on the boat, however, generally believe
that she was carrying too much steam.
Great credit is due to Harrison Driver, the
mate, for his very prompt and efficient services in
rendering relief. Driver was thrown overboard
into the River, but, with great presence of mind,
he swam to the ferry flat with which he was
instantly active at the wreck.
There is a sad and poignant regret in the death
of poor Fellows.
He had labored hard and
sedulously against opposing circumstances in life
to acquire a place in the Medical profession, and
was just returning from Philadelphia, ‘bouyant
and happy, to his home and friends, when, alas for
human hopes and promises! he was cut down at
the very threshold!
------“Earthly things
Are but the transient pageant of an hour,
And earthly pride is like the passing flower
That springs to fall, and blossoms but to die.”
In a hasty and random way I have noted some
few incidents of this calamitous mishap. It came
upon us “as a thief in the night.” Let us hope that
our eyes may never look upon its like again, and
that God may so comfort the heart of the widow
and the fatherless, as ere long sunshine and joy
may take the place of sadness and sorrow.
P. S. Driver, the mate, testified before the
jury of inquest that the boat had been running for
several weeks without the services of the steamguage,--by guess. The guage was out of fix. The
community should have known this, or the boat
should have been taken from her work.
Yours, &c.
BLADEN.
Just as we are going to press, we learn from
Mr. T. S. Lutterloh, that the statement as to the
Steam-Guage is entirely without foundation, as he
knows from personal examination.
-----The remains of Capt. John M. Stedman, of the
ill-fated steamer Magnolia, were followed to the
grave, on Friday afternoon, by the Order of Odd
Fellows, the Independent Company, and a large
number of citizens. A tribute to his memory,
handed us this morning by one who knew and
loved him well, we are compelled by press of
matter to postpone till Thursday.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, February 22,
1858]
ARRIVAL FROM THE DEEP RIVER.—The Steamer
John H. Haughton arrived on Tuesday morning
from Haywood, with one hundred and thirty-five
bales of Cotton, five hundred barrels of Flour,
&c., on board. With the exception of a small
quantity of Flour consigned to Wilmington by the
owner, the Haughton’s freight was sold here.
-----FOR THE OBSERVER.
MESSRS. HALE:--Gentlemen: Will you kindly
allow me space in the Observer for a brief tribute
to the memory of Mr. Fellow, medical student, on
the Magnolia at the time of the explosion. He was
indeed a worthy young man: for a stranger to
know him was to respect and admire him; for
friends to be associated with him was to love him.
John Milton Fellow is lost to us,--struck down in
the dawn of usefulness to his countrymen, of
honorable advancement to himself,--one likely to
have proved an ornament to any community, an
undoubted credit to this his native State. Again
we are invited to repeat the poetic sentiment—
alas, too often realized!—“Death loves a shining
mark.” Again we are summoned to bow, mutely
resigned, beneath the weight of an inscrutable
dispensation of Providence. We are smitten—we
are smitten with the rod of affliction; but let us
not presume to murmur, let not the bereaved
mourn us those without hope—without Heavenly
Consolation.
“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense;
But trust Him for His grace
Behind a frowning Providence
He hides a shining face.”
SENEX.
Mt. Zion, South River, 8th March.
------
An Incident.—A friend sends the following:
When the Magnolia exploded on the Cape Fear, an
old negro man, the cook, was fatally injured.
Being found horribly scalded he seemed cheerful
and happy, and exclaimed “Glory to god. I am
going home to heaven.” It was astonishing to
observe the difference in death, between the
triumph of this poor old negro, and others whose
tortures did not appear to be alleviated by the
Christian’s faith. “Let me die the death of the
righteous, and let my last end be like his.”
N. C. Christian Advocate.
Poor old Simon! For about forty years he was a
faithful steward, mostly on one boat—the old
Henrietta—on the Cape Fear. He was faithful in
life, and was not without Hope in his death.
[Fayetteville Observer – March 15, 1858]
ANOTHER ARRIVAL FROM DEEP RIVER.—The
John H. Haughton arrived at this place on Tuesday
last, heavily freighted with Cotton and Flour from
the Deep River country.
[Fayetteville Observer – April 5, 1858]
CONDITION OF THE RIVER.—We learn that a
quantity of goods which had been shipped from
the North by Wilmington, for Fayetteville and the
back country, have been diverted from this place
after their arrival in Wilmington, and sent on the
N. C. & W. & M. roads. This must have been
owing
either
to
misapprehension
or
misrepresentation as to the condition of the river.
We refer to our columns for evidence of the fact
that the steamers have at no time this season
failed to make regular trips to and from
Wilmington. Several of the boats, (and more
indeed than are reported in the Observer, for we
can’t get all the agents to attend to the matter,)
have been running regularly, and are now running
regularly, and intend to run regularly; and people
who want goods to come this way, may rest
assured of their prompt transportation. The two
last trips of one of the boats brought larger
freights than any the owners have ever had. Let
no credit be given to interested reports to the
contrary.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, September 30,
1858]
BOAT SUNK.—We learn that on Saturday last
the steamer Rowan, on her down trip about 30
miles from Wilmington, struck a snag and sunk. As
the river is low and the freight of a kind not easily
damaged, we presume the loss is small, and that
the boat will soon be running again.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, October 4,
1858]
Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Co.:-The River Opened ! !---Steamer Enterprise
And Barges Pioneer and Perseverance enroute
For the Coal Fields with Merchandise
And Machinery!!!---Success at Last!!!!
It is with great satisfaction that we announce
to our citizens and the State at large, that on
yesterday afternoon the steamer Enterprise and
barges Pioneer and Perseverance left this port
with merchandise and machinery for Egypt, on
Deep River, and all intermediate landings above
Fayetteville. The shippers were Messrs. Hathaway
& Co., T. C. & B. G. Worth, Wm. Neff & Sons, T.
H. McKoy & Co., Wm. K. Covell, DeRosset &
Brown, Wm. H. McRary & Co., Keith & Flanner,
Henry A. London, L. A. Hart, L. N. Barlow.
The indefatigable and very efficient president,
Mr. Cassiday, who accompanies the Enterprise and
barges to the mines this trip, informs us it is his
intention to take in a full cargo of Deep River
coal, direct from the mines, and land it some time
next week upon the wharves of our town.—Wil.
Herald.
[The barges above mentioned (but not the
steamer) arrived here on Friday night, in tow of
the steamer Rowan, of Lutterloh’s line of
Fayetteville boats] –OBSERVER.
[Fayetteville Observer – December 6, 1858]
THE BARGE PIONEER—JONES’S LOCK, &c.—
The Wilmington Herald, in the exuberance of its
joy over the annexed letter, perpetrates some
rare witticisms, such as that the salute to be fired
in Wilmington, on the arrival of the “barge
Pioneer,” would, “if it were heard in Fayetteville,
make its [the Observer’s] pet, the George McNeill,
unquestionably jump the track and take to the
woods in pure terror and dismay.” Now that
would be an achievement worthy of the occasion
of a salute of 100 guns for making a trip to Deep
river in FIFTY DAYS! Better let your “barge” take
to the woods. We have had many tons of Deep
river coal here in Fayetteville, in two days from
the mines, by those woods boats commonly called
wagons, at a far less cost per ton than that which
will go to Wilmington by the “barge Pioneer.”
The Herald has no right to call the Observer
“the worst enemy in the world of the scheme,”
though if it were, it would be justified by the
benevolent motives of some of the projectors of
the scheme, viz: to obliterate Fayetteville from
the map. The pretext for so speaking of us is a
statement in the Observer which the Herald does
not pretend to question. And that statement we
made to give the truth as to certain news items
which we felt bound to copy from the Wilmington
papers. Are we the worst enemies of the scheme
because we tell the truth about it?
We never opposed the scheme: our members
voted for all the appropriations it ever had, and
with our full and often expressed approval. We
are opposed to humbuggery, such as that now
uttered by the Herald about “the success of the
great scheme for the development of the vast
mineral resources of North Carolina.” The idea
that the arrival of one old boat, (newly christened
a “barge,”) after a fifty days’ trip, with repairs to
be made at nearly every lock before she could get
through, is a “success of the great scheme,”
would be laughable if it were not worse. Go to
work like men: ask the Legislature for a million of
dollars: add you own money to that: put in locks
and dams that will “support their own weight,”
and you will find the Observer bid you all speed.
But to the letter:-BARGE PIONEER,
}
JONES LOCK, Jan’y 13—8 P. M.
}
When I arrived here (as I wrote you,) I found three
of the gates broken out and gone, so I determined at
once to make a lower gate and work stop plank above
to enable us to pass our boats, which I hope to do by
Sunday. I have employed help at Cross Creek that I
may not be detained at that lock; and if nothing more
takes place to prevent, I hope to see you soon.
JAS. CASSIDEY, Pres’t.
P. S. We are informed that the “barge” is still
on the wrong side of Jones’s Lock, this morning.
The river rose 10 feet yesterday, which will delay
the repairs.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening – January 17,
1859]
DEEP RIVER.—We copy the two following
paragraphs from the Wilmington papers of
Tuesday last. We wish to give every one his due,
but it is certainly hard to get reliable information
from the rivers above. Here are the Wilmington
papers expecting the boats yesterday, with guns
charged to salute them; whilst our information is,
that the aforesaid boats were yesterday lying at
Jones’s Lock, 8 miles above this place, unable to
get past it, for the reason that the gates of the
Lock had been washed away during the late fresh.
Then a few days ago the same Wilmington
papers announced the arrival there of a boat from
Haywood, “after passing through ten Locks,” as
they said; which must have been the most
marvelous boating feat on record, since the said
ten Locks were, according to our information,
from thirty to forty feet under water.
The Boats from Deep River are expected here
tomorrow with Coal, and we learn that our
citizens are making arrangements to greet them
on their arrival, with a salvo of 100 guns.
Wilmington Herald.
Deep River.—We have just seen Mr. Jesse J.
Cassidey, who arrived here on Sunday, from the
Deep River work, where he left his father, James
Cassidey, Esq., President of the Company, on
Friday last, about ten miles above Lockville, with
the steamer Haughton, and a large Flat in tow;
said Flat being loaded with Coal, Iron and Copper
Ore, Soapstone, Wheat, Flour, Cotton, Dried Fruit
and country produce generally. Mr. Cassidey looks
for his father here to-morrow or next day, with
the products. His arrival should be hailed by the
people of Wilmington as an auspicious event,
establishing the existence of a communication,
however imperfectly constructed, with the Mines.
Mr. Cassidey also informs us that he has
received from the lock-tender at Silver Run, a
letter dated on the 4th inst., stating that the late
freshet had done some damage to the lock at that
place, but none that could not be repaired in a
day. He had heard of no damage at any other
point.
It is probable that some mistakes were made,
owing to the fact that a good quantity of dressed
timer had been placed on the bank of the river in
the vicinity of Red Rock Dam, and this timber
floating off and down the stream, naturally gave
rise to the impression that a considerable portion
of the works had been carried off. We may make
our Fayetteville cotemporaries unhappy by stating
this fact, but we can’t help it.
Wilmington Journal.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, January 18,
1859]
From the Wilmington Herald.
ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMER HAUGHTON,
AND BARGE PIONEER.
FROM DEEP RIVER.
With Coal, Iron Ore, Copper Ore, Soap Stone, Flour,
&c.—The flags of the shipping displayed in honor of the
event.—The Boats Welcomed amid the roar of Cannon,
and the enthusiastic Cheers of the crowds upon the
Wharves.—The Deep River Navigation a Fixed Fact!
Yesterday afternoon, between two and three
o’clock, the cannon stationed at Point Peter
announced in thunder tones the approach of the
long-looked for steamer and barge direct from the
Coal Mines on Deep River. Scarcely had the report
died away, ere it was answered by the big gun on
one of our wharves. Our citizens being on the qui
vive, immediately flocked en masse to the
wharves and docks, which soon presented and
unusual scene of excitement. Away up the river,
turning and twisting through its tortuous course,
could be seen the approaching boats, bearing on
board the first instalment {Word, installment,
misspelled.} of the precious deposits which had so
long lain dormant and useless in the mother earth,
and now for the first time thrown open for the use
of mankind. An unusual degree of pleasure and
satisfaction was visible in the faces of all; many
jumped aboard a tug boat and proceeded to meet
the steamer, and extend to Mr. Cassidey a hearty
welcome; the flags of the shipping in port were
displayed; and, as the boats passed Market dock,
the cheers from the excited crowds on shore rent
the air, the cannon firing from two points was
kept up in rapid succession, and everybody
seemed to recognize fully the realization of their
hopes, and to pay a slight tribute to our
townsman, through whose untiring zeal and
energy this, the first cargo of North Carolina coal
ever brought to market, has been landed on our
shores. To our young friend, F. A. L. Cassidey,
Esq., much praise is also due. In energy, industry
and perseverance he has shown himself to be a
genuine “chip of {off} the old block,” and his
exertions have contributed not a little to the
success of the great event which we now chronicle
with so much pleasure.
If is a singular coincidence that the arrival of
the boats here should occur the same day that the
news of the passage in the Senate of the
Coalfields Railroad bill, the reception of which
was greeted with so much satisfaction by our
citizens generally. Both these schemes for the
development of the vast resources of the State
should meet with a hearty endorsement from all
true North Carolinians; and we cannot see how
any many with the least State pride can have a
word to say against either of these truly great
Sate works, identified as they are with the best
interests of the State and her people.
The
Legislature has shown its sense and patriotism in
killing off the Danville connection scheme.—a
Virginia project, aimed at the best interests of the
gold old State, by preventing the very objects of
the true State works now in operation and
contemplation.
We therefore hail with pleasure the
announcement above made.
The Deep River
Improvement has been found to be practicable;
let not the fostering hand of the state be turned
from it, or the Coalfield Road, and a new era in
the history of North Carolina commences from today.
[Fayetteville Observer – January 24, 1859]
BUSINESS UPON THE CAPE FEAR.—Some years
ago there were ten or twelve steamers, with
proper complements of tow boats, plying between
this place and Wilmington.
The freight
subsequently decreased so far as to render the
business unprofitable, and ## number of boats was
reduced. We are happy to say that for the past
year or two the trade of Fayetteville has revived,
and that the boat owners ever ready to meet the
wants of the trade, as extending their means of
transportation. There are two steamers and four
tow boats in progress of construction at the
Fayetteville wharves, which, with the present
fleet, will probably suffice till the Western
Railroad reaches the Coalfields, when another
large addition will be required. The following list
will give our readers a correct idea of the present
and prospective freight and passenger facilities.
The Cape Fear Line—Messrs. Worth & Utley,
Fayetteville—Has the fine passenger and freight
steamer Flora and two tow boats. Is building a
tow boat of large capacity and light draft.
Lutterloh’s Line—T. S. Lutterloh, Esq.,
Fayetteville—Has the passenger and freight
steamer Fanny, freight steamer Rowan, and three
tow boats. Is building (nearly ready) a very large
passenger and freight steamer of light draft, and a
tow boat.
Rush & Orrell, Fayetteville—Have steamer Sun
and two tow boats.
Orrell & Daily, Fayetteville—Have recently
bought the steamer Southerner, and are building a
new steamer and two tows.
Petteway & Prichett, Wilmington—Have
steamer Black River and three tows.
John Dawson, Wilmington—Has the new
steamer Dawson, steamer Douglas, and three
tows.
W. P. Elliott, Wilmington—Has steamer
Enterprise, which is employed mainly below this
place.
Capt. Peck, Wilmington—Has the steamer
Hattie Hart.
If we could only persuade the Agents of all
these lines to report consignees by every arrival,
it would make much more of a showing of business
than we can now make. Some of the steamers
come to the wharf, discharge, load, and return,
without any opportunity of the public to know
that they have ever been here.
If their
proprietors had a little of yankee enterprise and
shrewdness, they would report themselves
regularly, if not for the public benefit at least for
the sake of the advertisement. Every mention of
a boat under our commercial head is a gratuitous
advertisement.
------[steamboat image>]
NEW LINE.
I
HAVE associated with me, in this line, Mr. John
K. Dailey, and will style the firm ORRELL &
DAILEY.
We have purchased the Steamer SOUTHERNER,
and in a few days, will have a New Flat employed
with her. Those favoring us with their patronage
may rely upon prompt despatch, by applying to
Mr. Dailey on board, or to me at my office.
R. M. ORRELL.
------R. M. ORRELL.
March 26, 1859
JOHN K. DAILEY.
800-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, March 28,
1859]
FOR WILMINGTON.
STEAMER HATTIE HART.---CAPT. PECK.
[steamboat image>]
WILL leave this place
regularly every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY, at 8
o’clock, A. M., and arrive at Wilmington same
evening. Will also leave Wilmington at 9 o’clock,
A. M., every MONDAY and THURSDAY, and arrive
at this place next morning early.
[pointing finger>]
For light freight, or
passage, having good accommodations, apply on
board, at Rush & Orrell’s wharf.
April 13
Carolinian copy.
5-2m
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, April 14,
1859]
SALE OF THE DEEP RIVER WORKS.---We learn
that the sale of the property and franchise of the
Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Company
was made at Pittsborough on Saturday last, by
Henry A. London, Esq., as Trustee, under the
resolution of the Stockholders. The first bid was
by Maurice Q. Waddell, Esq., of $300,000, (Mr. W.
remarking, we understand, that that was all the
money he had.) The State, by Graham Daves,
Esq., the Governor’s Private Secretary, then bid
$365,000. N. A. Ramsay, Esq. followed with
$400,000, at which the property was knocked off.
Mr. London thereupon demanded the $400,000,
the terms being cash. Mr. Ramsay desired him to
call at his office at 2 o’clock and he would settle
with him—it was then about ½ past 12. This did
not meet the views of the Trustee, who forthwith
put up the property again—Mr. Ramsay forbidding
the sale. Mr. Waddell again started it at the
amount of his “pile.”
The State again bid
$365,000, and was declared the fortunate
purchaser—Mr.
Ramsay
protesting
his
determination to bring suit to maintain his
purchase.
Whether this was all in jest, like Mr. Waddell’s
remark, or sober seriousness, we know not; but
suppose that Mr. R. could have no claim till he
tendered the purchase money.
The act of the Legislature authorized the
Governor to purchase at not exceeding $450,000;
but the difference between the $365,000 and that
sum will be required to pay off prior liens.
There were very few persons at the sale, and
not enough of the Directors present to hold a
meeting of that body.
------SUPPOSED TO BE DROWNED.---A man named
Sessoms, a passenger on the Fanny from
Wilmington on Wednesday last, was missing when
the boat arrived at the Old Ferry Landing, nine
miles below this place, and has not since been
seen or heard of. The Captain of the Fanny last
saw him at Elizabeth, when Sessoms asked to be
landed at the Old Ferry. There is scarcely a doubt
that he walked or fell overboard and was
drowned.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, April 25, 1859]
BODY FOUND.--- The body of ----- Sessoms,
who was supposed to have fallen overboard from
the steamer Fanny, on the 20th ult., (as mentioned
in the Observer of the 25th ult.,) was found in the
Cape Fear near Elizabeth and buried at Waddell’s
Landing on the 4th inst. The Coroner held an
inquest the result of which was a verdict of
accidental death. About $60 in cash were found
in his pockets.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, May 12, 1859]
THE CAPE FEAR AND DEEP RIVER WORKS.
---Yesterday’s Standard contains a long Report of
Ellwood Morris, Chief Engineer, to the Governor,
of an examination of the rivers, from Fayetteville
to Evan’s dam in Deep River, 95 miles, made in a
bateau between the 6th and 11th inst., at the rate
of 15 to 25 miles a day. In this trip and in these
five days, the Engineer “examined briefly,” as he
says, “every work upon both rivers,” and he
enumerates the works as follows: 19 dams, 19
slack water pools, 24 locks, 3 canals, each about
half a mile in length, and a swing bridge at
Lockville. The works overcome a life of 125 feet
in Cape Fear, 58 miles, and 80 feet in Deep River,
42 miles. The two upper locks, (Gulf and Evan’s,)
have never been entirely finished nor connected
with the dams, (says Mr. Morris,) nor had their
gates in place; and no steamboat or barge has
ever passed above the Gulf, which place, 81 miles
above Fayetteville, has heretofore and may still
be regarded temporarily as the head of
navigation. Both locks and dams are built of
wooden cribworks filled with stone—a kind of work
very durable and appropriate for dams or works
under water, but not at all so for locks on rivers
like these.
OF THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORKS.
1. Cape Fear River Works.—The dam at Cross
creek appears to be in a fair condition, but will
need some hard stone filling and some slight
repairs, and the same may be said of the lock at
this place.
These being the latest works
constructed, are less decayed and in better
condition than the others.
The 3 dams next above Cross creek, (Jones’
Silver Run, and Red Rock,) standing upon soft rock
bottom, their cribs filled with perishable stone,
and already partially undermined, must be
regarded as standing in a rather precarious
condition; but they may, and I hope will, stand for
some years, or until they can be secured. The
other 2 dams, on the Cape Fear river, standing as
they do on hard rock foundations, seem to be
good works—they promise extended durability—
the immediate repairs needed by them will not be
serious; and with moderate additions to some of
them in the future, when properly secured by
cemented stone abutments, solidly connected
with the land, they may fairly be regarded as
permanent works.
The 14 wooden cribwork locks on Cape Fear
river, above Cross Creek dam, (some of them
filled with perishable stone, and all fastened with
tree-nails only,) are all more or less dilapidated by
decay and weakness—the side walls never were of
adequate strength, in many cases they were badly
founded, and as a necessary consequence they
have yielded in every direction--some
{unfinished transcription}
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, May 26, 1859]
A NEW STEAMER FOR THE CAPE FEAR.—The
Norfolk Day Book of the 7th inst., says—
The stern-wheel steamer “Hurt” from
Wilmington, Del., bound to Fayetteville, N. C.,
put in here Saturday. She is constructed for the
cotton trade and is well provided for passengers.”
The boat mentioned is an iron steamer, owned
by the Cape Fear company, and has recently been
built at Wilmington, Delaware, under the
superintendence of Capt. Hurt.
We have not yet heard of her arrival here.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, May 10, 1860]
We noticed the arrival at our wharves
yesterday afternoon, from Wilmington, Del., of a
new iron sternwheel steamer called the A. P.
Hurt, after her worthy commander, Captain A. P.
Hurt, under whose supervision she was
constructed.
The A. P. Hurt is intended as a passenger and
freight boat between this place and Fayetteville,
and from her light draught of water, handsome
finish and roomy accommodations, we should
think her owners would find her adapted to all the
demands of the trade. Her dimensions are as
follows:--Length 118 feet, exclusive of wheel;
breadth of beam 18 feet; depth of hold 4 feet.
She draws 17 inches when light, and is of 125 tons
burthen. On her upper deck are the saloons and
berths; she has 36 berths in all. There are six
state-rooms with three berths in each—a saloon
and dining apartment, a social hall for way
passengers, and where gentlemen may smoke --a
room, the last aft, for ladies traveling with
children. All these are fitted up in good taste and
excellent style.
The Hurt was built by Messrs. Pusey, Jones &
Co., of Wilmington, Del., for the Cape Fear
Steamboat Company, and will run in connection
with the Flora McDonald in the Cape Fear
Steamboat Line, for which Messrs. T. C. & B. G.
Worth are agents in Wilmington, and Mr. J. A.
Worth in Fayetteville. The fact that the boat was
built under the personal supervision of Capt. Hurt,
and that she will be commanded by him is
sufficient guarantee for the character of the craft
and her management.
Her engines, we had
almost forgotten to mention, are very powerful,
and sufficient to drive her at almost any required
rate of speed.
Wilmington Journal.
We are happy to announce the arrival here of
this elegant boat. She left Wilmington yesterday
at 11 A. M. and arrived here at 5 A. M. this
morning.
She cost $16,000. Her proprietors have our
best wishes for her complete success.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, May 17, 1860]
Moonlight Excursion.
It has been a long time since we have had
a really good excursion down the old Cape
Fear by moonlight, and we take pleasure in
announcing to our readers that the fine and
commodious steamer Flora Macdonald will
leave here to-morrow night for the above
purpose. We are requested to state that two
bands will be in attendance, one a full brass
band, for the benefit of every one, and the
other a string band, so that all who feel
disposed can add to the pleasures of the trip
by dancing.
[Wilmington Daily Herald – Wednesday Evening , May 30,
1860]
A SAD DISASTER.—We are pained to announce
another fatal steamboat explosion on the Cape
Fear. The boiler of the Kate McLaurin, a new and
handsome freight and passenger boat, exploded
on Tuesday morning last about 4 o’clock, at the
Little Sugar Loaf, about 50 miles below this place,
by which Capt. Wm. T. Evans and three hands lost
their lives. Capt. Evans is supposed to have been
thrown 75 or 100 feet into a cane-brake, which
being overflowed in the high state of the river, his
body was not found when we last heard. Charles,
a free boy of color, is supposed to have been
thrown into the river. William, a negro man
belonging to Mr. Duncan McLaurin, was blown over
the top of the new steamer A. P. Hurt, which was
delivering goods at a landing near by. Capt. Hurt
very promptly had him picked up, alive; he was
brought to town in the Hurt, but died before he
could be landed from the boat. The third boat
hand lost was a free boy named John Henry Hayes,
who was unhurt by the explosion, but was
drowned in attempting to swim ashore.
At the time of the explosion the Kate was just
in rear of the A. P. Hurt; both boats were
stationary—the Hurt had stopped to land a box,
the Kate came up and made an effort to pass, but
not finding sufficient room had backed down a few
feet.
Great credit is awarded to Capt. A. P. Hurt for
his kindness to the crew of the ill-fated steamer.
The Kate drifted about 33 miles down stream
and was then tied up by the men who remained on
board. Most of the cargo was insured—all of it
ought to have been. The boat is supposed to be
not very greatly injured, and nothing in a
pecuniary view distressing about it, in comparison
with the sad loss of life.
The Kate McLaurin belonged to Messrs. Orrell
& Dailey, cost perhaps $6,000, and had been
running less than six months.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, May 31, 1860]
The Explosion of the Kate McLaurin.
We have received but little additional
intelligence of this melancholy disaster beyond a
few items from the Fayetteville Courier of
yesterday. The new steamer Hurt was about
twenty rods above the Kate, but sustained little or
no damage from the explosion.
Captain Hurt says he saw two or three objects
in the air shortly after the explosion, and thinks
they must have been the lifeless bodies of Capt.
Evans, and the negroes Hayes and Jenkins. Capt.
H. made a thorough search for their bodies, but as
the water was all over the low grounds he was
unsuccessful.
A negro fireman named Chester belonging to
Major J. T. Gilmore, was seriously injured. Others
of the crew were slightly injured.
The Pilot had the wheel which moves the
rudder blown out of his hands. He sustained no
injury.
Captain Hurt, by his manly exertions,
succeeded in saving several of the hands from a
watery grave. He did all within his power to keep
the Kate from sinking, but the largest hawsers
with which he fastened her to his boat were not
sufficiently strong. The upper works of the boat
was blown into atoms; her hull is also badly
damaged.
[Wilmington Daily Herald – Thursday Evening, May 31,
1860]
{finger pointing>}
The Excursion last night was a
pleasant one. Instead of going down the river, the
boat went up, as far as the Magnolia, on Cape
Fear, and then quietly turned round and came
back to town, where she arrived all safe and
sound, at the “wee hour” of 12, in the night. In
spite of the protestations of the clerk, of the
weather, who affirmed that it would certainly
rain, the night was a fine one, and we believe all
who went came back well pleased with their trip.
[Wilmington Daily Herald – Friday Evening, June 1, 1860]
For the Courier.
RICHMOND, Va., May 26, 1860.
Editor of the Courier:--I left Fayetteville on
Monday morning on board of the Kate McLaurin,
Capt. Evans, whose politeness and attention is
commendable to all who travel with him. The
Cape Fear River reminded me of the stories I have
heard of streams in tropical regions, the banks of
which were lined with a rich luxuriant foliage
almost reaching over the stream. It was to me a
curiosity; exceedingly crooked and sufficiently
narrow to enable a person to converse with others
on the banks, and yet scarcely a habitation to be
seen the entire distance, 120 miles; but to suffice
it to say the Kate arrived about 10 o’clock, while I
was sound asleep, and when I awoke the next
morning I saw a flat country on one side of the
river, on the other a gentle sloping upward, on
which the mansions of refinement and taste were
erected. Some I saw would compare favorably
with any I have ever seen in any of the great cities
of the North west. Being unwell I did not move
about much, I looked around the shops of the
Wilmington and Weldon Railroad Company and
saw plainly that the work of renovation was going
on both in road bed and rolling stock, but I am
sorry to say that some of the passenger cars
looked as if they had been recently painted and
varnished on the out side at the same time the
inside was exceedingly filthy, a thing that should
never be allowed on a well conducted trunk line
like the Wilmington & W. Railroad. The question
occurred to me whether the man—that is the
Fremont that “Graely” said was a Catholic in
1856, was not the great I am on the road—
endeavoring to be everything instead of managing
the transportation and assign the Locomotive and
Car departments to complement men and hold
them individually responsible for the proper
administration of their respective departments.
The completion of the W., C. & R. R. must add
largely to the business of Wilmington, and will
have a tendency to take from Fayetteville some of
the trade now centering there, and I think it will
be to your interest to construct a branch from
Fayetteville to the nearest point on the North
Carolina Railroad.
I left Wilmington at 2 o’clock and arrived at
Weldon about 10, where I stopped for the night to
recruit. Along the whole line there seems to be a
spirit of improvement.
At one o’clock on
Thursday I left Weldon for this place, there being
a marked change as I neared Petersburg and
Richmond in the cultivation of the soil and
diversified character of its surface. I shall look
around to-day, and give you my impressions of the
place where the seceding Democracy are soon to
assemble for deliberation.
Yours, truly, IAGG.
[The Weekly Courier – Fayetteville, N.C. – Saturday, June
2, 1860]
EXPLOSION OF THE STEAMER KATE MCLAURIN.
The Captain and three of the Crew Killed.
The Steamer Kate McLaurin of Orrell and
Dailey’s Line, which left Wilmington for this place,
collapsed her flues at Little Sugar Loaf about eight
miles below Elizabethtown, between 3 and four
o’clock on Tuesday morning last, killing Captain
William T. Evans, her Commander, and two free
negroes named Charles Jenkins and John Henry
Hayes, and a negro man named Charles Beebee,
belonging to Messrs. D. & W. McLaurin of this
place. The Steamer A. P. Hurt was discharging
freight about twemty {misspelled} yards above the
ill-fated Steamer, and strange to say, she and her
crew sustained very little damage.
The Captain of the Steamer Hurt saw two or
three objects in the air shortly after the
explosion, and thinks they must have been the
lifeless bodies of Capt. Evans and the negroes
Hayes and Jenkins. Capt. Hurt made a fruitless
search for their bodies, as the water was all over
the low grounds where they are supposed to have
fallen.
The fireman, a negro boy named Chester, the
property of Maj. John T. Gilmore, was seriously
injured. Others of the crew were slightly injured.
The Pilot had the wheel which moves the
rudder blown out of his hands. He sustained no
injury.
Captain Hurt by his manly exertions succeeded
in saving several of the hands from a watery
grave. He did all within his power to keep the
Kate from sinking, but the largest hawsers with
which he fastened her to his boat were not
sufficiently strong. She drifted several miles down
the river where it is supposed she would lodge in a
cove. The upper work of the boat was blown into
atoms; her hull is also badly damaged.
Captain Evans was a clever gentleman, who by
his affability and attention to his passengers won
for himself an enviable reputation. His sudden
and untimely death is greatly deplored.
The Kate McLaurin was built in Lower
Fayetteville, under the supervision of R. M. Orrell,
for Messrs Orrell and Dailey, and was one of the
best and most handsomely finished boats upon the
Cape Fear. She was valued at between $8,000
and $9,000.
At the time of the explosion she had on a cargo
worth between fifteen hundred and two thousand
dollars.
[The Weekly Courier – Fayetteville, N.C. – Saturday,
June 2, 1860]
Recovery of the Body of Capt. Evans.—The body of
Capt. Evans , of the steamer Kate McLaurin, and
that of one of the negro deck hands, was found
by some raftsmen on Friday evening last about 5
miles below Whitehall, and 30 miles this side of
the scene of the disaster. There were no bruises
on the person of Capt. E. to indicate that he had
died from the effects of the explosion. It has
been supposed that he was stunned, and while in
that state was drowned.
The body, when found, had upon it some
$45.00 in money, and a gold watch, besides other
articles of light value. It was put on board the
steamer North Carolina and sent to Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Daily Herald – Monday Evening, June 4,
1860]
BODIES RECOVERED.—We learn that on Friday
last the body of Capt. W. T. Evans, late of the
Steamer Kate McLaurin, was found at Elwell’s
Landing, on the Cape Fear River, about twelve
miles below the scene of the fatal explosion by
which Captain Evans lost his life. Captains Hurt,
of the A. P. Hurt and Barber, of the North
Carolina, paid the last sad respect to the remains,
which could not be removed, but were buried
near to the place where found. There were no
indications of any blow or other severe injury.
The bodies of the two deck hands have also been
recovered and buried.
[Wilmington Journal – Thursday, June 7, 1860]
The body of Capt. William T. Evans, who was
killed by the explosion of the Steamer Kate
McLaurin, on Thursday of last week, was found on
Friday last about seventeen miles below the place
at which the disaster occurred.
A friend has just handed us a brief obituary of
the deceased.
----For the Courier.
THE LAMENTED CAPT. EVANS.
Though we must all die and “ are as water spilt
upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up, “
– and though we are all hastening to our long
home, yet it is impossible for man to contemplate
the sudden and unexpected extinction of life
without concern. To perish in a moment, to be
instantaneously hurried into the presence of the
Supreme Judge, has something in it inexpressibly
awful and affecting.
Such has been the fate of our lamented young
townsman, Capt. Wm. T. Evans, whose untimely
death has cast a heavy gloom over our whole
community, and pierced the heart of many, many
warm friends. The universal expression of sorrow
in our midst at his loss attests well the high
esteem in which he was held by all who knew him.
He was an accomplished gentleman and a
generous friend, ardent and vigorous in his
vocations, yet, discretion and a thorough
knowledge of his business, combined with noted
urbanity of manners, made him a favorite with
those who ever took passage on his boat.
Capt. Evans was in the very prime of manhood
and usefulness, warmed with bright hopes for the
future; fondly attached to the innocent pleasures
of this life, as he was, yet we have reason to
believe that a heart so noble, so kind, found favor
with God. His preparation for eternity was not a
death-bed repentance. He though much of death,
and talked of eternity when in health, and with
his bosom friend none knew him better, or loved
him more than the writer of this brief notice.
He leaves no parents to mourn for him, no
children to grieve after him, no wife to weep and
sorrow, but, he does leave those who weep in the
bitterness of despair, and like “ Rachel refuse to
be comforted, because he is not “ -- He was an
only brother.
“ The Lord will not cast off forever. “
“ But though he cause grief, yet will he have
compassion according to the multitude of his
mercies. “
[The Weekly Courier – Fayetteville, N. C. – Saturday,
June 9, 1860]
The wreck of the steamer Kate McLaurin arrived
here yesterday. She seems badly torn up from the
effect of the recent explosion. She has been sent
to Mr. Cassidey’s shipyard for repairs.
The
amount of damage is not yet ascertained.
Wilmington Herald.
[Weekly Courier -- Saturday Morning -- June 16, 1860]
MILITARY EXCURSION.—On Friday last the
Fayetteville Independent Light Infantry gave a
Steamboat
Excursion
and
Target-Firing,
complimentary to their brother-soldiers of the
Lafayette Light Infantry. We regret that press of
business prevented us from being present, but
learn that, barring the extreme heat of the
weather, every thing passed off well and to the
entire satisfaction of all present.
The full ranks of the two Companies indicated
the interest felt among the members; and soon
after nine A. M. the new and beautiful Steamer A.
P. Hurt, commanded by that favorite Steamboat
Commander, Capt. A. P. Hurt, was under way for
Cedar Creek, where a beautiful spot had been
selected for Target exercise, near the residence
of J. C. Blocker, Esq.
The firing being over, the Military, with a large
number of civic guests, sat down to a sumptuous
repast provided for the occasion, and mirth and
hilarity prevailed.
We have been furnished with the following
account of the firing:
Lafayette Light Infantry—No. of balls fired
147; No. of shots in Target 102. Best average
shots, Serg’t B. Rush, 5 41-48; second best, Ensign
Geo. Sloan, 6 inches; third best, Private Enniss, 6
1/3. Best single shot, Private Neubury, 1 ¼;
second best, Private J. R. McDonald, 1 5/8; third
best, Private hall, 2 inches.
Independent Company—No. of balls fired 137;
No. of shots in Target 118. Best average shots,
Private Jas. Wemyss, 3 ½; second best, Capt.
Wright Huske, 3 ¾; third best, No. 32, 5 ½. Best
single shot, Private John H. Anderson, ¼ inch;
second best, Private James Wemyss, 1 3/8; third
best Capt. Vann, 1 ¾.
After the Target exercises were concluded, an
impromptu firing was gotten up between some of
the elderly gentlemen present, and Mr. Wm.
Lumsden, Sen., once of the three survivors in the
Independent Company in the War of 1812, was
declared the victor.
The Companies returned to town about sunset, and the Prizes were awarded in front of the
Fayetteville Hotel, by Neill McKay, Esq., prefaced
by some neat and appropriate remarks. The first
Prize, a beautiful silver Goblet, lined with gold,
and provided by the Independent Company, was
awarded to Private Wemyss. The second Prize, a
very handsome silver Cup, was awarded to Capt.
Wright Huske. This Prize was presented to the
Independent Company (to be contended for by its
members alone,) by some of its warm friends (not
members) connected with the establishment of A.
A. McKethan, Esq., which, by the way, always
furnishes its full quota of good and true men to
swell the ranks of the Old Company.
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, July 2, 1860]
Cape Fear Navigation Company
THE
Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held
in the town of Fayetteville on Friday the 30th May.
D. A. RAY, Pres’t.
May 1, 1862
22*tm
[Fayetteville Observer – Monday Evening, May 19, 1862]
APPLICATION
WILL
be made to the Cape Fear Navigation
Company for the renewal of Certificate of Stock
No. 42, for one share of stock in said Company,
issued to Paris I. Tillinghast, Sr., and for the
renewal of Certificate of Stock No. 43, for one
share, issued to Cyrus P. Tillinghast, the originals
having been lost.
June 2.
31-2t
------
T. C. & B. G. WORTH,
Commission and Forwarding Merchants,
WILMINGTON, N. C.
Jan’y 28, 1861
84tf
------
CLARK & TURLINGTON,
COMMISSION MERCHANTS,
WILMINGTON, N.C.
WILL give special attention to the sale or
shipment of all Naval Stores, Cotton, Flour,
Timber, and other country produce. Dealers in
Lim, Plaster, Cement, Hair, &c., and
AGENTS FOR STEAMERS KATE McLAURIN AND SUN.
Refer to H. R. Savage, Cashier Bank of Cape
Fear Wilmington; Jno. Dawson, Pres’t Wilmington
Branch Branch North Carolina: W. H. Jones,
Cashier Raleigh Branch Bank of Cape Fear
Dec. 14, 1860
79-tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Semi-Weekly, Monday evening,
June 9, 1862]
The late Steamboat Disaster.
FAYETTEVILLE, Dec. 24, 1862.
Messrs. Hale & Sons: As rumors have gained
circulation calculated to rest very unfair blame
upon Capt. E. O. Dailey, of the unfortunate Stm’r
Kate McLaurin, permit us to correct them;
statements made by the entire crew, in point of
fact, it seems that a deck passenger had, in trying
to make himself a more comfortable bed, moved a
trunk until it fell overboard. Being discovered,
Capt. Dailey ordered his boat to back and pick it
up, which was done. Performing this, however,
they encountered as a matter of course the waves
made by the boat as she came up, then forwarding
again they met the waves made by backing, which
waves broke over the deck, (the boat being down
to the guards ) A deck passenger gave an alarm
that “a man was overboard,” “the boat is
sinking,” &c., which of course excited the
passengers in the cabin, causing them to rush to
the side of the boat to ascertain if cause for the
alarm existed. This on their part listed the boat
sufficient to throw the water still more upon
deck. Capt. D. in the meantime had ordered the
boat ashore, and after a line was thrown out and
made fast, two of the crew (though colored)
whose statement can be relied upon, say that they
went into the hold of the boat, through the after
hatchway, to ascertain where the water came in,
but say that there was no water on the ceiling aft.
As for “the boat leaking and the pumps not
working,” the assertion was made by some on
perhaps who did not trouble himself to examine,
or he would not have made such a declaration.
Grievous as our misfortune is, we cannot but
indulge the opinion that all look upon it but with
regret and deep sympathy for us. One of our
unfortunate partners has a young family to
provide for and is at this time exposing his breast
to yankee bullets at Goldsborough, and sinks
overpowered by fatigue at night upon the frozen
ground to repose and refresh, feeling that the
“winds will be tempered to the shorn lamb” by a
generous people; while the unfortunate Captain
and the other partner exposed their little handful
of property to the four winds and served their
term in the tented field.
All the parties
connected with this feel that they have discharged
faithfully their duty to their country and towards
their fellow-men, and feeling that there is no
cause, cannot indulge the belief that any one
would use unfair means knowingly to prejudice
the patronizing public against their all.
It is but fair, however, in conclusion, to say,
that Capt. Dailey protested against so much
freight being put upon his boat, said it was unsafe
and he would not take the responsibility; but
found, while his attention was directed to one
point, freight was thrown, not taken, on his boat
at another,--giving reasons for so doing which it is
thought best not to mention here.
This is,
however, a very prolific fault-finding age. Our
most scientific Generals in the field don’t meet
our expectations, and all of us think we could
have done better.
1tf
ORRELL & DAILEY.
[Fayetteville Observer – Semi-Weekly – January 1, 1863]
THE STR. NORTH CAROLINA
WILL leave Fayetteville and Wilmington until
further notice, on the following days: From
Fayetteville on Tuesdays and Fridays at 8 ½ A. M.,
and from Wilmington Wednesday and Saturdays at
2 P. M.
T. S. LUTTERLOH.
Jan’y 29.
8-
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday Evening, January 29,
1863]
STAR FOUNDRY.
THE
subscriber very respectfully informs his
friends and the public generally that he has now in
his employment competent workmen, and is fully
prepared to ### any kind of WORK in his line at
the shortest notice and on the most reasonable
terms such as: Car Wheels, Driving Wheels, Green
and Dry Sand work, L### work, Blowing Cylinders,
Steam Boat work, Salt Pans and Grate Bars, &c &
c.
M. A. BAKER.
Fayetteville, N. C. Jan’y 11, 1864
97tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Semi-Weekly, January 25, 1864]
[pointing finger icon >] From and after this
date the Steamer A. P. Hurt will leave at 8
o’clock, A. M., on Monday and Thursday.
JOS. A. WORTH,
April 6 – 17tf
Ag’t. C. F. Steam Boat Co.
[Fayetteville Observer – Semi-Weekly, March 3, 1864]
CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION CO.
PAY YOUR TOLLS!
COLLECT YOUR DIVIDENTS!!
NOTICE is hereby given to all persons indebted to
the Cape Fear Navigation Company to make
payment before the 28th inst., as the present
currency will not be received at par after that
time.
All persons who have not collected their
Dividends are notified to come forward and
receive them before the 28th inst., as all funds
belonging to the Company will then be funded in 4
per cent. Bonds, and payments will be made in
the same thereafter of all Dividends now due.
By order of the Board of Directors.
W. N. TILLINGHAST, Sec’y & Treas’r.
March 9
13-t28M
[Fayetteville Observer – Semi-Weekly, Monday Evening,
March 14, 1864]
D. G. WORTH.
N. G. DANIEL.
WORTH & DANIEL,
[SUCCESSORS TO T. C. & B. G. WORTH.]
Commission & Forwarding Merchants,
BROWN’S WHARVES, SOUTH WATER ST.,
WILMINGTON, N. C.
------WILL give strict personal attention to sale or
shipment of Cotton, Naval Stores and General
Produce. Also, to receiving and forwarding Goods.
Agents for Cape Fear Line of River Steamers to
Fayetteville, and Sail Lines to New York and
Philadelphia.
Dealers in Cotton, Bagging, Rope, Lime,
Plaster, Guano, Ford’s Fertilizer, Salt, Coal, &c.
Nov’r 16, 1865.
216m3mpd
[The Daily News – Fayetteville, NC – Thursday, November
16, 1865]
THE STR. "GOVERNOR WORTH."-- This elegant and
commodious steamer, built in Wilmington, Del.,
under the superintendence of Capt. A. P. Hurt,
expressly for the Cape Fear reached here on
Saturday afternoon. We have not had the pleasure
of seeing the "Governor Worth" yet, but are
informed that she is the most splendidly
appointed Steamer that was ever on this River.
It has been told us that the Governor at Raleigh
will be down to see his namesake, when it is said
that there will be such an excursion as was never
heard of before in these parts.
[The Fayetteville News - Tuesday, May 8, 1866]
DROWNED.--- A negro pilot, on the Str. North
Carolina, fell overboard and was drowned in the
Cape Fear river, below this place, one day last
week.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, May 15, 1866]
CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION CO.—The annual meeting
of the stockholders of this Company takes place
on the first day of June next. See advertisement.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, May 22, 1866]
… I see no way to leave my business. The boating
requires the closest attention and at that will not
pay much profit. The Host {Hurt?} is under repairs
now and will cost from 3 to 4 thousand dollars to
get it done. The Governor is doing as much work
as all the rest of the Boats, but the price of
freight is so low she cant’ make much money. I
was compelled to give in the tax for the State on
the whole amt. of the income or dividends. I
suppose you understood that and did not give in
your dividend. If so you did wrong. All the taxes of
the Company have been paid by the Agents. When
B. G. gets here we will consolidate the two boats
into one company. ..”
[The Correspondence of Jonathan Worth, Vol. 1 - From
Joseph Addison Worth. Fayetteville, June 14th, 1866]
ARRIVALS OF NEW GOODS.--- Since Saturday
afternoon, at 2 o’clock, three steamers have
reached Fayetteville, notwithstanding the low
state of the Cape Fear river, bringing new stocks
of Fall and Winter Goods. The bustle and stir
attendant upon these fresh importations, and the
formidable array of boxes and barrels which line
the side walks are quite grateful to the eye after
the late stagnation of trade. Our country readers
will perceive by reference to our advertising
columns that different Houses on Hay St. are
already prepared to supply all their wants, having
received all kinds of furnishing goods, fancy
articles, groceries, &c &c, calculated to attract
custom.
Several of our merchants are still in New York,
making purchases, and others intend going on in a
few days. The people in the surrounding counties
will now find it greatly to their advantage to bring
in their produce, in exchange for which they can
receive every description of goods of which they
stand in need.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, September 25, 1866]
THE BOATING BUSINESS ON THE CAPE FEAR.--The Cape Fear Steamboat Co., some months ago,
got through with the repairs on the steamer Hurt,
and she is now running as good as new. And the
same company built and launched, a week or two
ago, a large flat, which they call the Bladen, of a
capacity for 13 or 1400 barrels, to which we may
add that Mr. C. B. Mallett, has his steamer, the
Reindeer, now undergoing repairs, and will soon
have her better than she ever was, and ready for
business again.
And we learn from Mr. T. S. Lutterloh, that he
contemplates putting a new steamer on the river
very shortly, and last but not least, Mr. R. M.
Orrell has now under construction, a new steamer
for the trade between this town and Wilmington.
With the energy and enterprise of the parties
engaged in this particular branch of business, we
think the publick are assured of facilities for the
transportation of all freight offering at all times.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, October 23, 1866]
NEW STEAMBOAT.—We are glad to learn that C.
B. Mallett, Esqr., has at length completed his new
steamer, the Marion, which started on its first trip
to Wilmington, last Wednesday. She is well fitted
up. Admirably arranged, as we have been
informed, and is in every respect worthy of
patronage.
Mr. Mallett, in the construction of his boat,
adopted a new and very good idea, and one which
common humanity should have suggested to
steamboat lines long since—that of furnishing the
lower-deck with berths for the accommodation of
colored people. Hitherto they have been entirely
without this comfort, and this improvement will
be appreciated.
----FRESHET.—The recent heavy rains have greatly
swollen the streams in this section. The Cape
Fear river has been higher than at any time in the
past ten years, with the exception of the spring
freshet of 1865, when it rose above the bridge at
Blounts’ Creek Factory, and inundated the yards
and premises in the neighborhood. Fortunately,
so far as we have learned, this high water has
been unattended by the usual damage along the
banks of the river, as the season is not sufficiently
advanced for the risk of great injury to stock and
produce. But we regret that mill owners on
Robinson creek have been considerably damaged,
the dams of Messrs. Vann, Cameron and McDaniel,
being broken. This misfortune, while it subjects
them to trouble and expense, affects this
community in no slight degree, by the temporary
stoppage of the ordinary supplies.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, March 12, 1867]
NEW BOAT.—We are pleased to learn that our
enterprising and thorough going friend and
townsman, Major R. M. Orrell, is getting on rapidly
with his new steamer for the Cape Fear. Under
great disadvantages, and contending with
difficulties which, in the very beginning of such an
undertaking, would have checked many a man, he
has progressed steadily and energetically, and is
now rapidly putting in his machinery. Nearly all
the upper and wood-work is finished. The whole
work is being done here, with our own material
and our own mechanics, and we can only wish it
the success of the “Orrell,” which was built by
Major Orrell soon after the close of the war, and is
now doing good service on this river.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, August 20, 1867]
NEW RIVER STEAMER.—Maj. R. M. Orrell, of
Fayetteville, is now building a new steamer for
the Cape Fear trade.
The boat is nearly
completed, and will, probably, make her first trip
about the 15th proximo. She is to be a first-class
steamer, having all the essentials for both freight
and passengers. The machinery is that formerly
used in the old favorite, the “Kate McLaurin,” and
is almost as good as new.
We wish Major Orrell all that success he so
richly deserves. In the face of obstacles that
would have appalled a man of less energy, he has
built two boats, since the war, doing all the work
at home, and thus setting an example of
enterprise worthy to be followed.
As soon as the new steamer is “ready for
action,” the little steamer “Orrell” will give way
to her consort, and be laid up for repairs.
[Wilmington Evening Star – Monday Evening, September
23, 1867]
THE STEAMER HURT.—This favorite steamer,
commanded by that prince of steamboatmen, S.
W. Skinner, moved gaily up to her wharf, last
evening, with a heavy freight and full passenger
list. An unusually large number of ladies graced
her decks, and made the air resonant with their
joyous laugh.
It was a nice place to be, last evening—down
near the steamer “Hurt.” Captain, literally, “had
his hands full,” for several minutes; for, with his
usual gallantry, he was busy in assisting the ladies
down the gangway to the wharf, and in trying to
make everybody comfortable around him. “Fifth
and Orange” was around, in the persons of some
of its fairest daughters, to say nothing of its
rougher representatives who went down to look
after the luggage and the babies.
We remark again, it’s a nice thing to be down
at the “Hurt’s” wharf when she comes in DECKED
with ladies. They look like so many “beautiful
STARS;” and the, it makes a young man feel
better just to look at ‘em.
But the clock strikes twelve, and we go to the
arms of “tired nature’s sweet restorer,” to dream
of the merciless Fate that consigns us to the
fortunes of a daily newspaper.
[Wilmington Evening Star – Tuesday Evening, September
24, 1867]
FROM ABOVE.—Three Fayetteville steamers,
the GOV. WORTH, ORRELL, and NORTH CAROLINA,
arrived last night, and one this forenoon (the
MARION), with good cargoes of naval stores. They
bring no news of moment.
The river is now in fair boating order, the
largest steamers making their trips without
detention.
[Wilmington Evening Star – Wednesday Evening,
September 25, 1867]
ARRIVED.—The Fayetteville steamers NORTH
CAROLINA and ORRELL arrived last night with full
freights. We have tried our “level best” to
corkscrew an item out of Orrell and Green, both,
but we can’t do it. Everything keeps “kam and
serene” in the Fayetteville section; nobody gets
murdered or drowned; and this Local is miserable.
[Wilmington Evening Star – Saturday Evening, September
27, 1867]
EXTENDING
THE WHARVES.—The
three
wharves on South Water St., now occupied by
Worth & Daniel, Robinson, Smith & Co., and
Williams & Murchison, are to undergo extension of
some eight or ten feet, which will add much in the
way of wharf room, and give the vessels greater
depth of water.
-----STEAMER LILLIAN.—The steamer LILLIAN, sunk
some time since, has been overhauled and
repaired, and started for Fayetteville this
forenoon.
[Wilmington Evening Star – Wednesday Evening, October
9, 1867]
NEW STEAMER.— Major R. M. Orrell has just
completed his new steamboat, the “Halcyon,” and
has already very successfully made one or two
trips between this place and Wilmington. The
Halcyon is a very trim and pretty passenger and
freight steamer, with accommodations for 30 firstclass passengers. She is tastefully and elegantly
fitted up with every comfort and convenience.
Her length is 112 feet, beam 19 feet, hold 4 ½
feet, and tonnage between 600 and 700 barrels.
She runs easily and with very good speed.
We cannot omit to notice here the enterprise
displayed in the building of the Halcyon. Maj.
Orrell has had great difficulties to overcome, but
with his accustomed energy and perseverance he
has obviated them all. His boat was built here on
our banks, the workmen being employed in our
midst, and their wages being expended for our
benefit many a man would have waited for
“capital” and “resources;” Maj. Orrell made both
by industry and hard work.
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, December 31, 1867]
MARINE INTELLIGENCE.
PORT OF WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
ARRIVED.
13 – Steamer North Carolina, Green, from
Fayetteville, to Williams & Murchison; with 123
bbls rosin, to Moffit, Bro & co; 11 do turpentine,
to A Alderman; 23 do rosin, to A Johnson & Co;
13,000 shingles, 1,000 staves, to B F Pridgen; 159
bbls rosin, 2 do dried fruit, to Williams and
Murchison.
Steamer Halcyon, Johnson, from Fayetteville,
to A Johnson & Co; with 104 bbls spirits
turpentine, 377 do rosin, 4 boxes tobacco, to
Birdsey & Robinson, Worth & Daniel, A Johnson &
Co, Williams & Murchison, A McKimmon & Co.
Schr Montana, Bearns, from New York, to
Worth & Daniel; with mdze.
CLEARED.
13 – Steamer North Carolina, Green for
Fayetteville, by Williams & Murhcison.
Steamer Halcyon, Johnson, for Fayetteville, by
A Johnson & Co.
Steamer Gov Worth, Hurt, for Fayetteville, by
Worth & Daniel.
Steamship Mary Sanford, Moore, for New York,
by Worth & Daniel; with 428 bbls spirits
turpentine, 584 do rosin, 259 bales cotton, 30
bushels peanuts, 4 bales rags, 100 hides, 8 pkgs
mdze.
Schr Adeliza. McWilliams, for Arroyo, Porto
Rico, by O G Parsley & co; with 15 bbls tar, 5 do
pitch, 154,000 feet lumber.
--THE DIVERS AGAIN. -- Yesterday the divers, in
their submarine armor, prosecuted their work
towards the recovery of the sunken ore with but
little success.
This was owing to some
derangement of the air pump, preventing the
diver from remaining under the water but for a
few moments. The river, too, was exceedingly
rough, which, though not interfering materially
with the work under the water, was a source of
considerable hindrance to those above. About
two hundred and seventy bags of the ore have
thus far been recovered.
[WDJ
Thursday, May 14, 1868]
BOILER FOR SALE.
WE
OFFER AT GEORGETOWN, S. C., a good Steam
Boat Boiler, 12 feet long 4 feet diameter, with
flues, will take a pressure of 120 lbs., is in first
rate order and will be sold very low for cash or
approved paper. Apply to
WORTH & DANIEL.
[Wilmington Daily Journal -- Sunday, May 17, 1868]
C. F. Navigation Co.
THE annual meeting of the Stockholders of the
Cape Fear Navigation Company, will be held in the
Town Hall in Fayetteville, on Friday, May 29th
1868, at 12 o’clock M.
W. N. TILLINGHAST,
Gen. Agt. C. F. N. Co.
May 19,
11-tm
-----
NOTICE.
OWNER WANTED for a BOX shipped on Steamer
North Carolina, in December last. No mark.
Supposed to belong to some raft men. About
three feet long, secured with good lock. Will be
sold to pay charges if not called for in 30 days.
T. J. GREEN, Capt., Str. No. Ca.
May 12,
11-2t
-----
STEAMER A. P. HURT,
CAPT. SKINNER.
FROM and AFTER this date this quick and fast iron
steamer will leave her wharf at 7 a.m., on
Mondays and Thursdays.
JOS. A. WORTH, Agt.
May 12.
110-tf
[The Fayetteville News – Tuesday, May 26, 1868]
====================
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
====================
Excursion to Smithville.
SATURDAY, JULY 4, 1868.
[steamboat image]
THE Steamer GOVERNOR WORTH will leave her
wharf between Dock and Orange streets, for
Smithville, Saturday morning next July 4th, at 8
o’clock precisely, returning to the city at 6
o’clock P. M. same day. A Band of Music will be
on board.—Tickets $1.50 each; Children half
price.—Tickets can be procured at the office of
the undersigned.
je30-237-5t}
WORTH & DANIEL, Agents.
[ ? – June 30, 1868]
THE TRIP OF THE GOV. WORTH
FOR SATURDAY. -Messrs. Worth & Daniel,
owners of the above steamer, with the liberality
ever characteristic of them, have placed in the
hands of H. B. Eilers, Esq., a number of tickets for
the excursion to Smithville on the Worth, and
have donated to the Lutheran church a large
percentage of the amount which may be realized
from the sale of them by Mr. Eilers. We advise all
who intend taking advantage of this opportunity to
enjoy the salt breezes, to purchase their tickets
from Mr. E.
[Wilmington Star – July 2, 1868]
RECEIPTS.
Per River Steamers.
Str Gov Worth – 292 casks spirits, 568 bbls
rosin, 17 bbls tar, A MCKimmon, Worth & Daniel,
W H Lutterloh, Harris & Howell, A Johnson & Co.,
Russell & Ellis, Williams & Murchison, H B Eilers, C
Parmelee.
[Wilmington Star – July 3, 1868]
--- The steamer Oldham carried down a large
party of colored people to Smithville, on the
Fourth. As they passed our office they were
waving the U. S. flag, with the ban playing Dixie!
At its utmost strain.
--- The Waccamaw did not go down the river on
Saturday, consequently only three excursions of
this character came off.
---
The Excursion to Smithville.
--[SPECIAL REPORT FOR THE STAR]
Those Wilmingtonians who omitted to register
on board the steamer Gov. Worth, Capt. Hurt, on
the 4th of July, may well lament the sacrifice of
pleasure they made thereby. The parties for the
Black Fish Ground, the Lake, and the Sound,
departed at an early hour, but at 8 o’clock a
numerous company of ladies and gentlemen were
assembled on the decks and in the parlor and
other rooms of the trim and well furnished
steamer aforementioned. A spirited air from the
Rose Bud Brass Band, under the leadership of Allen
Evans, proclaimed the hour of departure, and the
“Worth,” released from her wharf, moved off for
Smithville in gallant style.
But, the festivities of the day were not fully
inaugurated until the famous Dram Tree had been
passed and different groups had heard the legend
which runneth that the name was bestowed on the
venerable stump because the English, during the
first American revolution, made it a point,
whether passing up or down the Cape Fear, to
appease their thirst, spiritually, when on a water
line with it.
When the story was concluded, however,
stringed instruments summoned dancers to their
places, and the gay multitude thenceforth till the
Government wharf at Smithville was touched,
indulged in cotillions and waltzes with the spirit
and grace peculiar to Southern belles and beaux.
The steamer was securely fastened to the
wharf and numbers of the excursionists went
ashore, some to visit acquaintances or friends,
others to find wherewithal they could be fed, and
a still stronger party (numerically, of course,) to
ramble through the town. Sailing clubs, too, were
formed, and let me say, en passant, that while
their male companions were far from supplying a
modern Adonis, our townswomen looked every
inch Queens and made a gallery of beauty that
might have inspired any mere dauber with genius
of the true painter.
Besides these things, a regatta came off, and
though strangers to the contestants, our company
were much interested in the race and cheered the
rival oarsmen vociferously as their success
alternated, tigering the finishing dashes of the
wooden-propellers which decided the issue.
At 12 o’clock, a salute (once worthy the prefix
“national”) was fired by a detachment of troops in
garrison at Smithville, Company I, 6th Infantry,
recently on duty here. But to me it savored too
much of Nero’s fiddling and I hurried off to drown
the mocking echoes in the clangor of Mrs.
Steward’s knives and forks, cut-glass and
crockery. And the plan was a success – hungry
men on such a dinner would have been almost
oblivious to actual bombardment of their domicil.
At the table were a platoon of fair ones from
Wilmington, who are spending the summer months
in the town. This is wise in them. They are
within a few hours steaming of home, and yet
receive the benefit of as delightful sea breezes as
ever wing their way from old ocean. Not only so,
but they can see the broad-breasted billows as
they leap and roll in from far beyond their haven.
The wonder to me is, that some enterprising
company has not been formed, long ago, to erect
suitable buildings at Smithville and open there a
regular summer resort. Such an establishment
would soon become so popular as to yield
enormous profits on the capital invested.
The hilarities and inspection in the town and
on the water beyond it, closed at 3 o’clock, and
belling the excursionists aboard, the steamer was
loosed from her moorings and moved off
homeward. The dancing was resumed and carried
on with full forces; but time enough was found to
revive the memories associated with the different
localities that dot either shore. On the right, Fort
Fisher, Battery Buchanan, old Marine Hospital,
Sugar Loaf Bluff, and on the left, Big Island,
Orton, Fort Anderson, and Old Brunswick Town.
These appearings were scanned with intense
interest, and while some of them freshened old
regrets and revived past sorrows, no one could
have felt otherwise than proud of the history each
and all of them supply to the living.
Soon, however, contemplation, retrospect, and
dancing were terminated. Church spires, then
masts from the shipping, and soon massive piles of
brick and mortar, were before the returning
excursionists, and in a twinkling the happy throng
were at “home again.”
Eulogy of the trip is useless. The weather was
fine, the river placid, the company refined and
social, the men gallant, the ladies charming, the
music excellent, and the fare sumptuous –
including, of course, under the latter head, the
ice cream, lemonade, cakes, and delightful
confections supplied by Mr. C. R. Banks, of this
city, without an iota of advance on ordinary
prices. Indeed, Messrs. Worth & Daniel deserve
the thanks of all participants in this excursion, a
brief season of genuine, uninterrupted enjoyment.
Our hope is that the dose will be often repeated.
[Wilmington Star – July 7, 1868]
A MOONLIGHT TRIP. -- In accordance with a
kind invitation extended us by Mr. R. P. Paddison,
the owner of the diminutive steamboat Mary
Eleanor, which makes regular trips between this
port and Point Caswell on the North East, carrying
both freight and passengers, we proceeded on
Monday night to the wharf of Messrs. Petteway &
Moore, near the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad
depot (we didn’t go alone, kind reader) and duly
embarked on board for a ride. As soon as all of
the excursionists, consisting of about twenty
ladies and gentlemen, had assembled, we left the
wharf and steamed rapidly up the North West
river. The deep bed of the river reflected brightly
the face of the full moon and many a fairer face
besides, peering with sparkling eyes over the
railing of the boat. We speedily passed the ruins
of the rice mill at Lyrias, the flats, piling, &c., of
the Bridge Company at Meares’ Bluff and
Riverside, until finally the broad front of Mt.
Misery loomed up in the distance. Of course some
horror was manifested by the ladies at nearing so
unromantically a named place, but we passed by,
turning around a mile or two beyond and starting
on our homeward voyage. The return was, if
anything, more pleasant than the trip up.
Wilmington was reached about 1 o’clock, the
whole party professing themselves highly pleased
with their excursion.
Ms. Paddison’s kindness and attention was
highly gratifying and we take pleasure in
commending him and his boat to all parties
wishing to take moonlight trips.
[Wilmington Star – July 8th, 1868.]
THE STEAMER HALCYON. --- We learn that the
cylinder cast in Wilmington, Del. For this new and
snug little steamer, has arrived, and will be put in
some time next week. With her machinery in
good repair, the Halcyon will be able to run with
any steamer on the river.
Friend Orrell’s
indefatigable energy deserves to be rewarded,
and we bespeak for him an increased share of the
public patronage.
[Wilmington Star - July 19, 1868]
A MOONLIGHT EXCURSION FOR NEXT WEDNESDAY.
– We have neglected heretofore to notice the
existence in our midst of the “Dixie Pleasure
Club,” and organization formed by our gayety
loving young gentlemen, last June, for the
purpose, as the preamble to the Constitution
declares, of providing such amusement by means
of moonlight excursions, dances, &c., throughout
the summer and coming winter as might seem
desirable.
The officers of the Club are:
President, Jno. C. James; Vice-President, A. D.
Black; Secretary, J. A. Mebane; Treasurer, T. D.
Meares, Jr.; Executive Committee, J. C. James,
Chairman ex officio, Jno. M. Walker, Jr., C. R.
Arey, Wilkes Morris, and W. B. Meares.
The club intended having an excursion last
moon, but were prevented by unforeseen
circumstances.
They have, however, fully
resolved upon having one next Wednesday, and
preparations are being made to carry out the
design. The steamer Gov. Worth will be secured,
and a pleasant time is anticipated.
----- Mr. R. P. Paddison intends having another
moonlight excursion on his little boat, the Mary
Eleanor, next Tuesday. The last one which we
attended, was exceedingly pleasant, and we doubt
not this one will be likewise. The boat carries
twenty or thirty persons very conveniently. Any
gentleman wishing to go can make arrangements
with Mr. Henry McQueen at Petteway & Moore’s.
[Wilmington Star – August 1, 1868]
--- Despite the threatening appearance of the
weather, the steamer Gov. Worth started down
the river last night, with a considerable party of
pleasure – seeking lassies and ladies. We have no
doubt they enjoyed themselves.
[Wilmington Star – August 5th, 1868]
THE MOONLIGHT EXCURSION OF TUESDAY NIGHT. - All of the excursionists, without exception,
acknowledge the excursion down the river, last
Tuesday night, by the Dixie Pleasure Club, to have
been one of the most pleasant affairs of the kind
which has ever taken place in Wilmington. In
spite of the threatening looks of the weather, and
although a number of families are absent from the
city, a large party had assembled on board the
Worth by 9 o’clock, the hour appointed for
starting. A few moments thereafter the last
whistle sounded, the bell was rung, the Brass Band
struck up its most inspiring music, and casting off
her moorings, the steamer began her journey.
Soon after passing the Dram Tree, the dancing
commenced,
continuing
with
very
little
intermission until the return.
The party
proceeded as far as Fort Fisher, turning round in
the river just opposite that point, about 11 ½
o’clock. The return trip was made in two and a
half hours, the whole of the excursionists having
probably reached home by 2 ½ o’clock. The
refreshments on the occasion were served up by
Mr. C. R. Banks in his usual elegant style.
The Gov. Worth is a fine steamer for such
excursions, and parties desiring her will find her
owners and her officers equally courteous and
obliging.
[ Wilmington Star – August 6th, 1868]
A MELANCHOLY AFFAIR -- FATAL SHOOTING. –
From gentlemen arriving in this city by the
Fayetteville boats, we learn of a melancholy affair
in which Mr. Thomas C. Lutterloh, son of Mr.
Thomas S. Lutterloh, was shot and fatally injured
by a young man named Bryant Gilbert, at Willis'
Creek, 19 miles below Fayetteville, and 101 miles
above this city, on Sunday night last. Mr.
Lutterloh, it appears, is proprietor of a turpentine
distillery at Willis' Creek, and rents his premises
from a Mr. Wright, and uncle of Gilbert's. This
young man, together with his cousin, young
Wright, had engaged Mr. Lutterloh's distiller to
cook them supper, and, being in a state of
intoxication at the time, became involved in a
quarrel with the negro, who was shot at by Gilbert
twice, with no effect, however. This was about
twelve or one o'clock, and some of the other
negroes called up Mr. Lutterloh, who endeavored
to stop the disturbance, and finally succeeded in
taking Gilbert's pistol from him. Wright then
threw Gilbert his pistol, crying out, "take it and
shoot him." Gilbert then seized Wright's pistol and
fired at Mr. Lutterloh without effect. Mr.
Lutterloh still persisting quietly in the attempt to
gain possession of the pistol, Gilbert fired at him a
second time, the ball then taking effect in the
abdomen, inflicting a fatal injury. Mr. Lutterloh
lingered in much suffering until about 1 o'clock
the following day, when he expired. Gilbert has
been arrested by the authorities, and is now in
jail.
The victim of this abominable act was a young
man of most estimable character and upright
habits. From a long personal acquaintance with
him, amid the temptations of camp life, we can
ourself bear testimony of this fact. He was
generally esteemed by all his friends. Gilbert
was, previous to the war, a school boy in this city,
and of an exceedingly turbulent and violent
disposition.
Daily Journal, 5th.
[Wilmington Journal EXTRA August 7, 1868]
THE “ A. P. HURT. “
This favorite steamer still maintains her old
reputation as one of the safest and fastest boats
that has ever been placed on the Cape Fear.
Under the efficient and obliging Skinner, she is all
that the traveler can desire. Those who seek
business or pleasure up the river cannot take
passage on a better steamer than the A. P. Hurt.
[Wilmington Star – August 12th, 1868]
--- Mr. James S. Evans, the energetic,
enterprising and indomitable second officer of the
steamer A. P. Hurt, is authorized to receive
subscriptions for the Carolina Farmer. Amongst
the “wimmen” Jeemes is absolutely invincible,
and we confidently rely on him to secure the
name of every good-looking widow who cultivates
an acre of sorghum anywhere in the Cape Fear
region. Jeemes is an indispensable appendage of
the Hurt.
Skinner could no more get along
without Evans than he could cross the bar at
Elizabeth on the millionth part of an inch of
water. “Lord ! Jane, hain’t he got purty eyes ?”
[Wilmington Star – August 16th, 1868]
--- The little steamer of Capt. Paddison’s, the
Mary Eleanor, which carried a party of gentlemen
from here yesterday to Point Caswell to attend
the grand barbecue, which comes off to-day, was
gaily and handsomely dressed out for the occasion
with Seymour and Blair flags, banners, &c. She
also carried up a full band of music. Col. Waddell
is to be one of the speakers to-day, we are
informed.
[Wilmington Star – August 19th, 1868]
STEAMER A. P. HURT,
CAPT. SKINNER.
FROM and AFTER this date this quick an fast iron
steamer will leave her wharf at a. 7 m., on
Mondays and Thursday.
JOS. A. WORTH, Agt.
May 12
110-tf
[The Eagle – Semi- Weekly – Thursday August 27, 1868]
Messrs. Skinner and Wright have for some time
been building a Boat 20 miles above here which is
well nigh completed—and arrived here yesterday
with cargo of 200 Bbls. Rosin. This boat is
intended to ply between this place and
Averasboro, and has promise of plenty of freight.
[The Eagle – Thursday, September 3, 1868]
THE FAYETTEVILLE DELEGATION. -- At 2
o’clock yesterday afternoon, the larger portion of
the New Hanover Delegation left on the steamer
Gov. Worth for Fayetteville, where the District
Convention meets. The steamer was gaily decked
with Seymour and Blair flags, and a large one
floating from the pole over the pilot house. -- A
fine band of music was in attendance, and
patriotic airs were played to add to the
enthusiasm, which was already very high. The
delegates, visitors and the Howard Fire Company,
which attends the Convention in a body by
invitation, made in all about one hundred and fifty
passengers. -- The little gun “ Brick Pomeroy “
took quite a prominent position in the bow of the
boat, with Capt. McIlhenny in command. Mr.
Blossom had furnished several rockets from his
Fire Works Manufactory in this city, which were
discharged also as the Steamer got under way.
Admiral Hunter of the Steamer Fairbanks honored
the delegation with a salute from his port gun. –
Old New Hanover, as usual, was well represented,
and will maintain the position she has so long held
as one of the leading counties in the glorious
cause which the Democracy of the State has
espoused. -- Active preparations have been made
in Fayetteville for the reception of the visitors,
and we feel assured that all parties will return
gratified with their trip, and strengthened in their
determination to succeed in the coming election.
Two other steamers left in the forenoon, but were
lightly loaded, as they propose to pick up such
delegates as might wish to go from different
points along the river. Three cheers and “ a tiger,
“ given with a hearty good will, were raised for
the delegation as the boat left her wharf.
[Wilmington Daily Journal Wednesday, September 9,
1868]
COLLISION. – A slight collision took place on
Friday night last, about 11 o’clock, at a point on
the river some thirty miles above this city,
between the steamers Halcyon and Marion. It
seems that the Halcyon was coming down and the
Marion going up the river.
When they approached each other, the whistle of
the Halcyon was blown to indicate which side of
the river would be taken, but the rudder of the
Marion having become clogged or disabled in some
way, it was impossible to avoid a collision.
Fortunately on a near approach the Halcyon
commenced backing, and the force of the blow
upon the Marion was lost. The latter boat was
struck about midway the gunnel, which was
considerably broken up – otherwise no damage
was done and only a heavy shock experienced.
Both boats then proceeded on their respective
voyages.
[Wilmington Daily Journal Sunday Morning, November,
29, 1868]
STEAMBOATS.—We learn that several of the
steamboats that ply between Fayetteville and
Wilmington are aground at various points in the
river. The Gov. Worth is grounded at “Cypress,”
the Hurt at Elizabethtown, the Lee and Halcyon a
few miles below Fayetteville.
Old river men pronounce the Cape Fear to be
lower than it has been for several seasons, and
unless a change takes place we may consider
ourselves estranged from river intercourse with
Fayetteville until next Fall, when the plentiful
Autumn rains shall have again raised the Cape
Fear to the dignity of a navigable stream.
[?? – July 15, 1869]
---- No steamboat from Fayetteville has
arrived in this city for nearly two weeks. The
Gov. Worth was the last to reach this port, and it
did not come from Fayetteville, having attempted
to go no farther than Kelly’s Cove, and then
return. We must again express our regret at the
exceedingly low stage of the water in the river.
[Wilmington Star – August 20, 1869]
GOOD NEWS.—THE STEAMBOATS.
--- We are glad to say that the water in the river
has risen three feet, and is now sufficient to float
the steamers that ply between Wilmington and
Fayetteville.
Yesterday the Gov. Worth, A. P. Hurt, Marion
and R. M. Orrell, all arrived at this port, bearing
respectable loads of freight, the sight of which
caused some of our commission merchants to
smile in self-satisfaction as they glanced at the
rows of barrels of naval stores ranged along their
wharves.
[Wilmington Star – August 21, 1869]
----- The Sentinel says: A new Boat, called the
Worth, has been placed on the river between
Wilmington and Fayetteville.
The above paragraph is not Worth much, from
the fact that the new boat is not called the
Worth.
Her name is the Juniper, and her
captain’s name is Worth. We have a boat called
the Governor Worth, about two years old.
[Wilmington Star – October 5, 1869]
A NEW STEAMER – Observing a fine new
steamer lying at the wharf in front of Messrs.
Williams & Murchison’s, yesterday, and knowing
from her name which flaunted gaily from her flagstaff, that she was a stranger in our waters, we
made some inquiries and were favored with an
opportunity, by her obliging commander, Capt.
Green, of a thorough inspection of the splendid
craft, and with the following particulars
concerning her, which may be of interest to our
readers.
Her name is the D. Murchison, in
compliment to a prominent gentleman of that
name in Fayetteville and father of Capt. D. R.
Murchison, of the firm of Williams & Murchison of
this city. She is 120 feet in length; is 20 feet in
breadth of beam; has two inclined engines, with 5
feet stroke, and her cylinder is 15 inches in
diameter, and works with link motion and the
latest improved slide valve. She has superior
accommodations for thirty six passengers, and also
has comfortable state rooms, fitted up with
special reference to the accommodation of
families. This beautiful steamer was constructed
at Wilmington, del., by Messrs. Pussey, [Pusey –
name misspelled] Jones & Co., is designed for the
Wilmington and Fayetteville Express Company’s
Line and, we suppose, will commence her regular
trips immediately. She will be commanded by
Capt. T. J. Green, formerly of the steamer R. E.
Lee, of the same line, in which capacity he gained
many friends, who will be pleased to congratulate
him on his promotion to the command of so fine a
steamer as the D. Murchison. In her trip to this
place, where she arrived this morning, she made
about 10 miles an hour.
[Wilmington Star – November 2, 1869]
(Correspondence of the Eagle.)
NEW STEAMER.
-----The new and elegant iron steamer “Duncan
Murchison,” arrived at her dock in Campbellton on
Thursday last from Wilmington, Del., via
Wilmington, N. C., making her trip around,
outside and to this place without the least
mishap. She will no doubt prove a splendid
acquisition to our already large fleet of passenger
and freight steamers now plying between this
place and Wilmington.
She is 129 feet long— 20 feet beam—5 feet
depth of hold – and is driven by two splendid link
motion engines of 69 horse power each attached
to a stern wheel of large dimensions. She draws
17 inches of water light, and 4 feet loaded to her
full capacity—which is 750 to 809 bbls. of naval
stores. It is thought she will make the trip from
this place to Wilmington when fully prepared for
the waters of this river, in 8 to 10 hours.
She floats like a feather,
In all sorts of weather.
Whether it be murky or clear.
On the bosom of the noble Cape Fear.
She speeds like a Roe.
Be the tides rapid or slow.
Or the bottom be near
To the bosom of the noble Cape Fear.
On the main deck, are her boiler, a ### ####
“doctor,” engine room and galley—also a pump
and nose to be used in washing down the decks,
and in case of fire. Her boiler and engine room
are supplied with all of the latest improved water
and steam gauges and patent safety valves.
On the upper deck are first the Captain’s
office, furnished with a neat deck lounge, chairs,
etc., where all ### ### ### walk up and settle
when ### ### rings” –next is a very pleasant
gentleman’s sitting and smoking saloon, with neat
oak chairs and the floor covered with oil cloth—
still aft of this is the gentleman’s berth cabin with
accommodations for 12 passengers with berths
running “athwart ### adjoining this are two state
rooms on either side of a small passage which
leads to the dining saloon. T#### of the state
rooms have three stage berths the others—one
single and one double berth, the latter are
intended for new married couples and #### are all
carpeted with ##### carpeting, and furnished with
everything that could be desired.
Adjoining these rooms is the dining saloon
which is capacious enough to seat all who wish to
take first-class passage, except on some “extra
occasion”—the floor is covered with the same
pattern of oil cloth as spoken of before, the
furniture is of black walnut of elegant design and
finish—upon which we noticed some beautiful
wine bottles, cut wine glasses, wine goblets,
elegant silver castors, pitchers, coffee urn, &c.,
all of which lead us to believe the inner man
would “be fortified” at the proper time. Last but
not least is the ladies’ saloon with berth
accommodations for 12, provided they should not
wish to take state rooms. This is a rosey little
place—the floor is carpeted with Brussels
carpeting; elegant rocking and sitting chairs of
modern styles, berths with d#### s### and a good
supply of things the ladies always delight to look
into mirrors. The painting throughout is all as
white as the driven snow.
The arrangement of the saloons, state rooms,
&c., is such that in the summer seasons of the
year—a fine draft of air can be obtained
throughout the whole extent of her upper
apartments, which is a great luxury when
traveling upon our river.
She was built by Messrs. Pusey, Jones & Co. of
Wilmington, Del., (who have an extensive
reputation as builders of iron boats and engines,
for the Messrs. Williams & Murchison of this place
and Wilmington, at cost of $24,000 for the
steamer, and $2,000 for the furniture delivered
here. Taking her in all her apartments she is
decidedly the finest stern wheel steamer we have
ever had upon this river. They deserve and no
doubt will receive a large amount of the travel
and freight for their very commendable enterprise
and large outlay. They have shown to all, that
energy and enterprise have not as some would
make others believe, departed entirely from our
good old town.
The name which she floats from her #### is
one familiar to all of our people and is
synonamous of energy, industry and enterprise. If
she purposes her avocation with one-half the
assiduity and success of the gentlemen after
whom she is named, her owners may look for large
dividends. She will be commanded by Capt.
Green—the former gentlemanly commander of the
Lee. We congratulate him upon his promotion,
and as Bernard would say Green may his age ever
be. She will run in the Express steamboat line in
connection with the General Lee.
TRUNKLE BIT.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, N.C. – Thursday, November 11,
1869]
SEVERE DISASTER.—LOSS OF THE STR. HALCYON
ON THE CAPE FEAR, 35 MILES ABOVE
WILMINGTON.—Last Monday evening, 29th ult. The
steamers Halcyon and Gov. Worth were on their
way up the river from Wilmington to Fayetteville.
The boats passed each other alternately, and
about 9 o’clock, when 35 miles from Wilmington,
while the Worth was passing ahead, the Halcyon
turned across the river by some mismanagement,
making collision with the Worth. The Worth was
not damaged, but the prow of the Halcyon was so
shattered and damaged, that she commenced
leaking and sunk in a few minutes in 15 feet water
with most of her cargo.
The boat’s crew,
passengers, baggage and some of the freight were
saved and transferred to the Worth, which came
back to the rescue.
The Worth had a flat boat in tow, or the loss of
life and property on the Halcyon would have been
greater.
The Halcyon on becoming disabled,
floated at once along side the flat by which a
speedy escape was afforded to those aboard. The
Halcyon had on 300 sacks salt, consigned by F. W.
Kerchner, Wilmington, to Col. J. B. Starr here, 10
barrels sugar for W. A Whitehead & Co., iron for
Charles Glover, 1 box Millinery goods for Mrs. I.
Dodd, and other goods we are unable to state, all
lost. One box of card clothing, &c., for Beaver
Creek Co., was saved in damaged condition. The
entire cargo was worth some $1,500, all lost
except the box of card material worth some $250.
The boat was not insured we learn, and indeed
we hear none of the boats on our river are
insured. We suppose the marine insurance on the
goods lost extended no farther than Wilmington.
The Halcyon was owned and run by R. M. Orrell &
Co., and built by them here in 1865-‘6, and cost,
probably, some $12,000 or $15,000. This was a
light, fast boat, well built and in good order. The
engine and machinery had been used before, but
had been repaired and refitted into the Halcyon.
This is a heavy loss and we hope the boat may be
recovered, fitted up and again go on her regular
trips. It will cost probably $1,000 or more to
recover the boat, and as much more, no doubt, to
repair her, while the cargo and furniture are a
total loss. We hear that blame attaches to the
pilot for the misfortune. Right here, we would say
that all our boats need better management and
more rigid regulations.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, N.C. – Thursday, December 2,
1869]
--- Capt. Alonzo Garrison, late of the Steamer
Robert E. Lee, has been transferred to the
command of the D. Murchison, vice Capt. T. J.
Green, resigned. Capt. Green goes to Fayetteville
to superintend the building of two steamers for
the Company recently organized. Capt. Wm.
Skinner succeeds Capt. Garrison in command of
the Lee.
[Wilmington Star – December 19, 1869]
Boats and Navigation on the
Cape Fear River.
-----Our river transportation is becoming more
active and extensive. This, with the continued
large production of Naval Stores, and the very
large increase in cotton farming, shows plainly
that the substantial business of this section is
improving. The Cape Fear Navigation Company
now reorganized is to open out the river, and keep
it in better navigable order.
There are now two new boats building, another
in contemplation, three lines of steamers, and
three other separate boats, as follows: The Cape
Fear Steamboat Company have two boats, the
Hurt, run by Capt. Sam. W. Skinner, and the Gov.
Worth, run by Capt. A. P. Hurt. The Hurt makes
two trips to Wilmington a week and the Gov Worth
about three trips in two weeks—both excellent
boats for passengers and freight. This company
embraces the Messrs. Worth, Lilly, Hurt and
others.
The Express Steam boat Company have two
boats, each making two trips a week, the R. E.
Lee, run by Capt. Wm. Skinner, and the D.
Murchison run by Capt. A. Garrison. Both are new
and fast going steamers and do a large business.
This company embraces Messrs. Williams,
Murchison, Lutterloh, &c., we believe.
The
Peoples’ Line is a new company recently organized
embracing F. W. Kerchner, Adrian & Vollers, Smith
& Strauss, W. A. Whitehead & Co. Capt. T. J.
Green and others, as we learn. This company has
the Marion run by Capt. Phillips, and which was
formerly owned by the Messrs Mallet, Capt. T. J.
Green, formerly of the R. E. Lee, is superintending
the business of the company, and they are
building a new boat at Fayetteville, which is
expected to be in use by May next. The capacity
of this new steamer will be about 700 bbls. and 36
passengers, and will be some larger than the Hurt.
The People’s Line Company (capital of
$25,000) expect to build another boat during the
year perhaps, and with the three, they may
accept mail contract and also connect with the
Rail Road, both ways, three times a week.
The Juniper also a light new boat is run by
Capt. A. Worth, but not on regular schedule. This
boat is owned and used by the Messrs. Bullard,
Willard Bros. & c., and some week or two ago
went up to Averasboro during a freshet, and
received there a heavy load of naval stores, and
could not return until the freshet yesterday. The
Halcyon has been repaired and is again on her
regular trips, run by Capt R M Orrell. There has
been some proposition by the People’s Line to
purchase this steamer. The Orrell, a light boat is
in damaged condition, and we hear is to be
repaired and used for freight transportation—
perhaps above Fayetteville.
Capt. Samuel W. Skinner is also building a
small light steamer, the Little Sam, for use as we
hear, on Waccamaw river to Georgetown in S. C.
It will be finished in a few weeks.
Thus we see there are seven steamers actively
and profitably engaged in our business now—half
of them new and all in good condition, besides
three more to be in use on the river during the
year.
With such facilities for cheap water
transportation, Fayetteville can certainly receive
the products of central North Carolina and furnish
supplies in return, on better terms, than any other
town in the state. We think arrangements might
be made soon for travelers from Raleigh to
Wilmington to come this way and spend the night
on the boats—all within 24 hours either way, and
for eight or ten dollars.
[The Eagle – Thursday, January 20, 1870]
NOTICE TO TRAVELERS.
----THE EXPRESS STEAMBOAT CO.
WILL run the following Schedule between
Fayetteville and Wilmington:
The New Iron Steamer DUNCAN MURCHISON,
Capt. ALONZO GARRISON, will leave Fayetteville
at 8 o’clock A. M. every Tuesday and Friday.
Returning, leave Wilmington every Wednesday and
Saturday, at 2 o’clock P. M.
The Steamer ROBERT E. LEE, Capt. WILLIAM
SKINNER, will leave Fayetteville at 8 o’clock A. M.
every Wednesday and Saturday. Returning, leave
Wilmington every Monday and Thursday, at 2
o’clock P. M.
The EXPRESS STEAMBOAT COMPANY offers to
the public both security and comfort in the above
Boats, and asks for a share of the travel on the
Cape Fear.
J. D. WILLIAMS & CO.
Agents, Fayetteville, N. C.
WILLIAMS & MURCHISON,
Agents, Wilmington, N. C.
Dec 30, 1869.
Tf
[The Eagle – Thursday, February 24, 1870]
Correspondence of the Eagle.
OFF TO THE SPRINGS, Feb. 1870.
Old “Squi Bob” is now afloat again after a
retirement of nearly two years—still his vigor is
the same, tho’ oft repeated misfortunes have
befallen him in his peregrinations in this
elaborately curled up world of ours—which a man
of more nerve and determination would have
“caved in under.” I must here tell you what a
terrible mishap befell that trusty old friend of
mine the Carpet Bag, just on the point of my
leaving that always happy and desirable place
which you know nothing about –home.
You know when any great personage is making
his extensive arrangements for a long journey,
there is a great amount of assorting, packing,
sewing on buttons, starching collars, darning
socks, which causes a great deal of excitement
and bustle about the house. All know just what
you want and must get it for you and it finally
proves to be the very thing you do not want. But
all both great and small must have something to
do with packing. Squi’s little daughter who is very
smart, willing and anxious to lend a helping hand,
must volunteer her services to bring the said
carpet bag, partly filled down from the second
story, when lo! Such a rumbling, tumbling and
tearing away as was heard.—When Squi looked
around to discover the cause of this tumultuous
uproar, here came daughter, carpet bag, collars,
cravats, socks, combs, unmentionables all in
glorious confusion. Sometimes carpet bag “top
rail,” then daughter “top rail,” and when all
reached the lower floor you could hardly have told
daughter from the other dry goods, so perfect was
the mixture. The result was carpet bag mashed—
stove in—lock gone and a goose egg protuberance
on said daughter’s head.
I can assure you, your ‘old friend “Squi” felt
his breath pass easier when the extent of the
catastrophe was ascertained, because this little
individual is the only female boy of any #iz#
“Squi” ###.
It was a dark and stormy morning the clouds
were low and murky.
The winds blew cold and bleak,
The mud was very soft and deep, when your
humble correspondent left the town of
magnificent distances with all the valuables which
years of toil and anxiety had placed under kind
protection, upon one of those vehicles which
transport merchandise to and from the town, just
one mile from the river, and myself upon another
with a small box 2 by 3 that contained slight
mementoes to friends in “furren lands.”
The Capt. of the D. Murchison had been
waiting for my august body ever since the day
before, and it would have done your soul good to
have seen that kind and genial smile which
pervaded his countenance as he saw me drive
down to the gang plank with my beautiful
caparisoned steed and equipments.
He says, “Squire,” I am very glad to see you,
for we have been anxiously waiting for you. At
the same time he remarked, I suppose you intend
taking a long trip by the magnitude of your
baggage. This I thought a gratuitous compliment
therefore paid no attention to it.
We are now off, and down the Cape Fear we
are speeding our way towards the sea. While it is
cold without, we are comfortable within this snug
and coy little cabin. Old Sol keeps his face in
obscurity for the present so that when he shall
conclude to cast upon us his effulgent rays, we
may, more fully appreciate his revivifying power.
There is nothing of interest, which I have seen
in our voyage but what all of your readers have
heard and seen before, still all have views
different from each other that an interchange
might produce some good result.
In passing along this river, all I have no doubt,
have noticed the large amount of marl which has
lain in its present bed for thousands of years and
may continue so to do thousands of years more, if
the hand of men should not be raised to take it
from its present resting place. Those that are
good judges have pronounced some of these marls
equal to the “Green sands” of New Jersey. This
being the case why not dig them and apply them
to the lands along the Cape Fear, in preference to
paying the exorbitant prices asked for imported
and domestic manipulated fertilizers. Some of
which have a good portion of snuff colored clay
found in almost inexhaustible quantities in the
New England States and Pennsylvania mixed with
them.
These marls could be easily transported on
flats up and down the river at a small cost. And
when prudently applied to land after being
composted, for years cotton and corn are
stimulated by them to produce abundant yields
and no deleterious effects remain after their
stimulating qualities are gone.
Night approaches and I must put up paper and
pencil for the very agreeable task of destroying a
few refreshments prepared by our hospitable
captain. Yours, SQUI BOB.
[The Eagle – Thursday February 24, 1870]
--Says the Eagle: A dangerous collision with
two of our steamboats occurred last Friday
evening, the 4th inst., some 20 miles above
Wilmington. The Steamer D. Murchison going
down the river, while turning one of the short
curves in that part of the river, ran into the Gov.
Worth which was coming up. The Worth has side
wheels and one of these was completely crushed
and disabled, and the adjoining upper portions of
the boat were badly damaged. A negro woman on
the lower deck of the Worth was severely and
perhaps fatally wounded. Fortunately the Worth
was not damaged below the water’s edge, and by
the use of one wheel reached Fayetteville
Saturday evening.
The Murchison was not
seriously hurt. The Gov. Worth is now being
repaired and will be on duty again perhaps in a
month.
[Wilmington Star – March 12, 1870]
NEW BOAT LAUNCHED.
– From the Eagle we
learn that the new boat now being constructed at
Fayetteville for the People’s Line was launched
last Tuesday. Some of the machinery has arrived,
and the cabins and upper deck, &c., will soon be
finished, and then we will have another splendid
steamer for passengers and freight on the Cape
Fear – 8 boats in all. The name of the new boat is
not yet announced.
[Wilmington Star – April 2, 1870]
STEAMER D. MURCHISON. – The Steamer D.
Murchison came in on a flying trip from
Fayetteville, having left that place at 7:04 A. M.,
and reached Wilmington at 4:08 P. M.; making
the trip in nine hours and five minutes, including
two stoppages. The late fast trip of the A. P. Hurt
was made in nine hours and forty-five minutes,
including four stoppages.—There is evidently but
little difference in the trips; but we think the
Murchison has the advantage by a few minutes.
There is no telling what our Fayetteville boats
may accomplish. Soon, no doubt, passengers will
take breakfast in Fayetteville, and dinner in
Wilmington.
For the benefit of parties at a distance we will
add that the distance from Fayetteville to
Wilmington, by river, is 120 miles.
[Wilmington Star – April 6, 1870]
-----We regret to learn that Mrs. Morgiana C.
Hurt, wife of Capt. A. P. Hurt, of the steamer
Gov. Worth, died in Fayetteville on Monday last,
aged 50 years. Mrs. H. was a daughter of the late
Henry Erambert, of Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Star – May 6, 1870]
RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
----FRIDAY, May 27.
-- We learn that the North State, the new
steamer for the Peoples’ Line, is expected to
commence her regular trips on the river in a few
days. Her boiler is now undergoing the process of
covering with Captain Brain’s Non-Conductor.
Capt. T. J. Green, formerly of the North Carolina,
Lee and Murchison, will, we understand, take
command of the North State.
[Wilmington Star – May 28, 1870]
--- The venerable Capt. Hurt has retired from the
command of the Gov. Worth, with the intention,
we learn, of permanently abandoning active life
upon the Cape Fear. He is succeeded in command
of the above steamer by Capt. Albert H. Worth.
Capt. Hurt, we hear it stated, will hereafter
devote his attention to the work of improving the
navigation of the river, which is being carried on
under the auspices of the Cape Fear Navigation
Company.
[ ? – May 28, 1870]
The New Steamer.
Yesterday the new steamer for the “People’s
Line,” the North State, glided gaily into our
waters for the first time. Immediately upon her
arrival a large number of our citizens repaired on
board to take a look at the beautiful steamer, and
she was pronounced on all hands to be a most
magnificent craft, provided with excellent
arrangements
for
the
convenience
and
accommodation of passengers.
A personal
inspection of her various apartments convinced us
that the high encomiums passed upon her were by
no means extravagant, but fully warranted.
The North State was built at Fayetteville,
under the immediate supervision of Capt. Thos. J.
Green,
her
polite
and
accommodating
commander. The carpenter’s work was done
under the superintendence of Mr. A. G. Black,
Master Carpenter, a skillful and experienced
workman, and the painting by Mr. Thomas Wright,
an adept at his business. In dimensions she is 118
feet in length, 18 feet breadth of beam and 5 feet
depth of hole, has a carrying capacity equal to 800
barrels of naval stores, and accommodations for
36 passengers{.} She has two inclined engines of
13 inches bore and 5 feet stroke. The ladies’
cabin contains 12 berths, and the gentlemen’s the
same number; besides which there are two state
rooms containing double berths, convenient for
ladies or for small families. These state rooms are
so constructed as to be made strictly private and
communicate with the ladies’ cabin, which is
neatly arranged, and handsomely furnished and
carpeted. There are also two state rooms for
gentlemen, opening from the outside, a
gentlemen’s sitting room and other conveniences.
Her boiler, pipes, &c., are being covered with
the “Non-Conducter,” manufactured by a
company in Norfolk, of which Capt. John C. Brain
is President. All the different apartments have an
air of comfort and elegance which is really
charming, and when another coat of paint is
added, the windows properly curtained and other
little necessary touches placed upon her, which
will be done without delay, the North State will
be one of the handsomest steamers that floats
upon the Cape Fear.
We congratulate the People’s Steamboat
Company upon this new and beautiful accession to
their line, and also Capt. Green, who has cause to
feel proud of the noble and majestic craft that
“Walks the waters like a thing of life.”
[Wilmington Star – June 8, 1870]
THE STEAMER
“ NORTH STATE ” returned
from her trial trip and excursion to Wilmington
last Friday, 10th inst., and all concerned were well
pleased at her success. She carried a large freight
to and from Wilmington also several passengers
and excursionists. On Thursday the proprietors of
the new boat gave a brilliant entertainment, when
champagne #### and many good things were said
and enjoyed.
The North State is not yet announced on a
regular schedule, but we learn she is to make
regular trips.
She will carry freight and
passengers.— Another boat is to be built for the
People’s Line resigned for freight and then the
North State can be a regular passenger boat with
quicker trips.
The North State cost about $12,000, and
displays as good workmanship and skill as any boat
built at Fayetteville heretofore. Her furniture
cost $950, and not yet complete. Fine walnut
bureaus, tables, cup-boards, &c., with ornamental
window lights, and fine carpeted saloons, mirrors,
&c., fill the apartments of the upper deck, and
impress you with an idea of comfort, luxury and
splendor. The boat can carry 700 or 800 bbls. of
naval stores or proportionate amount of other
freight. The stockholders of the People’s Line are
Capt. J T Green, W A. Whitehead & Co., A H
Slocomb and A W Steele of Fayetteville; and F W
Kerchner, Adrian & Vollers, Smith & Strauss of
Wilmington. Some others may own small amount
of stock.
----ANOTHER SUNDAY SCHOOL EXCURSION (of the
children of the Baptist church here) went down
the river yesterday in the Steamer HURT. About
100 of the scholars turned out under charge of
Capt. J. F. Marsh, the Supt., and with a number of
ladies and gentlemen left on the steamer about 10
½ A. M. and reached Cedar Creek, 12 miles, by
noon, where they landed.—The clouds had cleared
away and the day was beautiful, and the scenery
cheering. The party retired to the Baptist Church
near the landing, and enjoyed a most sumptuous
and bounty- which they had brought in baskets.—
The excursionists remained some three hours,
much of which time was devoted to singing sacred
music by the large crowd. About 3 ½ P. M. they
left the oak groves, cool springs and scenes of this
pleasant visit and returned home, arriving here all
save and happy by 4 ½ P. M.
[The Eagle – Thursday, June 16, 1870]
The new iron steamer Wave, one of the four
boats intended for the Peoples Daily Line between
Savannah and Augusta, is now ready to leave
Norfolk, Va. The Clyde, the second steamer of
this line, will be ready to leave Norfolk, about the
20th inst. Two more boats, which are unnamed,
are on the stocks at Norfolk, and by advices
received will be ready to leave Norfolk about the
middle of August next. The stockholders of the
line are prominent merchants of Augusta and
Savannah. M. A. Cohen, Esq., is the President of
the Company, which is a chartered one.
[DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL – Augusta, GA –
July 6, 1870]
We are glad to learn that the new iron steamer
Wave, for the People’s Line, has just been
completed, and was to have left Norfolk, Va., on
Saturday. Three more iron steamers are in the
course of construction in that city for the same
line, and when they are completed will form a
daily line between Augusta and Savannah.
The river measured four feet and nine inches
at the toll-bridge yesterday.
[DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL – Augusta, GA -July 14, 1870]
A New Steamer.
We were informed yesterday that the new boat
in course of construction at Fayetteville, for the
“People’s Line,” is rapidaly {misspelled}
approaching completion.
The hull has been
finished and work commenced on the cabin. It is
estimated that she will be ready for launching by
the second week in December.
She is very
strongly built and it is said that she will be the
best wooden boat ever built on the river. She will
be furnished with new machinery out and out and
her speed is expected to equal any boat on the
Cape Fear. Her dimensions are 115 feet long and
20 feet beam, with a capacity of between six and
seven hundred barrels. She will also be provided
with excellent cabin accommodations.
Capt.
Kenan Phillips will command the new boat.
[Wilmington Star – August 25, 1870]
Some time ago we gave an account of the
organization of a steamboat company, under the
title of The People’s Daily Line of Steamers,
whose stockholders are among our most prominent
merchants. The Swan, Katie and Carrie, well
known steamers in our waters, will run in
conjunction with the four new steamer now nearly
finished, the Wave, Clyde, Isis and Vestra, making
ten trips each week between Savannah and
Augusta. A large floating warehouse will be
provided for convenience in discharging freight in
bad weather, and which will afford facilities with
railroads in housing and delivering all goods
intact.
The aggregate capacity of the steamers is
1,300 tons weekly, which, with the reduced rates
of the freight, and other considerations, offers
greater facilities to the merchants of this city and
the interior than they have ever had on our river.
The facilities for carrying passengers are
ample, and everything has been done that will
conduct to their comfort.
[DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL – Augusta, GA –
August 27, 1870]
PEOPLE’S LINE.
-----Change of Schedule.
ON and after the 2d of September the Steamer
North State will leave her wharf at Fayetteville at
7:30 A. M. Tuesdays and Fridays.
sep 1-tf
J. B. STARR, Ag’t.
-----Steamboat Notice.
-----FROM this date until further notice the
Steamer Robert E Lee will run to accommodate
the freighting business, but will carry passengers
that may find it convenient to go her. She will
have no fixed day of departure either from
Fayetteville or Wilmington.
The Steamer D. Murchison will continue to run
the schedule heretofore published, viz:-Leave Fayetteville at 7 o’clock A. M. every
Tuesday and Friday, and Wilmington every
Wednesday and Saturday at 2 o’clock P. M.
J. D. WILLIAMS & CO., Agents
Fayetteville, June 15, 1870
Express Steamboat Co.
June 16 dec 30-tf
[The Eagle – Weekly – Thursday, September 29, 1870]
THE STEAMER GOVERNOR WORTH is not just
now engaged in the river shipping. This elegant
boat, the largest on our river, has been at our
wharf some time undergoing slight repairs,
painting, &c. The boat belongs to the Cape Fear
Company, and we learn negotiations are pending
to sell or lease it to parties for use between
Savannah and Florida.
Terms are not yet
confirmed, but is very probably that in a month
the Gov. Worth will be transferred to the inland
trade along the coast of Georgia and Florida. The
boat, fixtures, furniture, &c., cost $40,000, some
four years ago when prices were higher than now.
$30,000 might be fair value for this boat now,
after 4 years use, though all the machinery,
materials, &c., is no doubt as good as new. -Well made boats built at the North with best
material and workmanship, like the Gov. Worth,
last 20 years or more. Boats built here at half this
expense but seldom last half as long.
----THE CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION COMPANY now
represented by and chiefly owned by two
steamboat companies, is operating in our river
and making thorough improvements. Some 10 or
20 hands and three large flats or lighters, with
axes, chains, saws, hooks, &c., have been actively
at work for two or three months. They cut out
stumps, logs, snags and obstructions, and remove
threes projecting across or into the river from the
banks. Large logs and pieces of timber sunk to
the bottom, also trees with roots or limbs are
carried down in freshets, and when the changing
channel shifts or washes out for itself a new
course, these timbers become exposed, perhaps
across the new channel, or, one end by some
means may become elevated with the other
embedded in the sand and thus present dangerous
snags and obstructions. Our river being lined with
forests, and as vast quantities of timber are
transported by it to market, the work of keeping
navigation open in a changing sandy channel is no
easy task.
The Navigation Company have been able to do
but little to the river for several years, and every
boat has had to “paddle its own canoe,” and no
tolls have been collected recently. Many years
ago this company was chartered with a number of
individual stockholders, while the State was the
largest stock holder. The State gave its interest
to the Literary Board. Since the war the Literary
Board sold its interest to the Express Steamboat
Company and the Cape Fear Steamboat Company.
These companies have bought also individual
stock, so they now have a large majority of the
stock. These two companies by authority of the
charter of the Navigation Company are at work,
and their designed improvements are nearly
completed.
The Company will now charge tolls on all boats
on the river. Boats not owning interest in the
Navigation Company may dispute the payment of
tolls, and claim a lapse or forfeiture of charter for
non-performance of conditions. But the rights
secured by special charter are not easily denied,
and positive proof and much direct damage, and
perhaps a perversion of the charter, will probably
be necessary to show cause for forfeiture of the
charger. The river has been navigated all the
while, and perhaps not much damage has actually
resulted to boats. The present representatives of
the Navigation Company have done work and
entitled themselves to get pay for it, and thus
keep the charter in full effect. So the only
question, it seems, would be whether their
predecessors had kept the charter in full effect.
But legislation can yet be amended and
enlarged on the subject.—Any how, tolls or no
tolls, monopolies or what else, we hope a
responsible party will have the duty of keeping
the river in good navigable order.
All logs,
obstructions from land slides, &c., have been
removed for a distance of 15 miles from
Fayetteville, and from there the most dangerous
snags, timbers, &c., are out, down to a few miles
below Elisabethtown.
The workmen are there now, and will move on
with the work until the high winter water will stop
them. It is thought the entire work can be
finished up thoroughly during the low water
season next summer. It is intended to erect
jettees or low side-dams at a few shallow or
shoaly places, and thus increase or collect more
volume of water in the main channel. Piling, of
long plank or poles, driven in a line edge to edge,
or else rock piled up, serve as the dams. In
removal of logs, as at present, they are pulled up
so as to be cut or sawed, and then put singly or in
small piles on the ground at the water’s edge, and
long stakes are driven firmly in the ground on each
side of the log with the tops of the stakes crossing
or lapping over them. Holes are bored through
stake and log and both pinned together. This is
necessary to keep logs from floating back into the
river, and it is less expensive than to carry them
far out on land. Capt. A P Hurt was first in charge
of this work, but he has decided to quit river life,
is disposing of his boat interest and preparing for
other business, and Capt Jack Evans is now
carrying on the Navigation work. The cost of
material, tools and implements for the work was
about $6,000, besides the expense of 10 to 20
hands, and the constant purchase and repair of
tools, &c.
[The Eagle – Thursday, October 6, 1870]
We learn from the EAGLE that the steamer which
has been building in Fayetteville for the People’s
Line and heretofore referred to by us, was
launched last Tuesday evening. The new steamer
is to be called THE CUMBERLAND, and to be run by
Capt. Kinnon Phillips. This boat is 115 feet long,
20 feet wide in the hold, and 26 feet on lower
deck, and can carry 800 barrels. The machinery is
not yet put in, but is to be all new and of the
best. The upper decks, rooms, etc., are not yet
finished. It is expected all the work will be done
in a month or less.
Mr. A. G. Black, of
Fayetteville, is the builder, and very well has he
done his work. THE CUMBERLAND will be about
same size, shape, capacity and accommodations
as the NORTH STATE, and will carry freight and
passengers.
At present only the hull and
unfinished decks and sides lie floating easily on
the water.
[Wilmington Star – December 17, 1870 BRC]
At a meeting of the People’s Steamboat Company,
held at their office in this city, Mr. F. W. Kerchner
was elected President, and Messrs. H. Vollers, T.
H. McKoy, A. H. Slocomb and F. W. Kerchner,
Directors, and A. Johnson, Jr., Secretary and
Treasurer.
This Company will have the elegant and
commodious steamer CUMBERLAND, now building
in Fayetteville, on the line by the 20th of the
present month.
[Wilmington Star – February 1, 1871 BRC]
THE PEOPLE’S STEAMBOAT COMPANY.—At a
meeting of the People’s Steamboat Co., held at
their office in Wilmington, Mr. F. W. Kerchner was
elected President, and Messrs. H. Vollers, T. H.
McKoy, A. H. Slocomb and F. W. Kerchner,
Directors, and A Johnson Jr., Secretary and
Treasurer.
[The Eagle – Thursday, February 9, 1871]
Good Time on the Cumberland.
In accordance with an invitation extended by
the People’s Steamboat Company, a large number
of our citizens assembled on board the new
steamer Cumberland, yesterday morning, to
partake of a bountiful collation prepared for the
occasion. The repast was of the most sumptuous
character, being unstinted in quantity and quality,
and was enjoyed to the fullest extent by those
present. After ample justice had been done to
the substantials, the fluids were circulated and
the success of the beautiful boat and her
enterprising owners was drank in foaming bumpers
of champagne. The pleasure of the occasion was
heightened by music from the band, which was
stationed on the “hurricane deck” and played
several beautiful airs. Every body seemed to be
well pleased with the “feast of reason and flow of
soul” in which they had participated and were
evidently in the humor to wish “many happy
returns.”
The Cumberland, with the excursionists on
board, left for Fayetteville yesterday afternoon.
[Wilmington Star – March 25, 1871]
For the Star
The Cumberland – Excursion to Fayetteville.
Left Wilmington at 5 o’clock on Friday, and
was accompanied up as far as Sugar Loaf by some
of Wilmington’s fairest daughters; also some of
the belles of Bladen; who “pitched in” and had a
gay time generally. Danced at intervals all the
way up, dancing the last set as we “tied up” at
Fayetteville. Capt. Phillips is one of the best
hands to conduct such an excursion that we have
ever seen, himself participating in all the
amusements of the day, and “tripping the light
fantastic toe” as much so as the youngest of the
crowd. He was certainly “the right man in the
right place.” He was the subject of conversation
b the people of Fayetteville Saturday and Sunday,
for each and every one had to tell their families
and friends what a nice time we had, and what an
amiable and accommodating captain we had, &c.
And now I can fully sanction one of the toasts of
Mr. O. G. P., on the boat in Wilmington on Friday,
viz: that the people of Fayetteville, whenever
they come to Wilmington in the future, will always
“Cum(by)berland,” under the immediate care of
the affable Capt. Phillips.
The Cumberland is second to no boat on the
river, either in speed, steadiness of movement or
easiness of management, for she certainly rounds
the points (and the Cape Fear is noted for its
crookedness) better than any boat it has ever
been our privilege to travel on in this river.
On our return trip we left Fayetteville at 8:30,
and stopped at several landings and took in
freight; but the most precious freight was that
which we took in at Sugar Loaf – in the shape of
the fair ladies (or a portion of them) whom we
had left on our upward trip – all save one, who
lives there and had gone up with us, and she, as
the boat left, could only wave us an adieu with
her handkerchief. She was what might be termed
the “Bladen belle.” She has our best wishes.
[Wilmington Star – March 29, 1871]
-- The new Steamer Cumberland made good
time to-day. She left Fayetteville at 7 o’clock and
reached her wharf in Wilmington at half past 5
o’clock, stopping one hour and 48 minutes on the
way. Actual running time 8 hours and 52 minutes.
[Wilmington Star – March 31, 1871]
ACCIDENT
TO
STEAMER
HALCYON.—On
Wednesday evening last, on the arrival of the
steamer Halcyon, Capt. Jno. M. Clark, at Pee Dee
Bridge, on the Wilmington and Manchester
Railroad, through some derangement of the
machinery or fault of the Engineer, the boat ran
against the bridge.
The hurricane deck was
completely shattered as far back as the
smokestack. No damage of any consequence to
machinery. Col. W. S. G. Andrews, of Wilmington,
had his leg broken, another passenger was treated
to a ducking, and we were considerably
demoralized. We made the best time getting off
of that boat that we have made any time since the
close of the war.
No blame attaches to Cap. Clark for the
accident.—
Marlborough Times.
----The daily arrival and departure of the
Steamers, and the increased activity in the
movement of naval stores give a decided air of
business and life at our River wharves.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday, April 27,
1871]
RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
Tuesday, May 9th.
-- The steamer Murchison, Capt. Garrison, which
arrived here at about half-past 5 o’clock this
afternoon, having left Fayetteville about 5
minutes after 7, stopping some ten or twelve
times, reports that the river is now in good
boating order, though it is rapidly falling at
Fayetteville.
[Morning Star – Wednesday, May 10, 1871]
A COLLISION.—The Steamer A. P. Hurt, on her
way from this town to Wilmington, and the
Steamer R. E. Lee, on her way from Wilmington to
this place, collided at a point about 25 miles from
Wilmington, on Monday evening.
But little
damage was done to either steamer, both having
made their trips as usual.
----CAPT. GEO. II. ELLIOTT, U. S. Engineers Corps,
who has been assigned the duty of the survey of
the Cape Fear river, left yesterday afternoon on
the steamer North State, for Fayetteville, from
whence he will proceed to Haywood, in Chatham
county, at the confluence of the Deep and Haw
rivers,, the two tributaries of the Cape Fear. The
survey will be begun in a few days, and as soon as
the necessary means can be provided.
—Wil. Journal.
Capt. Elliott was in this town Tuesday on his
return from Chatham.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday, May 11, 1871]
We were informed yesterday that Mr. John A.
Moore had purchased four Savannah River boats.
The boats are the Wave and the Clyde – both new
boats, which have been on the river a short time –
and two boats now at Wilmington Delaware, which
have not yet been brought to this city. The price
paid was forty thousand dollars. The boats are all
light draft vessels, built to do business on the
Savannah in summer as well as winter. They were
constructed for a stock company composed of
merchants and planters living in this city and
between here and Savannah, Messrs. Branch, Sons
& Co., of this city, were the largest stockholders
in the Company.
[Daily Chronicle & Sentinel – Augusta, GA – June 2, 1871]
RIVER DISASTER.
Yesterday evening, about 8 ½ o’clock, as the
steamer Cumberland was on her downward trip,
and when about six miles from this city, one of
her cranks suddenly gave way, causing the piston
to carry away both heads of the port engine,
rendering it entirely useless, and causing a delay
of about one hour and a half in reaching the city.
Capt. Phillips informs us that the engine is an
entire wreck and the steamer will probably be laid
in for repairs about four or six weeks. The
accident is entirely attributable to imperfect work
in building the machinery, a flaw being plainly
perceptible in the crank where the breakage took
place. The accident resulted in no injury to any
one, beyond a slight scald one of the men
received on his arm, though of course a little
commotion was caused at first before the extent
of the injury was ascertained.
[Wilmington Star – June 16, 1871]
The Excursion to Smithville, &c.
The steamer Waccamaw will leave market dock
this morning, at 8 ½ o’clock. We learn that some
seven or eight hundred tickets have been sold for
the grad family excursion to Smithville and the
forts below. A very pleasant trip is anticipated
and we hope nothing may occur to mar in the
least the enjoyment of the occasion.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, July 4, 1871]
Steamer Waccamaw.
[steamboat image]
W. J. POTTER, Master.
WILL IN ADDITIONTO HER REGULAR Daily
trips, make an Excursion Trip on Tuesdays and
Fridays of each week, leaving Wilmington on those
days at 9:30 A. M., and returning at 4 o’clock, P.
M. Any part purchasing not less than fifty tickets
may have music carried free and have control of
the promenade deck by communicating with the
Secretary a day in advance. The excursions may
be made by due notice to the Secretary and a
guarantee of the sale of fifty tickets.
Fare for the round trip $1.
Children half price.
The Company reserves the right to exclude
objectionable persons.
On Sundays the boat will leave Wilmington for
Smithville at 7 o’clock A. M., and returning leave
Smithville at 4 ½ o’clock, P. M. Fare as usual.
No disorderly or improper conduct allowed.
Parties who have no other opportunity to reach
the sea shore may be assured of a quiet trip.
REGULAR SCHEDULE.
Leave Wilmington, daily, at… 5 o’clock, P. M.
“ Smithville,
“
at… 6:15 “
A. M.
Meals furnished on board at the following
rates:
Dinner,………………………………………..75 cents.
Breakfast or Supper,…………………..50 “
For further information apply to
T. D. MEARES, Jr.
Secretary and Treasurer,
S. L. FREMONT, President.
July11:tf
-------
Cape Fear and Black Rivers.
-------
THE STEAMER LITTLE SAM,
[sidewheeler steamboat image]
Capt. R. P. PADDISON.
IS
now running regularly between Wilmington
and Point Caswell, leaving Wilmington Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays, at 7 ½ o’clock A. M.,
and Point Caswell Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays at 7 ½ o’clock, A. M., touching at all
intermediate landings of passengers or freight.
Fare, $1—meals extra.
Freight charges very moderate.
For freight or passage, apply to Captain on board.
[sept 21-S&F tf]
-------
Stmr. Waccamaw,
[sidewheel steamboat image]
W. J. POTTER, Master,
WILL LEAVE WHARF in front of Messrs. James
& Meares Auction Room, on Sunday morning next,
for Smithville, at 7 ½ o’clock, and returning leave
Smithville at 5 o’clock P. M. [pointing finger
image>>] Passage as usual. No interference with
regular trips.
T. D. MEARES,
July 6-3t
Secretary.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, July 14, 1871]
BOAT SCHEDULE
BETWEEN
Fayetteville and Wilmington.
(120 Miles by River.)
-----Leave Fayetteville at 7 A. M., arrive at
Wilmington same day at 7 to 10 P. M., (except
that Steamers of People’s Line leave now at 5:30
A. M.)
LEAVE FAYETTEVILLE.
MONDAY—Steamer Hurt, Capt. S. Skinner; Str.
Cumberland, Capt. Phillips.
TUESDAY—Str. D. Murchison, Capt. Garrison,
Str. North State, Capt. Green.
WEDNESDAY—Strs. R. E. Lee, Capt. Wm.
Skinner; Str. Juniper, Capt. A. Worth.
THURSDAY—Steamers Hurt and Cumberland.
FRIDAY—Strs. Murchison and North State.
SATURDAY—Strs. R. E. Lee and Juniper.
-----Leave Wilmington at 2 p. m., arrive at
Fayetteville next day at 6 to 9 a. m.
LEAVE WILMINGTON.
MONDAY—Steamers R. E. Lee and Juniper.
TUESDAY—Strs Hurt and Cumberland.
WEDNESDAY—Strs. D. Murchison and North
State.
THURSDAY—Steamers R. E. Lee and Juniper.
FRIDAY—Strs. Hurt and Cumberland.
SATURDAY—Strs. D. Murchison and North State.
-----FARE—including state-room and meals, $3.
Deck passage $1.
The Steamers Hurt and Juniper are of the Cape
Fear Steamboat Company—J. A. Worth Agent at
Fayetteville, Worth & Worth Agents at
Wilmington. Steamers Lee and Murchison are of
the Express Steamboat Co.—J. D. Williams & Co.
Agents at Fayetteville. Williams & Murchison
Agents at Wilmington. Steamers Cumberland and
North State are of the People’s Line—J. B. Starr
Agent at Fayetteville, A. Johnson, Jr. Agt. At
Wilmington.
The Hurt carries the United States mail each
trip.
By above schedule, steamers on downward trip
from Fayetteville, pass Cedar Creek about 8 1-4
a.m.; Willis’s Creek 9 1-4 a.m.; Elizabethtown 12
M.; White Hall 2 1-2 p. m., Railroad Bridge 7 p.
m., arriving at Wilmington in time to connect with
9 p. m. train going north. On upward trip from
Wilmington, they pass Railroad Bridge (4 miles)
about 2 1-2 to 3 p. m., (at which time and place
the boats may connect with Wil. Charlotte & R. R.
R. and with Wil. Columbia & A. R. R.); White Hall
9 p. m.; Elizabethtown 12 1-2 a. m.; Willis’s Creek
4 a. m.; Cedar Creek 6 a. m. reaching Fayetteville
generally in time to connect with Western
Railroad, 7 a. m.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Thursday, July 27, 1871]
Excursion to Smithville.
The prospect is that the regular Wednesday
excursion to Smithville, this week, on board the
steamer Waccamaw, will be decidedly the most
agreeable trip yet made to the seashore this
summer. The temperature of August in this
latitude has a provoking tendency to overcharge
“sons of guns” with heat and drive inhabitants
inland into the very jaws of old ocean. Those who
go down to the sea in the Waccamaw, will not
only enjoy the bathing at Smithville, but be taken
to Fort Caswell and probably a short distance out
to sea. No doubt a large company will honor the
trip with their presence.
[Wilmington Morning Star - Tuesday, August 15, 1871]
Fatal Accident.
Yesterday morning, about half past 9 o’clock,
at the wharf of Messrs. Williams & Murchison, at
the foot of Orange street, a colored man by the
name of Stephen Jones met with a fatal accident.
He was employed on one of Mr. Orrell’s flats,
being a green hand just engaged that morning.
The flat was loaded with rosin and ######, with
another man, was in the act of pushing the flat
from the wharf when his pole slipped and he fell
between the flat and the wharf. In falling he
caught hold of the bow of the flat with the view of
pulling himself out, but before he could effect his
purpose he became jammed in between it and the
wharf. The witnesses of the accident saw the
peril he was in and called out to him to let go and
drop into the water, knowing that the flat would
thus pass over him, and, as he was a good
swimmer, there would have been little danger of
his drowning; but the suddenness of the accident
seemed to have deprived him of all presence of
mind. Assistance was at hand as soon as possible,
and the unfortunate man was taken into the flat
and thence removed to Mr. James Anderson’s
shed, where he died in about fifteen minutes after
the accident occurred.
A physician was
summoned, but it was found impossible to do
anything for him, as the pressure on the chest had
been so great that the very life had been crushed
out of him, although, strange as it may seem, not
a bone was broken. He also received injuries
about the head.
Deceased was a man of powerful frame, and
was seemingly about 30 years of age. He formerly
lived at Point Peter, where, some time previous to
the last session of the Superior court, he got into
a difficulty with a fellow workman by the name of
Mingo Moore, during which blows passed between
them. For this they were arrested and lodged in
jail, where Moore, who was sort of half-witted,
was taken sick and died just before the assembling
of Court. Jones stood his trial and was acquitted.
Deceased leaves a wife and children, who live
at the Young place, near this city.
Coroner Hewlett summoned a jury and held an
inquest over the body, a verdict of accidental
death being rendered.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, August 16, 1871]
The river is still so low that loaded boats
cannot run.
-----
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
-----Just as we go to press, we learn the steamer R.
E. Lee bursted her boiler some miles below here
this morning.
We have only time for the
following:
As the Steamer Lee was on her way up at 2
o’clock this morning, as she was crossing at Tim’s
Shoals, she blew up, killing Wm. Gilmore, Sam
McKee and Alex. Jackson, all colored. Gilmore
has not been found. The injured are Capt. W.
Skinner, seriously; slightly, Gif. Chance, Zac.
Roberts, Jack Hogans, colored, and one other
name not recollected.
The cause of the accident cannot be accounted
for, as the fireman attests that the glass on the
boiler indicated 8 inches water on the crown
sheet.
A colored woman is injured seriously. Mr.
Wilson, formerly a citizen of Fayetteville, in
company with his daughter, was slightly injured,
### his daughter and family, Mrs. Vanorsdell, are
not hurt.
The dead and wounded are on the way up on
board of the Hurt. The boiler went up and fell
back on the upper cabin nearly demolishing the
whole upper works, and then fell off into the
river. The hull of the boat is not injured at all.
All goods on board are safe.
-----
People’s Steamboat Company,
ON and after to-day the Steamers of this line
will leave promptly at 5:30 A. M.
NORTH STATE, Capt. Green,
TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS.
CUMBERLAND, Capt. Phillips,
MONDAYS AND THURSDAYS.
Returning – Leave Wilmington Tuesdays, Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays at 2 P. M.
June 1-3m
J. B. STARR, Agent.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Thursday, August 17,
1871]
The Excursion Yesterday.
A large number of persons, both male and
female, embarked on the Steamer Waccamaw
yesterday morning, for an excursion to the
seashore.
An excellent band of music
accompanied the excursionists, and as the boat
steamed gaily down the beautiful Cape Fear, the
dangers commenced their pleasant and enjoyable
pastime.
This was kept up with slight
intermissions throughout the trip and formed an
important feature, with many, of the day’s
enjoyment. Arrived at Fort Anderson, a stoppage
was made to allow those who wished to do so an
opportunity of landing and examining the ruins of
the fort and Old Brunswick Church, located at that
point. A landing was next made at Smithville, and
Fort Caswell, where the party landed and spent
some time in inspecting the ruins and enjoying the
breezes wafted from the ocean which was spread
out to all its grandeur and beauty before them.
Returning, the boat again touched at
Smithville, after which her prow was turned
homeward, arriving at her wharf about 8 o’clock.
Ample provision was made to ensure a pleasant
trip and to afford every accommodation necessary
to make the excursion a great success. How far
this was the case is sufficiently demonstrated by
the fact that the desire was almost universally
expressed to repeat the excursion at an early day.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Thursday, August 17, 1871]
The Late Explosion.
The latest intelligence from the steamer R. E.
Lee, the boat that exploded her boiler near
Fayetteville on Thursday, represents her as still
lying at the place where the disaster occurred,
about thirteen miles from the town. Another of
the hands employed on the boat, a colored man
by the name of Jack Hagans, who was badly
injured by the explosion, died at his home in
Fayetteville on Saturday last. This makes four (all
colored) who have died from the effects of the
accident, the other three having been killed
outright.
We are glad to learn from a private letter
received by Messrs. Williams & Murchison, agents
of the Lee, that the physician in attendance upon
Capt. Skinner, the unfortunate commander of the
boat, says he is improving and will eventually
recover from the injuries he received.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Wednesday, August 23,
1871]
THE STEAMER R. E. LEE.—In our last we gave
account of the terrible steamboat accident of last
Thursday at the Shoals near Thames’ Landing 13
miles below Fayetteville. The Steamers Hurt and
Lee were coming up the river from Wilmington,
the Hurt about 100 yards ahead, and about two
o’clock Thursday morning in pitch darkness and
very low water, the Lee in struggling from one
eddying channel to another along the sandy
shoals. Burst her boiler killing and wounding
several, and shattering the upper works of the
boat, as briefly stated by us last week.
All our steamers have the boiler, engine and
machinery on the lower or open deck, and the
cabin, rooms, saloons, office & c. are all above or
on the second story. The boiler is in front and
engine in rear of the boat and the steam passes
from the boiler through the long space from end
to end of the boat in a tube or pipe to the steam
chest of the engine. The cause of the explosion
on the Lee seems not to be fully known. Our river
is very low, and a boat is so impeded in getting
over sand banks and stopped so much when
dragging on the bottom that the steam cannot
work itself off. The machinery must stop too and
the steam is not worked off like it would be in
deep water with full motion.
If heat is applied the steam continues to
increase whether machinery moves or not, and
close attention is required to test the steam
continually and let it off through the valves. The
pump pipes when filled from muddy shallow water
so near the bottom often becomes obstructed with
mud, and water is not forced in at the rate
indicated by any measurement attached to the
machinery. Thus the boiler does not always have
in it the regular proportion of water, and if the
water gets very low the boiler becomes hotter,
and then if fresh water be thrown in rapidly an
explosion may occur.
{The next 14 or 15 column lines are mostly to partially
torn and missing leaving a partial record of the article
at that point.}
The boil ###
good by ###
###
much changed o###
as above indicated
engineer could have kno###
not, we will not now undert###
We do think a good ###
machinery is good ###
ought always to kee##
informed on the real ###
steam, of the heat, and ####
ing capacity and deficien###
pipe, valve and pump in ###
trol and directly dependent on the movement of
his steam. We hear so far no blame attached to
any one for this unfortunate accident, and
probably no blame is due.
The boiler, some 10 feet long by 4 feet in
diameter, was much larger than was necessary for
use on this boat, and the tremendous sound from
its explosion shows it to have been strong. It
seemed to rise upward, and moved endways
towards the rear of the boat. In doing so it tore
up the upper floor, and in its slanting upward
course at lightning speed it passed centrally
through the sleeping berths, the dining room and
other apartments, smashing and bursting like a
huge shell. In one apartment the middle berth
was shattered and carried forward in splinters
while the upper and lower berths in the same
room were untouched.
The boiler was thus
thrown up and through one side of the boat from
end to end, and all upper works on that side were
knocked to pieces, ###
### along the other side were only jostled. The
posts and walls being so knocked away, the
remaining side slowly keeled or tumbled over and
rested in a slanting position on the engine, broken
timers, tables, rods, &c., that were now crowded
on the lower deck.
A lady passenger, Mrs. VanOrsdell, of
Wilmington, and two of her children were asleep
in these rooms that were left standing an that fell
over into the vacant space caused by the boiler.
Mr. Wilson, of Wilmington, father of Mrs.
VanOrsdell, was asleep in one of the bunks
directly in the course of the boiler on the side of
the boat that was knocked away. The boiler
carried Mr. Wilson, bunk and all, with it, and Mr.
Wilson, we hear, knew nothing of the situation
until he awoke out in the river several feet from
the boat. The water being shallow he was able to
wade and get out easily. The boiler did not leave
the boat, and its force was so checked by the
many objects it came in contact with that it
stopped at the rear end of the boat, and, the
timbers being shattered or loosened, it fell and
rolled down into the engine room, and then
tumbled off the edge of the boat into the river.
John Martin, the engineer, reports, so we hear,
that he distinctly heard the boiler in its course,
and when it began to fall down, he ran out of the
engine room and escaped being crushed. Just as
he ran towards the other end of the boat, the
portion of the upper rooms that had been left
standing began to fall or tumble over into the
opening made by the boiler. He then saw one of
Mrs. Van Orsdell’s children falling through the
shattered floor and timbers and caught it before it
fell to the lower deck, and thus saved its life. On
account of low water the freight was nearly all on
a flat boat fastened to the rear by a long rope.
Some four hands were on the flat and they and
the goods were all safe. The casualties are,
killed: Alex Jackson, pilot; Wm. Gilmore, and
Sam McKee all colored; wounded, scalded, &c.,
Jack Hagins, (since dead,) Zack Roberts, (will
probably die,) Griff. Chance, another man and one
woman, all colored, badly hurt; and Capt. Wm.
Skinner badly bruised, cut and scalded. He is
recovering. Mr. Wilson was slightly hurt in the
foot, and some others were slightly wounded.
Mrs. Van Orsdell and children escaped unhurt.
Capt. Skinner was sent headforemost 50 yards
up the river and into the water, and was not
conscious of the situation until his head struck the
bottom of the river, where he slided along the
bottom several feet. On making effort to swim he
found himself in water only two or three feet
deep and stood up. Capt. Sam. Skinner, a cousin
of Capt. of the Lee, was in charge of the Hurt,
and just after the explosion, all hands on the Hurt
at once jumped into the water and went to the
aid of the Lee. They waded along easily in the
shallow water, and very soon came up with Capt.
Wm. Skinner in the darkness and rescued him.
Had not assistance come to him so soon he would
probably have drowned, as he was so exhausted
by the shock and bruises.
It was a mere accident that the Hurt was near,
and had this not bee so the loss of life and
property must have been much greater.
Altogether this was the most frightful, destructive
and remarkable explosion that ever happened on
our river.
The R. E. Lee was owned by Williams &
Murchison and belonged to the Express Line. This
boat was built here in 1866-’67 of excellent
material, and was still in good order. It was sold
to the present owners about last of 1868 or first of
1869 for about $11,000, and had more than paid
for itself, we learn, up to the time of the
accident. The machinery, boiler and engine of
the Lee are the same that were used on the
steamer North Carolina which had been used
several years before the Lee was built. The boiler
was made new for the North Carolina, and the
same engine and machinery now on the Lee was
used on the ill fated Magnolia that blew up near
White Hall in 1858, when Capt. J. M. Steadman
and others were killed. The Lee, first designed
for light freight boat, was enlarged and refitted
last year for passenger accommodation, and was
worth, perhaps, $6,000 or $8,000.—Wooden
bottom boats like the Lee cost from $10,000 to
$15,000 and will do service 6 or 8 years, and the
Lee has paid for herself in about half this time
{Remainder of article missing because page is torn.
Appears to have been no more than about 12 lines
missing.}
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Thursday, August 24,
1871]
The Late Explosion of the Steamer
R. E. Lee—Further Particulars.
Owing to the lowness of the river and the
consequent irregularity in the arrivals and
departures of the river steamers our means of
obtaining full and accurate particulars of the
recent explosion of the boiler of the R. E. Lee
have been very limited.
From Capt. S. W.
Skinner, of the steamer Hurt, which boat arrived
here on Tuesday night, we are at last able to give
the particulars of the disaster more in detail. The
explosion occurred at Thames’ Shoals, about 13
miles from Fayetteville (as previously stated by
us) about 2 o’clock on Thursday morning. It seems
that the steamer Hurt was on the shoals on the
opposite side of the river, endeavoring to get
over, when the Lee came up and stopped. The
Captain then went over to the Hurt to sound the
channel in order to find the best water for
crossing the shoals, and was engaged to this task
for about half an hour. At the expiration of that
time he went back to his boat and started her
over the shoals immediately in the wake of the
Hurt. The instant almost that that she was
started ahead her boiler exploded with a
tremendous crash, being removed bodily from its
position, going through the Captain’s office and
gentlemen’s cabin, carrying away the wheel house
on the upper deck, and the, in its descent, falling
into the lady’s cabin, carrying away about onethird of the same, falling on the starboard engine,
breaking that pretty badly, and thence going
overboard all the berths in the gentlemen’s cabin
with but one exception, were carried away,
making a complete wreck of that apartment and
the sitting room. In fact, only two rooms in the
boat were left uninjured.
Of the passengers, Mrs. VanOrsdell, wife of Mr.
C. M. VanOrsdell, of this city, with two of her
children and a little child of Mr. H. H. Munson,
who was in her charge, were sleeping on the port
side of the ladies’ cabin, and were uninjured, with
the exception that Mrs. V. received a slight wound
on her arm from a splinter. The father of Mrs.
VanOrsdell, Mr. Wilson, of Fayetteville, together
with one of Mrs. V.’s children, was in a berth on
the starboard side of the cabin. The boiler passed
on that side of the cabin, carrying away the berth
in which Mr. Wilson and the little child were
sleeping. The child was subsequently picked up
on the deck of the boat, where it had been thrown
by the force of the explosion, while Mr. Wilson
was thrown into the river, from which he
afterwards was rescued. Mr. Wilson and the child
were found to be very slightly injured. One
colored woman, who was in the gentlemen’s cabin
at the time of the accident, was, strange to say,
entirely uninjured.
Capt. Skinner, of the Hurt, was standing on his
boat and witnessed the explosion, when he,
together with five of his men, jumped into the
river and waded across the shoals to the Lee, the
water only being about waist deep. They picked
up the Captain of the ill-fated steamer about half
way between the two boats, who, with the rest of
the passengers, together with the wounded and
dead, were placed on a flat. Dr. Lesesne, who
resides not far from the scene of the disaster, was
then sent for and arrived in about three quarters
of an hour, after which the Hurt proceeded to
Fayetteville, arriving there just about dark the
same evening.
Capt. Skinner’s wounds were very severe. His
right cheek, from the ear to the nose, was cut
open to the bone, the right side of his cheek and
back of the head badly scalded, and his right arm,
shoulder and side also badly hurt. Every particle
of his coat, with the exception of one sleeve,
which adhered to the arm, was blown from his
body. Notwithstanding the severity of his injuries,
however, his physician expresses confident hopes
of his ultimate recovery.
Mr. Frances Moore, who embarked as a
passenger on the Lee at this place, got off at
Elizabethtown and took passage on the Hurt, to
which freak of good fortune he may possibly be
indebted for his life.
Mr. E. E. Hewes, local inspector of boilers, who
went up on the Hurt yesterday, for the purpose of
instituting an investigation into the cause of the
explosion, has, we learn, given instructions to the
various Captains and owners of steamers within his
jurisdiction, that an engineer must never be
permitted, under any circumstances, to be away
from his boiler more than ten minutes at a time.
------RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
-- Capt. Jno. K. Dailey, second officer of the Pee
Dee steamer Halcyon, went up the Cape Fear
yesterday on a short visit to his friends at
Fayetteville.
-- The passengers of the ill-fated steamer R. E.
Lee speak in the highest terms of the services of
Capt. Saml. W. Skinner, rendered immediately
after the explosion. He commands the Hurt
which, it will be remembered was within a short
distance of the Lee when the accident occurred.
“Old Reliable” is as gallant a steamboatman as
ever walked a deck.
-- There has been a rise of a few inches in the
Cape Fear below Fayetteville; but above that
point no rain has fallen recently. We can have no
certain navigation until there is a freshet in Deep
and Haw rivers.
-- The steamer Hurt arrived from Fayetteville
Tuesday night. She started on her upward trip at
1 P. M. yesterday.
-- The two small vessels capsized off Smithville
during the gale on Saturday last, one loaded with
naval stores and the other being a fishing smack,
have been gotten up. But we learn that the cargo
will be an entire loss.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, August 24, 1871]
RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
-- The steamer D. Murchison and Cumberland
arrived from Fayetteville Wednesday night. Both
cleared for the upper Cape Fear about 2 ½ P. M.
yesterday. The Murchison was heavily loaded in
anticipation of a big river.
-- Up to yesterday evening no material change
had taken place in the condition of the river. But
we are glad to announce that a heavy rain fell at
Fayetteville Tuesday, with indications, also of
rains above that place. The prospect for a rise is
more encouraging now than it has been for some
weeks.
-- The Little Sam, Capt. Paddison, returned to
Point Caswell yesterday with the excursionists
who paid a visit to our city on Wednesday. They
appeared to be well pleased with their trip.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, August 25, 1871]
RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
-- The steamer Cumberland arrived yesterday
afternoon, from a point about two miles above
“Big Cypress.” She reports the river again falling,
which is not encouraging. Until we hear of heavy
and long continued rains in the Haw and Deep
river sections, we need not look for a “big river.”
[Wilmington Star – September 3, 1871]
Notice.
-------
THE STEAMER CASWELL
[sidewheel steamboat image]
WILL be ready to resume her regular trips on
Black River on the 10th of October.
On the same day the Steamer LITTLE SAM will
be put on North East River between Wilmington
and Hallsville.
Sept 16-S&F1m
R. P. PADDISON.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, September 29, 1871 ]
RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
-- The steamer Hurt, Capt. Skinner, arrived here
from Fayetteville Thursday night, having left that
place on Monday.
She passed the steamers
Murchison, Juniper, Cumberland and North State
all aground on Morehead Shoals, 37 miles this side
of Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sturday, October 7, 1871]
A new steamer arrived here yesterday morning
from Savannah, and created some little
excitement among the river men and boat men.
The steamer, called Governor Worth, is a brand
new vessel. She is a small craft well adapted to
the shallow stream of the Savannah.
It is
beautifully made, and seems to be stout and
serviceable. We understand that she will ply
regularly between this port, and the village (sic)
of Savannah during the fall and winter.
[Daily Chronicle & Sentinel -- Augusta, GA -- October
17, 1871]
To Merchants and Shippers of Cotton:
The light draught Iron Steamer Governor
Worth, Capt. Worth commanding, will run in
connection with the steamer Rosa, Capt. Philpot,
leaving this city every Tuesday morning at 6
o’clock, and Savannah every Friday morning at 11
o’clock. The steamer Rosa will leave Augusta
every Saturday morning at 6 o’clock: Savannah
every Tuesday evening at 4 o’clock. Merchants
will please bear in mind that goods from New York
by steamships Gen. Barnes and H. Livingstone,
marked to our care, are forwarded free of
drayage.
(Signed) – W. J. OWENS, Agent
Augusta, Ga.
[Daily Chronicle & Sentinel -- Augusta, GA -- October
18, 1871]
Local Dots.
-- The steamer Wave, of the Express Line, is on
her way here from Augusta. She will probably
arrive in a few days.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, November 1,
1871]
The steamer Wave, formerly plying between
Augusta and Savannah, on the People’s Line,
having been purchased by the Wilmington (N. C.)
Express Steamboat Company, arrived in Savannah
Friday on her way from Augusta to her point of
destination.
[Daily Chronicle & Sentinel – Augusta, GA – November 5,
1871]
RIVER AND MARINE NEWS.
--- The steamer Wave, purchased for the Express
Steamboat Company to run regularly between this
city and Fayetteville, arrived here yesterday. The
Wave is a new iron hull, stern wheel steamer,
having only run for three or four months on the
Savannah river before she was purchased by the
above company. She will be in command of Capt.
W. W. Skinner. Her carrying capacity is 300 bales
of cotton or 600 barrels of rosin.
[Wilmington Star – November 12, 1871]
THE CAPE FEAR RIVER is still high, though the
freshet has abated. ‘four boats, The Wave, North
State, Governor Worth and Cumberland, have
been up to Averasboro, 26 miles above here, and
have brought down all the produce and naval
stores ready for shipment in that section. An
immense quantity of rosin is thus thrown into
market that has been awaiting shipment. We still
hear of much loss from timber floating away.
Persons from here have gone down the river to
tide water region and near Wilmington to gather
saw timber that has floated off. There is said to
be much profit very often in recovering rafts and
parts of rafts of timber that thus get scattered
along the banks and swamps in the low country.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday, February 22,
1872]
The steamer Gov. Worth has been repaired,
and resumed to-day regular trips on the river.
Comfortable berth room is afforded for 36
passengers.—The Gov. Worth is to carry U. S. mail
in place of the Hurt which is now undergoing
thorough repairs.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, N. C. – Thursday, March 28,
1872]
Some of the steamboats on the Cape Fear have
been tied up to await a “rise” which is reported as
slowly coming.
[The Eagle – September 28, 1872]
Cape Fear river rose five or six feet yesterday,
and will probably get much higher from the
abundant rains of the last two days. We learn all
our boats are getting off with large loads.
[The Eagle – October 26, 1872]
Our river is now well up, and all the boats are
on their regular trips, well loaded too.
-----The river now being in good order for boating
all persons wishing to attend the Wilmington Fair
can do so easily. As the Fair will end Friday the
Steamer R. E. Lee will remain over until 12
o’clock that night.
[The Eagle – Semi-Weekly – November 12, 1872]
CAPE FEAR RIVER.
-----Spring and Summer Schedule.
-----The following schedule will be run by the
“Express Steam Boat Company,” commencing on
Saturday, 27th inst., and continue thereafter until
further notice:
The Steamer Wave, Capt. W. H. {middle initial
incorrectly listed as “H” instead of “W”}Skinner,
will leave Fayetteville every Wednesday and
Saturday at 7 o’clock a. m., and Wilmington every
Monday and Thursday at 2 o’clock p. m.
The Steamer D. Murchison, Capt. A. Garrison,
will leave Fayetteville every Tuesday and Friday at
7 o’clock a. m., and Wilmington every Wednesday
and Saturday at 2 o’clock p. m.
The above are both substantial iron boats,
recently repainted and refurnished and offering
the best accommodation to travelers.
The proprietors tender their thanks for the
very liberal patronage extended to their line of
boats and beg leave to assure the public that the
comfort of the patrons of the line in the future
shall be a speciality {misspelled in article} on the
part of the commander of each boat.
J. D. WILLIAMS & CO., Agents
Fayetteville, N. C.
WILLIAMS & MURCHISON, Agents
apl 25 nov 9-tf
Wilmington, N. C.
[The Eagle – Semi-Weekly – December 10, 1872]
The Cape Fear.
When the Governor Worth left Fayetteville on
Friday last the water had fallen at that point
about twenty feet, and was still falling. Boatmen,
however, feel no apprehension of further
difficulty on account of the want of water during
the season, as it is now about eight feet higher
than during the summer months.
During her last trip the Worth went as high up
the river as McNeill’s Landing, after freight; and
could have gone considerably further if it had
been necessary. People in that direction only ship
their produce once or twice a year, as the water is
generally so low that boats cannot go beyond
Fayetteville even when they reach that point.
[Wilmington Star - January 14, 1873]
Our boats are about to be consolidated in two
lines. The Cape Fear and People’s Lines are to go
in one with three boats, and the Express Line to
unite with Capt. Sam. Skinner of the Lee, with
three boats, leaving two boats, one of Cape Fear,
and one of People’s to be sold or run elsewhere.
[The Eagle – Semi-Weekly – January 28, 1873]
The steamer Cumberland on the up trip
yesterday morning, we learn, rescued three men
from a very perilous situation some miles below
here. They had landed from the Murchison a few
hours before. The river was so high they could not
be put out at the place where they wanted to go,
but were put on the opposite bank. In attempting
then to cross the river in a canoe, they were
upset, but held on to limbs of trees and kept
above water until the Cumberland came along.
The captain had a small boat at once sent to
them. As it got near, one of them jumped in so
hastily and violently, that he upset the boat and
things were again “at sea.” But by diligent effort
the steamer backed down to a convenient position
and ropes were thrown to the men, and they were
thus drawn aboard, and saved. One of the men
had a tickler of of {repeated in article} “old rye”
in his coat pocket which he had kept safe through
all his troubles and dangers.
[The Eagle – Semi-Weekly – February 11, 1873]
Recent freshets have enabled our friends in
Harnett and Sampson to get off their timer rafts.
The timber business is very profitable. A good,
large raft brings $500 to $800, and one half of this
in clear money. A good many men send off ten or
a dozen rafts a year, besides their crops of
turpentine.
[The Eagle – Semi-Weekly – February 18, 1873]
THE RIVER still continues high. We expect
that much damage has been done to rafts and low
grounds during the freshet. We are not able to
give casualties as yet, but when water subsides
will compare notes, prepare reports, etc.
[The Eagle – Semi-Weekly – February 25, 1873]
UNDER REPAIRS.— The Steamers Hurt and
Juniper of the Cape Fear and People’s Line are
laying at their wharves under repair.
[The Eagle – Thursday, March 6, 1873]
THE Steamer D. Murchison of the Express Line
is laid up for repairs and painting.
The Steamer Wave of the same line went up
river yesterday after naval stores which are said
to be in abundance about Averasboro awaiting
shipment.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Semi-Weekly – March 22,
1873]
THE STR. GOV. WORTH—UNDER REPAIR.—We
learn from Capt. D. M. McDonald that this elegant
and commodious river steamer is at the wharf for
repairs. Captain McDonald says that a new deck
will be made for the Worth, and that she will be
thoroughly painted.
This work will consume
several weeks.
[The Statesman – Fayetteville, N.C. – April 12, 1873]
CAPE FEAR AND DEEP RIVER NAVIGATION
COMPANY.—By appointment of the Governor,
Messrs Thos. S. Lutterloh, K. Murchison, A. R.
McDonald, and --------- --------, have been made
managers of this company. The Managers met at
Lockville on Tuesday last and elected Col. K.
Murchison, President and H. A. London Esq.,
Secretary and Treasurer.
A resolution which
passed directed the Treasurer to look up the
property of the company and take it into
possession.
The board of managers then
adjourned to meet in Raleigh, on the 2nd Tuesday
in June next.
[The Statesman – Fayetteville, N.C. – April 26, 1873]
STEAMER WAVE of Express Line goes off this
morning (Saturday) for Wilmington on first trip
after having been thoroughly repaired, repainted
and generally overhauled. She presents a very
fine appearance in her new dress and does much
credit to her gentlemanly commander.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Semi-Weekly – May 17,
1873]
BODY DISCOVERED.—The body of Dennis Gill,
the colored boat hand who was drowned off the
Steamer North State on the 30th ult., about 12
miles below Fayetteville, was discovered a few
days since, by passengers on the same boat, tied
to a bush on what would be the banks of the river
were they not overflowed to such an extent. It is
supposed that the body was found by some person
passing in a canoe and tied there until some one
should appear to perform the rites of burial. The
boat would have been stopped and the body
buried at the time we allude to, but there was no
possibility of landing on account of the flood.
Wilmington Star.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – May 20, 1873]
IMPORTANT SALE
OF
PUBLIC PROPERTY.
----At a meeting of the Board of Managers of the
Cape Fear and Deep River Navigation Works, at
the Executive office in Raleigh, on the 3d of June,
1873, the following resolutions were passed:
1. Resolved, That in accordance with the Act
of the General Assembly, 1860,-‘61, chapter 122,
it is deemed advisable to sell the interests of the
State of North Carolina, in the Cape Fear and
Deep River Navigation Works.
2. Resolved, That the same be sold in two
sections, viz: 1st, from Fayetteville to Sharp’s
Field Dam. 2d, from Sharp’s Field Dam, including
the same, up the Cape Fear and Deep River to the
limits of the original charter.
3. Resolved, That the respective purchasers
shall pay one-third of the price of their purchases
in cash, and the remainder in one and two years
from day of sale, with interest from said date, and
that the same be secured by satisfactory bond,
and a lien on the interests purchased. Title not to
be made till payment in full.
4.
Resolved, That the sale be upon the
expressed condition, that the respective
purchasers shall complete and put in operation,
according to the terms of the charter the portion
purchased as follows, viz: from Fayetteville to
Sharp’s Field Dam within 5 years from day of sale,
and from Sharp’s Field Dam, including the same to
Tysor’s Mill in Moore county within 3 years from
said date.
5. Resolved, That H. A. London, Secretary,
and B. I. Howze, Attorney of the Board, be
authorized to make said sale at Lockville, in
Chatham county, on the 8th of July, 1873, and that
they give notice of the same in the “Era” and
“News” in Raleigh, the “Eagle” and “Statesman”
in Fayetteville, the “Star” and “Post” in
Wilmington, until day of sale and by posters.
We shall offer the above property for sale
according to the above resolutions.
H. A. LONDON,
Secretary.
B. I. HOWZE, Attorney.
June 7-10
tds
[The Statesman – Fayetteville, N.C. – June 7, 1873]
The Cape Fear River is getting very low, but
the boats continue to make their regular trips.
-----STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT.—On up trip of the
steamer “Cumberland,” of the Cape Fear and
People’s line, Sunday morning, when within,
about 16 miles of Fayetteville, she broke her
shaft, which rendered her unable to travel, and
she is now anchored near where the accident
occurred. The “North State” will tow her up today.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Thursday, June 24, 1873]
Today’s Headlines:
FIRE ABOARD SHIP
On Monday morning last, as the steamer
“North State” was lying at the yard of Messrs.
Williard Brothers, opposite this city, she caught on
fire somewhere in the engine room, and the
flames leaped up several feet above the deck.
Fortunately the fire was discovered in time and
extinguished.
[?? – August 13, 1873]
{Unknown Original Source – Bill Reaves Collection
BOAT HAND DROWNED.--
On Monday afternoon a colored hand named Rufus Thomas, on the
steamer R. E. Lee, fell off the boat about Indian
Wells, and was drowned before assistance could
be rendered. He was playing with another negro –
striking at him – and losing his balance, fell over
board.
-----
IMPROVEMENT.--
Capt. A. P. Hurt has refitted
his store, on Hay St., very tastefully, and now has
on hand a large and complete stock of boots and
shoes.
-----
ON THE CAPE FEAR.-- We paid a business visit
to Wilmington this week. After we boarded the “
Hurt,” M. J. McSween, Esq., of the Eagle, came
alongside. When Capt. Worth saw we were both
going to Wilmington, he seemed to be very much
worried and troubled in his mind. He asked us
what we wanted to go for any way, and then he
said a steam-boat captain’s life was a hard, hard,
unsatisfactory one, and that he almost felt as if he
could leap over into the cold, cold waves, and end
his sorrows in a watery grave. He told the
passengers not to be uneasy – that he would not
allow us to annoy or injure them; and then he
directed the engineer if he found the boat getting
too full of gas and steam, to put her nozzle to the
shore, and hold her there until we got off. But,
we did not create much disturbance. We asked a
great many questions -- enough to make us very
wise, if we should remember the answers to onehalf of them -- and we interviewed a great many
people on the subject of Jay Cooke and the
Balloon and the crops.
The accounts from the crops all along the river
are very generally the same for all sections:
Cotton badly damaged by heavy rains – not only
cut short in quantity, but injured in staple – and a
good deal of low land corn swept away by recent
freshets. A portion of the hay has been lost, and
some fodder; but a large quantity, of very fine
quality, has been harvested. Farther away from
the river grain is very favorable, and farmers will
secure a more bountiful harvest than for several
years. We secured a good many new subscribers
on the boat, at the landings along the Cape Fear,
and in Wilmington; and every where our innate
modesty was put to a severe test by hearing the
GAZETTE spoken of in terms of the highest praise.
Many business men in the city of Wilmington
declared it to be the best weekly newspaper in
North Carolina, and subscribed for it for the
benefit of their families.
Our trip was very pleasant; the “ Hurt “ is one
of the best steamers on the river, and her
commander, Capt. A. H. Worth, has no superior
any where as a captain. Ever watchful of the
interests of his company, he omits nowhere the
slightest iota of duty; is cautious, cool and
deliberate; and gives passengers a feeling of
security by the ability with which all his orders are
given, and the promptitude with which they are
executed. Nothing is left undone which can add
to the comfort of travelers, and render the ride
from Fayetteville pleasant.
[North Carolina Gazette – September 25, 1873]
COLUMBUS COUNTY AND THE LOWER CAPE
FEAR.—Last Monday, 22nd September, we left here
for Superior Court at Whiteville, Columbus county.
We went down the river on the steamer Hurt,
which is now in charge of Capt. A. H. Worth, one
of the most gentlemanly and obliging captains
that has ever been on our river. He understands
his business well and is a favorite with the people
along the river.
Through
freight
and
travel
between
Fayetteville and Wilmington is not so large now as
formerly, but way freight and travel have
increased. For the whole 112 miles of river and
country fro several miles on each side, the
merchants, farmers and people have no other way
of shipment or channel of trade except these river
steamers. At all the landings freight is put on or
off once or twice a week or oftener. Each
steamer gets from one to a dozen passengers each
trip at way stations. Very often, too, there is a
large number of through passengers. At least 50
turpentine stills and 50 country stores along in this
river country ship by these steamboats. Freight
charges have increased somewhat too since the
steamboat lines have been consolidated. Nearly
all the rosin, spirits and cotton bought in the
Fayetteville market are sent by the boats.
There are now eight steamboats on this river
running to Fayetteville and owned by Fayetteville
men, viz: the Hurt, North State, Murchison,
Governor Worth, Wave, Lee, Cumberland and
Juniper. The last two are now undergoing repairs
and will not be running for a few weeks. Heavy
groceries for this town and vicinity still come by
the boats, but most of Fayetteville goods and
travel is now by the railroad to Raleigh and North.
Merchants here who are large stockholders in the
boats ship by the river, and the freight by this
route is said to be cheaper but takes one or two
days longer.
These eight steamers cost $150,000 or more,
averaging near $20,000 apiece. Some of them
cost $30,000 while others cost $12,000. The boats
make each two trips a week from Fayetteville and
back at a cost of $75 to $100 per trip. The time
usually 12 to 16 hours from here to Wilmington,
112 miles, and fare $4, including bed-room and
meals. Altogether this is the most delightful and
cheap route of travel in North Carolina or in the
Southern country. The boat officers are very
polite and the table fare is good.
Columbus county is low and swampy and thinly
settled. The recent immense rains have flooded
the country… {The majority of the rest of the article
is about Columbus county, Whiteville, its people,
businesses, Scuppernong wine, politics, and railroads,
etc.}
We came up Thursday evening on the steamer
North State, Capt. T. J. Green commanding, and
there is not a more pleasant boat on the river. It
has most obliging officers and certainly affords
first rate accommodations of every kind. To pass
off the time we beat an influential Methodist
friend of ours the best two out of three at euchre.
[The Eagle – Fayetteville, NC – Semi-Weekly - Saturday,
September 27, 1873]
DROWNED.—The Wilmington Star of the 24th
has the following:
In our paper yesterday morning we published a
brief paragraph announcing that a colored deck
hand had been drowned off the Steamer R. E. Lee
near Kelly’s Cove. This is a point about forty-two
or forty-three miles above this city. The name of
the deceased, who was only about 19 years of
age, was Rufus Biner, and he belonged in
Fayetteville.
It seems that about sunset on
Monday evening deceased and another boy by the
name of Joe got to “skylarking” on the deck. Joe
had a small switch with which he had struck
Rufus, when the latter endeavored to snatch it
from the other, but in doing so he lost his balance
and fell overboard. The steamer was almost
immediately stopped and a small boat lowered,
but before assistance could reach the boy he had
disappeared beneath the treacherous waves and
was seen no more. It is a little singular how few
escape a watery grave who are once plunged into
the depths of the Cape Fear, where the immersion
is caused by accident. The increasing frequency
of these accidents on the river boats suggests the
propriety of having it so arranged that a small
boat can be lowered at an instant’s warning.
[The Statesman – Fayetteville, N.C. – Saturday,
September 27th, 1873]
STEAMBOAT ACCIDENT.--
The Steamer Hurt,
Capt. Worth, was detained an hour or two at her
wharf, by a portion of the stove pipe blowing out.
The accident amounted to nothing -- very little
damage and a short detention -- but a negro hand
became very much frightened, and jumped into
the river.
[North Carolina Gazette – Second Edition – Thursday,
February 26, 1874]
ON and after Monday next the Boats of the
Cape Fear & Peoples’ Steamboat Company will
leave this place, for Wilmington, at 7 o’clock, A.
M.
J. A. WORTH, Agent
[The Eagle – April 2, 1874]
---The steamer D. Murchison is to be laid up for
repairs the coming week, and the steamer North
State will take her place on the river.
[Wilmington Star – April 12, 1874]
“ NORTH STATE.” -- Mr. J. A. Worth, Agent of
the Cape Fear Steamboat Company, invited us last
Saturday to make a visit to the Steamer “ North
State,” recently overhauled and refitted, and a
small party of us were carried on a trial trip down
the river. The steamer runs well, as she made on
that occasion six miles in 28 minutes. The “ North
State” is very comfortably furnished, her ladies’
cabin tastefully fitted up, and with her kind and
efficient master, Capt. Green, she will be one of
the pleasantest boats on the river. She now takes
the place of the “ Hurt,” which rests for a while
for repainting, &c.
-----
Steamboat Notice.
ON and after the 16th February instant the agents
of the Cape Fear and People’s Steamboat
Company at Fayetteville and Wilmington are
instructed not to deliver any goods until the
freight and charges on the same are paid.
By order of the Directors.
F. W. KERCHNER,
feb 12 3m
Pres’t C. F. & P. Steamboat Co.
------
NOTICE!
ON and after MONDAY 6th of April the boats of the
Cape Fear Steamboat Co.’ Line will leave their
Wharves at Fayetteville, at 7 A. M., instead of 8 A.
M., as heretofore.
J. A. WORTH, Agent.
april 9 1 m
TURPENTINE STILLS.
15
BARRELL STILLS properly made for FOUR
HUNDRED and FIFTY DOLLARS.
12
BARRELL STILLS properly made for FOUR
HUNDRED DOLLARS, by
M. A. BAKER,
april 2 1m
Fayetteville, N. C.
[North Carolina Gazette – First Edition – April 23, 1874]
THE
“ HURT.” -- The steamer A. P. Hurt,
Capt. A. H. Worth, always one of the best boats
on the river, has recently been undergoing a
general refitting and repainting, under the
superintendence of Mr. Lewis Worth, a genuine
artist in the work. With her red, white and green
blending of colors, the steamer is a beauty; and
her accommodations and comforts are not inferior
to her appearance. She made a short trial trip
down the river last Saturday evening, giving
perfect satisfaction.
[North Carolina Gazette – Second Edition – May 14, 1874]
The Steamer Governor Worth.
We learn that the steamer Governor Worth,
now at Fayetteville for repairs, is being thoroughly
overhauled and remodeled, with the view of
adapting her to the purpose of excursions on the
river; not with the intention, however, of course,
of confining her to that business altogether. She
will be furnished with new beams from stem to
stern, new upper works, and new wheels, the
latter to be constructed so as to give them about
eight inches more dip than those now in use, with
the view of increasing her capacity for speed. The
steamer Juniper will take up a lot of lumber today, to be used in the work of reconstruction, and
when the Worth again makes her appearance in
our waters, which will probably be about the 1st of
July, at the furthest, we may expect to see a
wonderful improvement in her appearance, as
well as in her adaptability to the purpose for
which she will be in part used—that is, excursions.
[Wilmington Morning Star – May 15, 1874]
STEAMBOAT EXCURSION.—
The Baptist Sunday
School, Superintendents, teachers, pupils and
guests, indulged in a pleasant pic-nic excursion
down the Cape Fear to Cedar Creek, on yesterday.
The safe, commodious and comfortable Steamer,
“ A. P. Hurt,” Capt. Worth, was engaged for the
occasion, and the trip was greatly enjoyed.
[North Carolina Gazette – Second Edition – May 28, 1874]
A PRIVATE excursion party went down the river
yesterday to Owen Hill, Bladen county, of young
ladies and gentlemen. Dancing on the boat was
one feature of the occasion. Many of our young
people went, and we hope they will have rare
excitement on their trip.
[The Eagle – June 11, 1874]
RIVER PICNIC AND EXCURSION.—A party of
ladies and gentlemen, married and unmarried,
fled from the hot brick walls and the sultry
summer atmosphere of Fayetteville yesterday
evening; and, with many a choicely freighted
basket, took refuge on the pleasant, nicely fitted
up “ Str. Hurt,” which conveyed them down the
river thirty-four miles to Owen Hill, where they
were received by Mr. C. P. Mallett. The party
were conducted to his residence where a picnic
supper, dancing, &c., were the amusements
nearly all night.
The return trip was then
commenced, the steamer making the wharf about
5 o’clock.
Owen Hill is a beautiful country mansion, the
former residence of Col. Guion, with grand old
staircases, spacious rooms, and cool, airy piazzas;
it is situated on a splendid elevation, overlooking
the Cape Fear, is surrounded by lovely grounds,
and is approached by a broad, smooth, shaded
avenue. Several gentlemen and fair ladies from
the neighborhood made a very pleasant addition
to the party, and the genial, hospitable lady and
gentleman, of whom the excursionists were the
guest, added much to the pleasure of the
occasion.
The down and up rides on the river were
delightful; the promenaders who thronged the
avenue in slow-moving, soft-whispering couples,
seemed to be at the acme of human felicity – to
us, who sat and smoked and nodded on the front
porch; the torch-light procession of a long
cavalcade arm in arm, over bridge, hill and
ravine, on the way to the boat at 1 o’clock at
night, was conducted with great mirth and
hilarity; Capt. Worth, by his politeness a watchful
care, is the very captain for an excursion; and the
party unanimously pronounced the pic-nic the
pleasantest recreation of the season.
The dawn, which found the party on the river,
lifted the pall of darkness and replaced with the
gray, misty veil of uncertain day over forest and
rushing stream, and its increasing light found no
listless pallor on fair cheeks, but a good deal of
sleepiness on heavy eyelids and in nodding heads.
The most of those excursionists won’t read this
paper till supper-time.
[North Carolina Gazette – Second Edition – June 11, 1874]
--- The steamer D. Murchison, which has been
laid up at Fayetteville for the past six weeks,
undergoing repairs, will resume her trips on
Tuesday evening next.
[Wilmington Star – June 14, 1874]
THE STEAMER MURCHISON.—
Capt. Garrison’s
splendid steamer, the Murchison, has recently
been
receiving
some
very
handsome
improvements; and last Saturday afternoon Capt.
A. B. Williams, with a small company of ladies and
gentlemen , visited the Murchison at her wharf,
and were carried down the river about fifteen
miles, on a short trial trip. The LaFayette Cornet
Band were among the invited guests, and gave
sweet music during the ride, and also for a dance
on the lower deck. The ladies and gentlemen
were full of life and gaiety, refreshments were
served, and the excursion, though short, was
delightful. The Murchison is now in capital trim,
and, with her popular commander, offers every
comfort and facility for a journey down the Cape
Fear.
[North Carolina Gazette – Second Edition – June 18, 1874]
A Reminiscence of 1865.
After the occupation of Fayetteville by the
Federal troops, every one will remember the great
scarcity of provisions which prevailed here. Every
thing had been eaten up, or swept away. The Rail
Road was cut off—the Steamboats captured and
detained at Wilmington—and the war was not yet
over. What was the destitute people to do for
sustenance?
In this emergency, six citizens of Fayetteville,
four white, and two colored, volunteered their
services to the town authorities to go to
Wilmington and endeavor to get supplies. The
four white citizens were Col. John A. Pemberton,
Major Robert M. Orrell, Capt. A. P. Hurt and Ralph
P. Buxton. The two colored men were Isham
Sweet and John Dunston. Their offer of service
was accepted by the Mayor and Commissioners.
Major Archibald McLean was at that time Mayor.
Having hastily constructed a common Batteau
they proceeded in it down the River under a flag
of truce, reaching Wilmington the third day. They
were kindly received by the Federal authorities.
General J. C. Abbot being in temporary command,
during the absence of Gen. Hawley, and were
promised assistance upon his return to the city.
When Gen. Hawley returned, they delivered to
him their letters from the Mayor and
Commissioners, and laid before him the state of
things existing in Fayetteville, and solicited aid.
Unfortunately for their application, news had just
reached Wilmington of the assassination of
President Lincoln, and the rejection of the
Sherman Johnston treaty, which immediately
followed.
The Fayetteville delegation were
informed that hostilities were renewed, and that
they must leave the Federal lines at once. At the
earnest entreaty of Mr. Buxton, who begged to be
allowed to remain in Wilmington, on any terms,
even, to being placed in confinement, he was
allowed to remain—his purpose being, if possible,
to procure some relief for the sufferers of
Fayetteville. The other gentlemen were required
to leave at once which they did in the same
Batteau in which they had gown down, and rowed
their tedious way back to Fayetteville. In a day or
two the war cloud passed away, Gen. Johnstone
surrendered, and peace followed. Mr. Buxton,
who had remained in Wilmington for the purpose,
immediately renewed the application for supplies
with increased earnestness, and General Hawley
placed at his disposal a Steamboat freighted with
brad, flour, meat, fish and other provisions, all
donated as supplies to Fayetteville.
The
Steamboat reached the wharf at Fayetteville the
very morning his weary associates had landed
their Bateau at the same place. On the same
Steamer, the “Hurt,” returned to Fayetteville
many refugees, citizens, who had been absent
from their homes a long time.
The Boat load of provisions was turned over to
the Mayor and Commissioners, and was by them
properly distributed among the suffering citizens
of the town.
These things are well known to the people of
Fayetteville, but are now placed on record for the
first time.
[The Statesman – Saturday, July 18, 1874.]
Rejuvenated.
The steamer Wave, which has recently been
undergoing repairs, has been changed into a
strictly freight boat, the cabins and other
accommodations for passengers having been
removed.
She has now commenced running
regularly again under command of Capt. Robeson.
[Wilmington Star – November 18, 1874]
An Old Acquaintance in a New Dress.
The steamer Governor Worth, after a long
absence from our waters, put in her appearance
again yesterday so greatly transformed by the
hands of the carpenter and painter that it was
difficult to realize that it was the same boat. She
will take the place of the A. P. Hurt for the
present, which will be laid up for repairs, and will
be commanded by Capt. A. H. Worth, of the latter
steamer. She is not yet quite ready, but will be in
a few days, to commence her regular trips on the
river.
[Wilmington Star – November 25, 1874]
Extensive Robery on a Steamboat—
Part of the Money Recovered—Arrests on Suspicion.
We have known for a day or two past that
quite an extensive robbery had occurred on the
steamerer [steamer – misspelled] D. Murchison,
while on the trip from this place to Fayetteville,
on Wednesday last, but have withheld the facts
for prudential reasons. It seems that the boat was
stopped at some point on the river for the purpose
of landing a lady passenger, Capt. Garrason
accompanying her some distance.
In the
meantime the hands were directed to gather moss
on the shore, and it was during this interval that
some person or persons of those remaining on the
boat went to the Captain’s desk, got the key of
the safe, unlocked it and took therefrom a
package of money amounting to $5,000, which had
been forwarded by Messrs. Williams & Murchison
to some party in Fayetteville, after which the safe
was relocked and the key returned to the desk.
They money was not missed until the boat arrived
at Fayetteville, when circumstances which came
to the knowledge of Capt. Garrason led to the
arrest of Perry Cotton, Assistant Pilot, and the
fireman, known on the river by the appellation of
“Big Allen,” who were lodged in jail. A colored
boy employed on the boat was also held until the
examination came off. Subsequent to the arrest
of these parties a portion of the missing money,
amounting to $2,500, was found secreted in what
is know as the “dome house,” which would lead to
the impression that there were two persons
concerned in the robbery and that the money was
divided between them.
The trial of the parties mentioned was to have
taken place at Fayetteville on Friday.
[Wilmington Star – November 29, 1874]
The Late Robbery on the Steamer
Murchison.
The examination into the case of Perry Cotton
and Allen Gilmore, or “Big Allen,” as he is
generally termed, both colored men, who were
arrested on suspicion of having appropriated the
$5,000 which was stolen from the safe of the
steamer D. Murchison on Wednesday of last week,
mention of which has been made in the STAR,
came off in Fayetteville on Monday. The evidence
was entirely of a circumstantial character, and,
not being deemed by the Magistrate sufficient to
convict, the defendants were discharged. It will
be remembered that $2,500 of the stolen money
was recovered a day or two after the robbery,
having been secreted on the boat.
[Wilmington Star – December 3, 1874]
Passed Through.
The steamer Gov. Worth was on Tuesday on
her way to Smithville, piloted through Snow
Marsh’s channel by Capt. F. W. Potter, being the
first steamer besides those that have been
engaged in the bar improvements that has
successfully gone through. The channel is 90 feet
wide and 9 feet deep.
[Wilmington Star – June 10, 1875]
Death of Capt. Dailey.
Capt. Jno. K. Dailey, so well known as an old
steamboat man on the Cape Fear River, died of
consumption at Mrs. Pickett’s boarding house, in
this city, on Friday night, aged about 36 years.
Capt. Dailey was well known throughout this
section. In his last hours he received the kind
ministrations of those around him and several old
acquaintances and friends in this city. His remains
were yesterday sent to Fayetteville, his home, on
board the steamer D. Murchison, being escorted
from the house to the boat by Capt. W. M. Parker
and several other former members of the
LaFayette Light Infantry, of which organization
Capt. Dailey was a member during the war.
[Wilmington Star – June 6, 1875]
Stolen Watch Recovered.
Some time last August, Capt. T. J. Green of the
Steamer North State, was so unfortunate as to
lose a fine gold watch, which was stolen from his
room at home in Fayetteville by a burglar. The
Captain immediately set to work to recover his
faithful and valuable time piece and as the result
of his labors his watch was returned to him a few
days ago, having been found in the hands of a
party who had bought it in Elizabeth City.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, July 9, 1875]
A Notable Instance of Gallantry.
We heard of a circumstance yesterday, connected
with the captain of one of the Fayetteville boats,
which we think too good to be lost, and of such a
highly creditable nature withal that we give the
name of the individual as Capt. Green, of the
steamer North State. It seems that a young lady
from Sampson embarked on his boat a few trips
since with the view of visiting some of her
relatives in Bladen county. It was the
understanding that the young lady was to get off
at a certain landing, where some of her friends
were to meet her, but upon the arrival of the boat
at the landing in question there was not a soul to
be found to whose protection the fair passenger
could be confided. Finally Capt. Green decided to
take the young lady to the next landing, a mile
and a half further up, where he expected to find a
gentleman of his acquaintance who would
cheerfully see her to her destination; but upon
stopping at the place designated he found that
also deserted, no one being present but a colored
man, with whom he was not disposed to trust his
passenger, whereupon, rather than see her
disappointed or confide her to an irresponsible
party, Capt. Green actually tied up his boat and
trudged three miles and a half, climbing fences,
fording branches and jumping ditches, saw the
young lady safely to the home of her relatives,
and walked back again to his boat, altogether a
distance of seven miles, and proceeded on his trip
to Fayetteville. Now, there is an instance of
gallantry for you worthy to be compared with the
most famed of ancient or modern chivalry.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, October 22, 1875]
A New Steamer.
Another new steamer has been added to the fleet
which frequents our waters in the shape of the
handsome Little Adrian, from the upper Black
River, owned and commanded by our old friend,
“Commodore” Charles Howe, of Franklin Township
(formerly constituting a part of New Hanover, but
now in Sampson county). The Little Adrian is
named in compliment to our enterprising
townsman, Mr. Aldrich Adrian, of the firm of
Adrian & Vollers. In dimensions she is 85 feet long
and 35 feet in width of beam, and her
workmanship is of a substantial character. We
hope her success may prove all that can be
desired.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, November 19, 1875]
A SERIOUS RIVER ACCIDENT.
Sinking of a Lighter Loaded with
Salt – Narrow Escape of the Men
on Her, &c.
An accident quite destructive in its results
occurred at the wharf of Messrs. Kerchner &
Calder Bros., yesterday, about 2 o’clock in the
afternoon. It appears that a lighter, or flat,
belonging to Mr. John M. Robinson, had been
loaded with about five hundred sacks of salt, and,
as the hands were in the act of pushing her from
the wharf, the side of the lighter next to the
wharf seemed to drop from some projecting log
upon which it had probably rested, when she
careened over and went down. So sudden and
unexpected was the accident, and so rapidly did
lighter and cargo sink beneath the waters, that it
was with considerable difficulty that the men on
her at the time, six in number, were enabled to
escape from being carried down with her, some of
them being seized and pulled upon the wharf after
the water had reached to their waists.
Immediately upon sinking the lighter went to
pieces, and will therefore prove a total wreck;
while, of course, not a sack of the salt could be
saved. Several colored men were engaged in
dragging for it soon after the accident occurred,
but succeeded only in recovering a number of
empty sacks.
The salt belonged to Messrs. Kerchner & Calder
Bros., and was valued at about $1 per sack or $500
for the entire load. The lighter, which, as before
stated, belonged to Mr. J. M. Robinson, was a new
one, just completed, and was valued at about
$350.
The affair created considerable excitement on
North Water street and a large number of
curiously disposed flocked to the scene of the
disaster, some of whom could not refrain from
perpetrating the joke, although on such a serious
subject, that “fish that may be caught in the river
for some days to come will be already corned.”
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, December 3, 1875]
River News.
The boats arriving from Fayetteville yesterday
report a sudden rise in the river at that place of
from 34 to 40 feet, caused by a heavy rain on
Wednesday night. It is presumed that the freshet
extends to the other rivers, in which case we may
expect quite an influx of naval stores which have
accumulated during the prevalence of low water.
The boats report heavy fogs on the river.
The steamer Wave broke her eccentric on the
downward trip, which delayed her arrival
somewhat.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, January 1, 1876]
Local Dots.
--- The steamer D. Murchison reports a very heavy
freshet in the river, the rise at Fayetteville being
at least 40 feet when she left.
-------- The revenue cutter Colfax collided with the D.
Murchison in the fog yesterday morning, causing
some unimportant injuries to the latter.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, January 2, 1876]
For Smithville,
CHANGE OF SCHEDULE.
AFTER THIS DATE, STEAMER “DIXIE”
Will leave our wharf at 9 A. M.
Returning, leave Smithville at 2 P. M.
N12-tf O. G. PARSLEY & CO.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday Morning, January 2,
1876]
Election.
The Cape Fear and People’s Steamboat
Company, at their annual meeting in this city
Tuesday, selected the following stockholders as
officers for the ensuing year:
F. W. Kerchner, President.
D. G. Worth, Secretary.
B. G. Worth, F. W. Kerchner, A. A.
McKeithan, H. Vollers, D. G. Worth Directors.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, January 13, 1876]
Local Dots.
--- It is now stated that Capt. Jas. Smith will go
out to Florida in command of the steamer
Cumberland, instead of Capt. Albert Worth, as
heretofore announced.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, January 14, 1876]
Hath Left Us.
The steamer Cumberland, formerly connected
with one of the lines of steamers between this
port and Fayetteville, left yesterday after noon
for Fernandina, Florida. She is under command of
Capt. James C. Smith and is expected to run, in
the interest of the owners in this city, between
Fernandina and St. Mary’s, on the St. John’s River.
Mr. T. G. Smith goes as Engineer and Mr. John H.
Marshall as Pilot.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, January 19,
1876]
Express Steam Boat Company.
-----THE STEAMERS of this line will, until further
notice, leave Fayetteville as follows:
Steam. MURCHISON, Tuesdays and Fridays, at 8 A.
M.
Steam. WAVE, (for freight only) Mondays and
Thursdays, at sunrise.
Dec ###
J. D. WILLIAMS & CO.
[Carolina Gazette – Thursday, January 20, 1876]
CORRESPONDENCE.
=====
FOR THE GAZETTE.
A VOYAGE TO FLORIDA.
-----FERNANDINA, FLA., }
January 30th, 1876
}
MESSRS. EDITORS:--The Steamer Cumberland,
under command of Capt. James C. Smith, left her
moorings at the wharf in Wilmington on the 19th,
and steamed bravely towards old ocean, en route
for Fernandina, Fla.
It was deemed a hazardous undertaking for a
slight craft like ours to make the venture at this
season, and many forebodings from “old salts”
and knowing ones followed us out to sea. We
started from Wilmington with a stiff breeze, which
raged itself into a perfect hurricane before we
reached Smithville, compelling us to take refuge
at the river wharf at that point.
We left
Smithville at 12 o’clock at night, and were soon
rocking on the broad Atlantic. The winds seemed
to lull and the waves to sleep for our especial
benefit; a shinning moon rested on the ocean to
greet us, and then rose to light us through the
wilderness of water, as we glided along smoothly
and safely, conveyed by myriads of stars. A run of
nine hours, without the slightest accident or
apprehension, brought us to the bar at
Georgetown.
The muddy waters of the Pee Dee reach far
into the sea at this point, beyond the sight of
land—a comforting home signal to mill-pond
mariners like ourselves. On the trip we coasted as
far as eighteen miles from the shore; and, despite
the fair weather, several of our Fayetteville party
made their acknowledgments to salt water in good
style.
We arrived at Georgetown twenty miles from
the bar at noon, and waited on the weather until
next day. A revenue cutter followed us in, but a
squint at our name and humble origin was enough
to turn her back without hailing us. Georgetown
is a sorry looking place, swarming with lazy,
lounging negroes. I saw no signs of trade or
traffic, except an old saw-mill; it claims,
however, to have a considerable source of
business from turpentine.
A dingy-looking
steamboat, exploring the river as far up as
Cheraw, represents its shipping—but it could
hardly be otherwise in South Carolina.
From Georgetown we turned back to sea, and
took the ocean track for Charleston—seventy
miles. A long sandy shoal obliged us to part with
the sight of land for fifteen miles, but our path
was as smooth and enjoyable as at the start; the
vast blue expanse before, behind and around us
was undisturbed by a single ripple, a gentle swell
being the only reminder of our dangerous
experiments. We sighted Charleston early in the
afternoon, obtaining a splendid view of the
harbor, and passing, besides other interesting
points, Sullivan’s Island and Fort Sumter, upon
which latter we noticed a number of workmen
with carts engaged at some sort of labor—possibly
putting it in Spanish condition. Sullivan’s Island is
now a group of attractive dwellings , street-cars
run the length of the island, and many handsome
residences occupy the old camping-ground of our
troops during the war. Charleston wears the same
old dismal, antiquated look the natives love so
well; nothing stirring or fresh helps its
appearance, and the pitiless storm that bowed its
proud head still broods over its fortunes. Many of
the merchants, however, believe that a
restoration of the old prosperity is not far distant.
I counted about a hundred vessels in port – mostly
barques. We spent two days at Charleston and
“did” the city to the best of our ability.
Charleston is sadly wanting in the one great charm
of any city, town or village—that is, pretty
women. The few I saw would make a Mormon
shudder.
Our inland route commenced at this point.
Heading up Cooper river a short distance we
entered a small inlet, which gradually narrowed to
about the width of the boat, and was crooked
enough to paralyze a county surveyor. We circled
about in a waste of marshes all day, and finally
ploughed through the mud into Stone River—a
broad stream which tided us fifteen miles to a
safe anchorage thirty miles from Charleston. Here
some of the crew went ashore in search of
palmetto cabbage, so they said, while the
remainder went after crabs and oysters, both of
which they found in abundance.
The next day found us navigating the same
interminable savannahs, our objective point being
Beaufort. We ditched along this course until the
retiring tide left us a solid foundation in the mud,
where we stuck until we could hear from
headquarters outside. It was morning before the
tardy and unspeakable relief came; and chunking
in our last cord of wood, we steamed into the
loyal port of Beaufort. A regiment of dusky voters
heralded our approach, and guessed everything
about us except ‘pirates.’ What I have said of
Georgetown can be said also of Beaufort—only
more so; it is so near a counterpart that a
description of either town would make a common
photograph, except that the latter brags of a
custom-house and steam fire-engine. It is also the
peaceful abode of Judge Whipple. We made the
purchase of ten cords of wood at Beaufort, and
gave the town an opportunity to start a bank.
Our inland route continued from this place to
Savannah, distant sixty miles.
We passed
numerous plantations on this part of our journey,
which yielded princely revenues to their owners
before the war, but which are now nearly
abandoned.
We were carried on through a
number of sounds and inlets with strange names,
making Port Royal and Tybee Island on the way.
The latter was a naval strategic point during the
war—which meant a recruiting station to make
Yankee soldiers out of all the niggers in the
neighborhood.
Port Royal is the present
rendezvous of a considerable war fleet; we passed
and saluted six or seven armed vessels sand one
monitor, with several others in sight. It must
mean Cuba or Whipple.
We took the next day to make a fresh start,
and crossed into the Savannah River at its mouth,
21 miles from the city. We spent two days at this
port, shipping our last supply of wood for the trip.
Savannah is a lovely city; situated on a high bluff,
it overlooks a wide range of the surrounding
country, commanding a most charming view. It
has a bustling air of business, in marked contrast
with its sister sea-port towns.
Over six hundred thousand bales of cotton
were received here the past season. Its shipping
interests are far in advance of Charleston. You
see the change at once in leaving South Carolina;
a spirit of energy and thrift pervades everything in
Georgia that has no existence in Carolina. The
police in Savannah are distinguished by a grey
uniform; they are the most gentlemanly-looking
men I ever saw on such duty. The market house
here eclipses any like building in the South or
even in New York.
A number of elegant
restaurants constitute its foundation, leaving the
second floor for legitimate business. Foreigners
form a large part of the the [word typed twice]
business element of the place.
The last stretch of our journey—and by far the
most interesting, unless I except the outside trip –
we made from here. We had no ditches, shoals or
mud to encounter; beautiful bays and broad rivers
led us the whole way through. The scenery and
surroundings were all strikingly different as we
approached our destination. Vast flocks of ducks
were constantly in sight, while countless sea birds
kept us company. We sighted the ocean and
heard the thunder of the surf a number of times
while passing through the numerous sounds on the
route, making us sensible of its indulgence upon
our first acquaintance. Darien and Brunswick
were on our watery road --both neat and thriving
little towns.
At dinner time we entered St. Mary’s Bay, and
the Land of Flowers lay before us, its gleaming
bench and summer breath bidding us a pleasant
welcome. An hour more of our journey, and the
lines of the Cumberland were on the wharf at
Fernandina.
Altogether the trip has been simply delightful.
It is due to the officers of the boat to say that it
was in capital hands. The unflagging vigilance of
the captain, his discretion and careful foresight,
left no room for accident. Capt. J. H. Marshall
was our pilot, and we cannot value his services
too highly. His knowledge of the coast and all the
intricacies of inland navigation was wonderfully
perfect; every bearing or current or inlet or
landmark at sea, and every river, bay, creek, and
harbor seemed to be mapped on his wheel, and to
it all was joined an unerring knowledge of the
signs of the weather. We had a faithful and
efficient ocean chief as engineer, assisted by Mr.
Elliott as river chief.
In their keeping and
management the Cumberland had full trust in her
engines, and so declares most gratefully.
And now I will close my communication by
subscribing myself.
W.
[North Carolina Gazette – Fayetteville – Thursday,
February 10, 1876]
Steamboating.
The Milton Mercury learns that Capt. Skinner,
of Fayetteville, will visit that town some time
during the next month for the purpose of taking a
survey of the Dan from that place to Barksdale’s
and to Danville, with a view to running a
steamboat to and from the two places. Our
contemporary thinks the proposed enterprise a
very feasible one, as “the town must either have
the steamboat or a railroad.”
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, March 1, 1876]
CORRESPONDENCE.
FOR THE GAZETTE.
FLORIDA NOTES.
-----Fernandina—The St. Mary’s River—North
Carolina Tourists Fishing and Prospecting-Lemon
Groves and Orange Plantations.
-----FERNANDINA, FLA.,
}
Feb. 38th.
}
MESSRS. EDITORS:--Fernandina is an island city,
lying directly on the ocean. It is most beautifully
located, fronting a broad bay which extends
nearly to the bar, and is girdled by a magnificent
beach, as firm as a turnpike, with a shining border
on all sides as grand a stretch of shimmering sand
and dashing wave as earth and ocean ever
fashioned, a broad shell-road connecting it with
the city, the road being a beautiful avenue of
myrtle and orange nearly the whole distance.
The streets of the town are regular, and,
except the thoroughfares of business, are adorned
with elegant dwellings and cottage-like mansions,
all embowered in tropical shrubbery of every
description.
A large shipping belongs to the place:
hundreds of foreign and New England vessels seek
this port for cargoes, and a line of magnificent
steamers carry on a traffic with Savannah, New
York and other ports North. Its fine harbor and
location mark it as the great future outlet and
principal sea-port of Florida, while it has railroad
communication with all parts of the State.
Fernandina is free from epidemics, and is
remarkably healthy; but it suffers from one
drawback—negro domination. The St. Mary’s River
is the principal channel for the local trade of the
place; it is the navigation of this river, together
with Brunswick and adjacent points, which makes
up the employment of the steamer Cumberland.
The St. Mary’s is navigable one hundred and
twenty miles from its mouth, and is a wide, deep
stream for a long distance, fringed by broad
marshes and savannahs, within whose black
depths numberless alligators have their haunts,
and evince a “shocking tameness.”
Higher up the river we get into a well-settled
and finely-timbered country. Numerous saw-mills
at different points make up the vast lumber
business of this section, and a great number of
schooners and larger vessels are constantly
loading with the commodity. Every enterprise of
this sort appears to be in the hands of Northern
men, mostly from Maine and Canada; from the
former, especially a great many are now cutting
and rafting timer on this stream. If it pays in
North Carolina to get oak timber and haul it for
miles, and then raft it a long distance to
Wilmington, it must be profitable business here,
where you find the trees in sight of a landing and
a market right to hand.
That the business
constitutes an immense interest may be gathered
from the fact that I have seen rafts on the St.
Mary’s more than a mile long, secured by a single
chain or rope, and under the management of one
man: they seem to be turned loose with the tide,
to pilot themselves to their stopping-places.
The trading-points on this river are more
numerous than they are on the Cape Fear, and
although it is not quite so extensive a field for
naval store operations, the opportunities for the
business are the finest in the world. Virgin land of
the first rank both for timber and turpentine can
be purchased at from 40 cents to $1 per acre.
Many interesting signs of the early settlement
of the country are to be seen along the banks of
the St. Mary’s: there are mill-sites and old fields
once owned and cultivated by Spanish inhabitants;
a clearly defined road from St. Augustine to King’s
Ferry, opened in 1769 by Spanish emigrants, is
used at the present time as a mail route; and
many Indian mounds can be plainly seen in
passing.
The woods everywhere in this section of
Florida abound in game, and there is no end to the
fish in the creeks and rivers. I have become tired
of the sport, owing to the excessive population of
the limy tribe.” While agitating the fish subject I
will give you an account of an ocean “minnow”
caught recently at Fernandina. It was a monster
Devil fish, and was estimated by moderate
guessers to weigh seven or eight tons.
It
measured twenty-two feet in width, its length
being a trifle less, and it filled a depth of eight or
ten feet. Its arms and legs resembled those of the
Cuttle fish, and were “too numerous to mention;”
possibly it had nothing but arms, as legs are a rare
thing in fish, especially mermaids. The monster
was killed after a vigorous assault from the whole
town. My authority for this fish story is Mr. W. J.
Woodward, who was an eye-witness of the
capture, and who is very cautious in his
statements about fish.
The most interesting feature of Florida to me
is the common and exuberant growth of oranges
and other fruits. The former appear to be in
universal cultivation; hardly can you see a garden
or inclosure which fails to contain more or less
orange trees. The yield of a fully-matured tree is
astonishing; an old grower of the fruit assured me
that from four to five thousand oranges were the
usual production of a single tree, and you would
not think the estimate large were you to see one
in full bearing. A more beautiful sight can hardly
be conceived than a grove of these trees full of
their golden fruit. Not more than one-fifth of the
oranges grown in Florida are offered for sale, and
the owner of a two-acre orchard can have an
independent income. I wonder that the business
of orange-growing is not as common and popular
as making rosin, for it is certainly a more
profitable and engaging vocation: I think I shall
be an orange planter—or lemon.
This part of the State does not possess all the
tropical features of Florida, being the most
northern portion; Jacksonville and Palatka on the
St. John’s River seem to possess more attractions
for the traveling public. The former place is
altogether a Northern town in the character of its
population. Our Northern brethren enjoy the idea
of having a tropical climate of “our own,” and
being independent of Cuba and the Sandwich
Islands. It never seems to them that it was ours
before the advent of Sherman and negro equality.
When they can perfect Northern civilization out
here so they say the future of Florida is assured.
But I am spinning my letter out too long though
I would like to add a mention of the visit of your
two townsmen, Messrs. S. and S., both of whom
declare themselves pleased and even delighted
with this country. The “Cumberland” took a
special cruise for their benefit, making a trip to
Brunswick and Stilla rivers in Georgia, and St.
Mary’s and other points in Florida thus affording
an opportunity for both investment and pleasure.
An incident in the excursion to Brunswick was
particularly interesting to Mr. S. Our route lay
through St. Andrew’s Sound, twenty-five or thirty
miles in width; and on our return trip we were
unexpectedly confounded in a very dense fog.
Our pilot was no less befogged than the rest, and
made his reckoning for Liverpool or China instead
of Fernandina. At any rate, we found ourselves at
a late hour ploughing through the ocean instead of
being safe in port. Mr. S. enjoyed the thing
hugely at the start; he was enchanted with the
scenery, infatuated with the porpoises and ducks,
sung “Life on the Ocean Wave,” and smoked his
pipe in a frenzy of happiness. The boat was not
big enough for his enthusiasm until the stunning
fact was announced that we were out at sea and
“breakers ahead.” Cheap land in Florida now
developed into a fabulous price, if he could only
see it; one pine tree; if only in sight, would meet
all his speculative views on timber; all grades of
rosin were at once reduced to a floating valuation,
regardless of quotations.
Even the porpoise
played circus around the boat unnoticed, and
North Carolina grew suddenly into a vision of
heaven.
In truth, we were in great peril; enveloped in a
fog of midnight blackness, amid unknown breakers
ours was not a pleasant situation. It was too much
excursion for Mr. S., and he said so. Fortunately,
we discovered our danger in time to escape
disaster, and, after much tribulation, we
recovered our course. Then everyone found out
that he wasn’t scared worth shucks, and thought
it was funny. I was particularly struck with the
sailor-like qualities of Mr. S. after we got on land.
The “Cumberland” contemplates a trip to St.
Augustine and other points soon, and I may send
you some items if you wish. In the meantime I
remain,
Yours, &c.,
W.
-----Without wishing to discredit any statement of
our correspondent, we think it only right to state
at a gentleman just from Florida declares that
“W.” was known down there as the “North
Carolina Fisherman;” that he was always off
fishing except at grub and grog times—when he
would contrive to be present though known to
have been only a few minutes before at least
twenty miles off – and the aggregate results of his
piscatorial efforts were three small “eats.” He
now goes by the soubriquet of “kitty.”
“A gentleman from Florida, “states the
dimensions of this “Devil” fish at fifteen feet long
and sixteen wide.
[North Carolina Gazette – March 9, 1876]
Local Dots.
The steamer D. Murchison is to go on Messrs.
Cassidey & Ross’ ways for repairs.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, March 9, 1876]
Our River Steamers.
The steamer Juniper, Capt. Skinner, formerly
run by Messrs. Vick & Mebane, has been purchased
by the Cape Fear and People’s Line, and will
hereafter be run in connection with that line. The
United States mail, between this city and
Fayetteville, heretofore carried by the Juniper,
will from this date be transported by the steamer
A. P. Hurt.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, March 14, 1876]
Local Dots.
-- The steamer Dixie goes on the ways to day for
slight repairs, and is expected to resume her trips
in a few days.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, March 16, 1876]
Local Dots.
-- The steamer J. S. Underhill will take the place
of the steamer Dixie, temporarily, to run between
this city and Smithville.
The latter, in the
meantime, will be repaired, repainted, &c.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, March 19, 1876]
Colored Man Drowned.
Yesterday afternoon, about 1 o’clock, as the
steamer North East , Capt. Paddison, was
proceeding to one of the wharves in the lower
part of the city, and when opposite Messers.
Cassidey & Ross’ ship yard, a young colored man
by the name of Wash Watkins, aged about 18
years, accidentally fell overboard from a flat
attached to the steamer, and was drowned. At the
time of the accident he was engaged in helping
another one of the flat or lighter hands in
removing a gangway, one end of which had been
resting on the railing of the steamer, and the
other on the flat, Wash, waling backwards, when
one of his feet came in contact with an oar, which
caused him to stumble, when he dropped the
gangway, staggered backwards, and was
precipitated into the river. When he rose to the
surface he was about thirty or forty feet from the
steamer. He splashed about in the water for a few
moments, his friends on the steamer and flat
shouting “Swim, Wash, we are coming to save
you!” but he seemed to have utterly lost his
presence of mind, and in a minute, or perhaps
less, from the time he came to the surface he
threw up one hand in a despairing way and went
down to rise no more. In the meantime a boat had
been quickly lowered from the steamer, and Capt.
Paddison had seized an oar and a life preserver,
but before any further steps could be taken the
unfortunate boy was drowned. A boat also put off
from the Revenue Cutter Colfax, which was near
the scene of the accident, but could be of no
assistance.
Deceased was a resident of Point Caswell, where
he leaves a number of relatives to mourn his sad
fate, and was esteemed an excellent, trustworthy
hand by his employers.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, April 21, 1876]
Body of a Drowned Man Found Floating in the
River – The Inquest.
The body of a colored man was found floating in
the river, near the “Dram Tree,” late Friday
afternoon. The party who discovered it made the
body fast to a stake when he came up to the city
and notified Coroner Hewlett of the circumstance.
The Coroner had the body brought up and landed
on the beach near the Cotton factory, yesterday
morning, when he proceeded to hold an inquest.
There was no one present to identify the remains,
which were apparently those of a young man
about 18 or 20 years of age. There is scarcely any
doubt, however, that the body is that of Wash.
Watkins, who was drowned off a flat attached to
the steamer North East, on Saturday of last week,
opposite Messrs. Cassidey & Ross’ ship yard.
The jury returned a verdict that deceased came to
his death by drowning.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, April 28, 1876]
DIED.
Obituary notices must be paid
for in advance.
The first ten lines are inserted free. The excess
over ten lines are charged for at the rate of ten
cents per line. Correspondents can ascertain what
an obituary will cost by counting eight words to a
line, and multiplying each line by 10 cents.
----After an illness protracted through many
months, on the 23d of March, 1876, Mrs. VIRGINIA
E. CARTER, wife of Mr. Archibald Carter, of
Fayetteville, N. C., in the 45th year of her age.
Before the war the deceased belonged to the
Wilmington Presbyterian church, and was much
attached to its pastor and membership. Removing
to Fayetteville, she identified herself with all the
interests of the Presbyterian church in that place.
While ability was given, she was disposed to cooperate in all measures for promoting its welfare.
She was a woman of impulsive disposition, warm
affections, and active mind. Tenderly attached to
her children and family connection, she labored
for their good with an energy that evertaxed her
failing strength. Wasted by lingering disease, for
a time she flattered herself with hopes of
recovery, and dreaded the sundering of earthly
ties by death.
But God’s grace wonderfully
sustained her under trial, sanctified her
afflictions, and transformed her character. She
bore loss and pain without murmuring, ceased to
dread dissolution, and passed through the valley
of the shadow of death, leaning on the arm of a
loved and trusted Divine Saviour. Her surviving
husband, children, relatives and friends, have
much consolation and hope in her death, and
should strive like her to “depart in peace,” their
eyes having seen God’s salvation. H. G. H.
[The Presbyterian – Wilmington, N.C. -- Wednesday, May
24, 1876.]
OVERBOARD.—A passenger on the steamer
Wave, last Saturday night, fell overboard while
the boat was in motion, and was drowned before
help could be given him. He was a Mr. Porter, of
Bladen County, and lived near Little Sugar Loaf.
[North Carolina Gazette – Fayetteville – Thursday, June 1,
1876]
A Sad Case of Drowning.
A young man by the name of Alexander M.
Porter, aged about 22 years, was drowned off the
streamer Wave, on her upward trip on Sunday
morning last, about one o’clock , near Kelley’s
Cove, some fifty miles up the river. Mr. Porter,
who resided at Little Sugar Loaf, Bladen county,
where he kept a little store in connection with his
farm, had been in Wilmington on a trading
expedition. He had been drinking considerably
during the day, and soon after dark lay down on
the deck and went to sleep.
At the hour
mentioned, he got up and commenced walking
about, when, dazed and bewildered, as he
probably was at the moment, after waking from a
sound sleep, he unconsciously walked overboard.
The fireman, who was standing nearby, clutched
at this clothing as he fell, but could not retain his
grasp, and the unfortunate man immediately
disappeared in the darkness and was seen no
more. Capt. Robeson backed his boat and made
every possible effort to find and rescue him, but
without avail. His body was recovered Tuesday
morning, and from a severe cut on the head, it is
evident that he must have gone under the wheel
and been struck by the boxes, in which case he
was so stunned that his death was no doubt almost
instantaneous.
Deceased was well known among business men
here, and was generally liked by those with whom
he was in the habit of trading, and he is also said
to have been much esteemed in the neighborhood
in which he lived. He leaves no family.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, June 1, 1876]
Accidental Drowning.
A colored man by the name of Daniel LaGrand,
aged 23 years, was accidentally drowned off a flat
some 15 miles above this city, on the Cape Fear
River, on Thursday about 12 o’clock. There were
only two men on the flat at the time, and his
companion says that Daniel had struck his pole
against a log and was bearing his whole weight
upon it in pushing when it suddenly slipped,
sinking into the deep water with such rapidity that
the unfortunate man could not recover himself
and plunged face downwards into the river. His
companion further states that he never rose to the
surface, as he watched intently for his
reappearance but never saw him any more. The
two were engaged in freighting crossties from a
point some twenty miles up the river and were on
the upward trip at the time of the accident
occurred.
Deceased, who had sustained a good character
in the community, was the only brother of Lewis
LaGrand, the well known porter in the
establishment of Messrs. Cronly & Morris, and
lived with him on Second, between Wright and
Dawson streets. Six men went up yesterday on
the steamer Governor Worth with the necessary
appliances for dragging for the body.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, June 3, 1876]
BAPTIST PICNIC.—The Baptist Sunday School
and invited guests made an excursion down the
Cape Fear yesterday, halting at Cedar Creek and
taking dinner in picnic style. The fine steamer
Worth, with its best of Captains for all sorts of
trips—Captain A. H. Worth—was engaged for the
excursion. The crowd reached home late in the
day, voting the holiday in every respect delightful
and full of pleasure.
We attended the picnic by the cordial
invitation of the managers, and were delighted
with all the enjoyment and pleasures of the day.
We never saw happier, more gleeful crowd; and at
Cedar Creek the dinner set out is beyond our
powers of description, but those who watched as
while we helped the rest of the 256 to clear off
the table will bear witness to our powers of
appreciation.
[North Carolina Gazette – Fayetteville – June 8, 1876]
MAN DROWNED.—A negro boy named Daniel
LeGrand was drowned on the 8th inst., about 15
miles above Wilmington, by falling from a flat.
Another negro named Abram Fulton, who was with
him on the raft, was arrested on suspicion of
having been concerned in his death.
[North Carolina Gazette – Fayetteville – June 15, 1876]
--- The steamer Wave, while on the way up the
river Tuesday night, struck on a stump, which
went through her bottom. Capt. Robeson, getting
clear of the dangerous projectile, placed a
blanket in the hole made by it and returned to
Wilmington. He then discharged his cargo, and
yesterday the steamer was hauled upon Messrs.
Cassidey & Ross’ ways to undergo repairs.
[? – June 27, 1876]
The Excursion on the Steamer Governor Worth.
The excursion to the sea shore on the steamer
Governor Worth, on the 4th, under the auspices of
the St. George and St. Andrew’s Athletic Club,
was no doubt one of the most pleasant and
enjoyable events of the day. The boat left Messrs.
Lemmerman & Coney’s wharf about 9 o’clock A.
M. The crowd, under the wise management and
foresight of the committee, who had previously
intimated the course they intended to pursue in
this respect, was just large enough to secure to
those who were on board the comfort and
convenience which are so essential in excursions
of this character. The boat made the run to
Smithville in very good time, arriving there about
11 o’clock, and those of the excursionists who did
not join in the dance, some of whom had never
been down the river before, engaged in the
inspection of the very pleasant scenery on both
sides of the Cape Fear and enjoyed the splendid
breeze which prevailed. We have seldom seen a
day more favorable in every respect for an
excursion to the sea side.
Arriving at Smithville, in the harbor of which lay
at anchor the revenue cutter Colfax profusely
decorated with flags, and a fleet of handsome
pilot boats also flying their flags and streamers,
altogether presenting a very gay and animated
appearance, the excursionists were notified that
the boat would stop there a half hour and then
proceed to Bald Head, returning in time to witness
the races which would then be arranged. The
crowd then landed visited the garrison where they
were politely received and met with courteous
attentions, and strolled about the town generally,
enjoying the excellent sea-breeze with which this
pleasant seaside town is always blest, and which
renders it such an agreeable summer resort, after
which, at the expiration of the half hour, many
embarked on the
TRIP TO BALD HEAD,
While others remained and passed interval in a
pleasant dance at the Academy, in visiting friends,
&c. The run to Bald Head, in the teeth of the stiff
sea-breeze blowing, was intensely enjoyed; and
upon landing at the beach the male portion of the
crowd, numbering near a hundred, quickly
selected a suitable spot, divested themselves of
their clothing, and plunged into the briny waters
of “Old Ocean,” where they indulged in the luxury
of serf-bathing to their hearts’ content, than
which there is not a better locality for such a
healthy, invigorating and exciting sport on the
whole Atlantic coast. One of the swimmers, who
ventured rather too far out, was seized by the
under-tow and in imminent peril of being carried
beyond the reach of safety from his own exertions
or assistance from his comrades, but luckily help
was close at hand, and with a little assistance he
was enabled to stem the treacherous current and
come out of the dilemma unscathed. While the
others were bathing a few of the excursionists
repaired to the lighthouse, from the top of which
a very fine view of the surrounding scenery is had.
After stopping here the necessary length of time –
from a half to three quarters of an hour – the boat
returned to Smithville, where the crowd again
landed and enjoyed themselves in a manner best
suited to their inclinations until the
BOAT RACING
was announced. After consultation, it was
decided, for various causes, to have only one
rowing race, with four oars. The boats entered
were as follows: Captain C. C. Morse’s, with
Pepper, Weeks Newton, and Junius Newton, as
crew; Jacob J. Thompson’s, with Thompson,
Polley, Davis and Benson as crew; Rankin Craig’s,
with Craig, Melvin Craig, Chesley Craig and Atkins
as crew; George Piver’s, with Piver Haskins,
Owens and Williams as crew. Capt. Morse’s boat
won the first prize, one pair of bracelets at $10,
and Mr. Piver’s boat the second prize, a pair of
sleeve buttons valued at $5.
OTHER EXCURSIONS
The arrival of the Governor Worth’s party at
Smithville was soon followed by that of the
steamer Waccamaw, with the Cape Fear No. 3
firemen and a number of other colored people;
and later by the steamer Douglass, which left
Wilmington at 4 A.M. for the Blackfish Grounds.
The party on the latter boat caught quite a
number of fine fish, but the most of the
excursionist got sea-sick on account of the
roughness of the water.
HOMEWARD BOUND.
The Gov. Worth started for home shortly after 4
o’clock and arrived at her wharf soon after 6, the
excursionists being well pleased with their trip.
The dancing was kept up until the boat touched
the wharf.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday July 7, 1876]
--- The steamer Gov. Worth, Capt. Worth, while
on her way to Fayetteville, and when about
twenty miles above this city, on Wednesday night,
had the misfortune to lose her rudder, which
became detached from its position in consequence
of the worn and dilapidated condition of the rivets
and other fastenings. The rudder was secured,
placed upon a flat, and brought to this city for
repairs, reaching here yesterday evening. In the
meantime the Worth will remain tied up at the
point where the accident took place. It will take
but a short time to complete the repairs
necessary.
[Wilmington Star – July 14, 1876]
The Western Excursionists – A Trip Down the
River – The Return to the Mountains.
The excursionists from the mountains, who came
down on the double excursion train under the
management of Mr. Tomlinson, took their
proposed trip down the river, yesterday, on the
steamer J. S. Underhill. They had an excellent
day for it, and we learn that they enjoyed the trip
very much, which can well be imagined when it is
probable that many of them had never seen a
steamboat or large vessel before, or even a sheet
of water of any considerable dimensions. The boat
went a short distance outside, and a few of the
party got sea-sick. A considerable stoppage was
made at Smithville, where some indulged in a
bath, while all enjoyed the splendid sea breeze.
A number of the ladies, accompanied by
gentlemen, paid a visit to the Revenue Cutter
Colfax, which was at anchor in the harbor, and
the officers took much pleasure in showing them
around, even firing a salute for their benefit. One
of the young ladies from Davidson College, we
learn, expressed the opinion that they (the
officers) were “the best housekeepers she had
ever seen.”
The boat, with its happy freight, including a
goodly number of “city folk,” returned late in the
afternoon.
The excursionists, which will include quite a
number from this city, will leave on the double
excursion train for the West this morning at 6:45
o’clock. Among the managers of the grand ball to
take place at Hickory Monday night, are Messrs. J.
W. Gordon, A. T. London, Wm. L. Smith, Jr., J. H.
Hardin, Jas. W. Lippitt and A. H. Kelley, of this
city.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday August 4, 1876]
Excursion by Moonlight and Otherwise.
We learn that it is the intention of Mr. J. S.
Tomlinson, of the Hickory Press, who recently got
up the grand double excursion, to give another
excursion from the mountains to the seashore at
an early day, probably during the latter part of
this month, at which time Capt. Latham, of the
steamer J. S. Underhill, proposes giving a grand
moonlight excursion for the benefit of our visitors
from the up-country and others who may wish to
participate.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday August 11, 1876]
SERIOUS COLLISION.—The steamer North State
collided with a vessel being towed by the
Waccamaw, near Wilmington a few days since,
and had her upper work badly smashed. We
regret to learn, too, that Capt. Green was
painfully injured during the collision.
[North Carolina Gazette – Fayetteville – January 4, 1877]
-- The steamer A. P. Hurt has temporarily
taken the place of the steamer North State,
running between Wilmington and Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Star – January 6, 1877]
A Colored Man Drowned.
On Thursday night about 8′oclock, while the
steamer A. P. Hurt, Capt. Worth, was on her way
from Fayetteville to this city, and when at a point
on the river known as “Indian Wells,” about thirtyseven miles above this city, a colored deck hand
by the name of Sim Council fell overboard and was
drowned. It appears that the boat stopped at the
place mentioned to change the mail, and as the
wind was blowing very hard at the time the boat
swung round crosswise the river. Council had hold
of a rope, a turn or two of which had been taken
round a post, and was engaged in trying to force
the boat into her proper position in the stream,
when by some means he accidentally fell into the
river. He was not able to swim a stroke, and was
not seen to rise to the surface of the water after
his unlucky plunge, hence the efforts made to
rescue him were altogether useless. Capt. Worth
remained at the spot about two hours, but failed
to recover the body.
Deceased, who was about 30 years old, was
formerly a resident of Bladen county, but had
been living in Fayetteville for some time past, and
was, Capt. Worth says, the best hand he ever had
in his employ. He was unmarried and childless.
[Wilmington Weekly Star -- Friday, March 16, 1877]
Body Recovered.
The body of Sim Council, the colored man who
was drowned off the steamer A. P. Hurt on the 8th
inst., an account of which appeared in the STAR at
the time, was recovered on Saturday last, about
two miles below Indian Wells, the scene of the
accident, by a colored fisherman, and an inquest
was to have been held over the body yesterday.
The body when found was in an upright position.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, March 30, 1877]
(excerpt from Fayetteville GAZETTE) – Captain
Skinner sold the steamer CUMBERLAND in
Savannah; she will probably run between that city
and Augusta.
[Wilmington Star – March 31, 1877]
More Effects of the Late Storm.
“… The steamer J. S. Underhill, the Wilmington
and Smithville packet, had her rudder disabled
and was towed up to this city yesterday morning
by the steamer Waccamaw.”
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday April 20, 1877]
A New Steamer.
The new steamer Colville, built at Messrs. Colville
& Co.’s mill for Capt. Henry, formerly of the
steamer Caswell, and intended to supply the place
of that boat on the line between this city and
Bannerman’s Bridge, on the Northeastern Cape
Fear, made her trail trip on Monday afternoon.
There were about twenty-five persons on board,
and the boat behaved very handsomely, the
machinery working as smoothly as could be
expected. The Colville, named in honor of the
senior proprietor of the mill, is a very neat and
staunch little craft, evidently well adapted in
every way to the purposes for which she is to be
used.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday May 10, 1877]
MOONLIGHT EXCURSION.
The steamer NORTH STATE took a party of ladies
and gentlemen down the river last evening,
starting about a quarter to 6 o’clock, with the
view of giving them an excursion by moonlight.
The Cornet Concert Club was along to furnish the
music for the occasion.
It was doubtless a
delightful trip.
[Wilmington Star – May 29, 1877 BRC]
A Drowned Man Discovered Floating in the
River.
On Monday, while the steamer Gov. Worth was on
the way to this city, and when at a point between
Willis’ Creek and Prospect Hall, about twenty
miles this side of Fayetteville, the body of a
drowned man was discovered floating in the river.
The remains were evidently those of a colored
man, somewhat advanced in years, his hair being
sprinkled with gray, but no one, along the river in
that neighborhood seemed to have any idea who
the deceased could be, no person to their
knowledge having been missing. The man was in
his shirt sleeves and had apparently been in the
water about a week.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday June 8, 1877]
The Drowned Man Again.
The body of the drowned man, reported to our
paper of Wednesday last as having been found
drifting in the river about twenty miles this side of
Fayetteville, on the downward trip of the steamer
Gov. Worth, on the previous Monday, was
subsequently taken from the water and an inquest
held over the same. It is now understood that the
remains are believed to have been those of a
white man. A watch found on the person of
deceased had the name of D. R. McLean engraved
upon it.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday June 15, 1877]
Excursion on the Colville.
Our Pender friends had a delightful excursion, a
few days since, on the new steamer Colville, on
the Northeast river, which was followed by
dancing, refreshments, &c., at Mr. G. Z. French’s
landing. At a subsequent meeting on board of the
steamer over which Mr. James H. Moore presided,
Mr. J. P. Murphy acting as Secretary, resolutions
of thanks were voted to Capt. R. C. Henry for the
great pleasure afforded them, and also to Mr.
French for the accommodation furnished for
dancing, &c. Mr. W. T. Bannerman and Dr. H. F.
Murphy addressed the meeting and spoke in very
complimentary terms of Captain Henry.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday June 15, 1877]
THE STEAMER “ WAVE. “-- Capt. W. A.
Robeson’s Steamer, “ The Wave, “ of the Express
Steamboat Co.’s line, swung loose from her wharf
last Monday morning, and glided down the river –
as handsome a craft as has rested on the bosom of
the Cape Fear in many a long day. The “ Wave “
was formerly run entirely as a freight-boat, but
for the past few weeks she has been on “the
ways,” being repaired and re-modeled; and now,
with a bright dress of paint and new cabins and
state-rooms, presided over by the clever and
courteous captain , the “ Wave ” can offer as
pleasant accommodations to the wayfarer
between Fayetteville and Wilmington as any of its
popular competitors for public favor on the river.
[North Carolina Gazette – Thursday, June 21, 1877]
RIVER EXCURSION.--
There was a very
pleasant excursion down the river last Friday on
Captain Green’s steamer, the North State. The
picnic was complimentary by Miss Fannie Green to
Misses Maggie and Mamie Johnson, of Wilmington,
and was very much enjoyed by all, the dancing
being pleasant and the return trip to the wharf
delightful.
[North Carolina Gazette – June 28, 1877]
FOR THE GAZETTE.
EXCURSION TO SMITHVILLE.
----MESSRS. EDITORS:-- It is to be regretted that
more of the citizens of Fayetteville and
surrounding country did not avail themselves of
the opportunity offered them last Thursday of
taking a trip to Smithville and the Forts on the
Cape Fear river. These little excursions cost but a
small amount of money, and are extremely
pleasant this hot August weather. As I hear there
will probably be another such excursion shortly, I
have concluded to write a short account of the
Odd Fellows’ excursion, in hopes that others may
be induced to take advantage of the next
opportunity offered them. A short notice only
having been given, some 25 or 30 of our citizens
embarked on the fine steamer Gov. Worth,
commanded by that genial gentleman and clever
host, Capt. A. H. Worth, on last Thursday
morning, for a trip to the Forts. Shortly after 8
o’clock the whistle blew, the gang planks were
taken in, the wheels began to turn and we thought
we were off, but alas for our expectations; we had
not gone more than 100 yards when bump, and
our boat was on the ground. Here we pulled first
one way and then another for some time, and
finally we “got off” fairly on our way. The water
being very low, we went along very slowly, for the
first thirty miles the rain pouring in torrents,
preventing us from gaining any accessions to our
crowd. We expected at Elizabethtown to get
quite a number, but as before remarked it was
raining, raining, and no one put in an appearance.
A trip down the river, as you know, Messrs.
Editors, is monotonous, but with pleasant
companions you can always make the time pass
rapidly.
Your time, too, can be occupied
watching the various turns of this beautiful river,
with its willow and ash, elms and tall sycamores
casting long, varying shadows into the water as
the mighty stream glides on to meet the waving
billow. It is curious, too, to watch with what
dexterity the jolly boat hands handle the barrels
down the long slide, or roll them up the steep
banks. There are no persons who seem to enjoy
live more or take more pleasure in their work than
these hands on the Cape Fear. With frequent
stoppage to put out the mails, we proceed very
slowly, and night caught us a long way from
Wilmington.
What took place then your
correspondent knows not. He heard next morning
that the boat ran into the bank during the night
and broke her rudder chain, but this is only
hearsay, as he was too much engaged to know
what was going on then, and knew nothing more
till the “music from the entire band” aroused him
as we reached the “city by the sea.”
Here we found quite a number of persons,
including many ladies, waiting for our arrival.
After some delay the boat steamed to the foot of
Market street, took on our passengers and started
on the most pleasant part of our journey. As we
pushed out into the river the band gave us some
of its finest music, which was echoed back by the
shout from the shore. And then commenced our
pleasure. The lower deck was cleaned and swept,
and you heard above the noise and splash of the
water the cry “partners for the first set!” The
younger portion of the crowd commenced in
earnest to “trip the light fantastic toe.” Ahead of
us was spread the majestic river, now widened
and deepened by the action of the tide, and
sparkling like a sea of glass. The wheels of our
gallant bark were beating time to the music of the
waves, and gay young men and beautiful women
were whirling in the mazes of the dance. But your
correspondent desired to look upon some of the
scenes enjoyed (?) by him in other years, and
repaired to the hurricane deck to get a better
view. On the right as you passed along frowned
Battery Anderson, its mound once covered with
bristling bayonets and sullen looking guns, now
overgrown with bush and brier. On the left, high
above the other shore was Sugar Loaf hill whereon
he stood, and intently watched long ago the
desperate attack on “Anderson” opposite, when
the iron-clad monitor ran up to the walls of the
fort and poured her deadly missiles into it, and
the shot from the fort had no effect on her, but
struck and rebounded as if they had been made of
rubber. On the left, a little farther on, was the
famous “Fisher,” now dismantled and overgrown.
After we passed the “mound,” we ran along to the
opening of New Inlet, where the government boats
are at work filling up the inlet with rock. Here
our boat rolled and tossed about, and your
correspondent thought it the better part of
prudence to get down to where the boat was
steadier, so he left that deck; when he reached
the lower deck he found that the dancers, too,
had stopped, probably concluding that they could
not worship Terpsichore and bow to old Neptune
at the same time. There you could see more than
one of our party looking pale and haggard, and I
was particularly struck with one who had taken
the wood-pile, he said, to rest. After we passed
the inlet and the water became smooth, dancing
was commenced and continued till Smithville was
sighted on our right.
Here the Revenue Cutter Colfax lying in the
stream gave us a salute, which we returned, and
as our boys “wanted to get to the surf” we
stopped only a short time, and then started for
Caswell, which we reached in a short space. The
tide was running out and the boat could not get
near the shore, but our gallant captain was equal
to the emergency. He placed benches in the
shallow water with boards on them from the boat
to the bank, and soon we were getting off in
single file – one or two falling in – not being too
steady.
Here the party divided, some walking on the
beach and others in the fort – some gathering
shells and sea-weed, while others were bathing in
the surf. In the latter could be found most of the
“up countrys.” Caswell was a strong fort, but is
now dismantled and mouldering away. The guns
used by us are still there and regularly pointed,
but the carriages are falling to decay; and herds
of goats now roam where not long since the tread
of soldiery was heard and the warlike men were
waiting for the fray. What a sad looking thing a
dismantled fort is! Years of work and toil and
thousands of dollars thrown away!
After enjoying the beach for an hour or so the
whistle sounded for our return. On our way back
we stopped at Smithville for a short time and
walked about that old town. It must be a pleasant
place to spend a summer in, with its grassy streets
and beautiful oaks. It is a great mistake to
suppose (as some do) that is a hot, sandy place.
Such is not the fact; it looks cool and shady and
quiet. While here an oar boat from the Colfax
came over and took the band, our Mayor and some
others to it, the band playing that sweet tune
“Annie Laurie” as it was rapidly borne towards the
cutter. Over there they were feasted by the
officers, and found our Congressman, Hon. A. M.
Waddell, rusticating for a few days.
But pleasure cannot last always, and the shrill
whistle of the Worth called them back. “All
aboard!” was sounded, and we started back for
Wilmington. Up the river now we are steaming;
dancing again commences, and gaiety is kept up
as we pass back by Fisher, by Sugar Loaf, by
Battery Anderson, to the city. Here we leave the
largest part of our crowd, and at half-past ten
start for home again. The party were tired – most
of us desired to sleep – but the young ones would
not permit it; what with singing, playing, dancing
and noise-making generally, little sleep was had
that night. But next day we took things quietly,
and in good time reached home, all having
enjoyed the trip and wishing to go again. The
only regret was that the excursion was not
patronized as it ought to have been, it having
been gotten up for the benefit of a benevolent
order in our midst.
O. F.
[North Carolina Gazette – August 9, 1877]
PICNIC AT BLADEN SPRINGS.
-----
Trip on the River – Pleasant
Company – Commodore Tatnal
– The Bladen Springs – A Beautiful
Country – A Dance –
Homeward Journey, &c.
----In accordance with a courteous invitation from
the committee of arrangements, we attended a
picnic held at Bladen Springs, near Whitehall,
Bladen county, last Friday, 17th inst. Everything
seemed to combine to render this little jaunt of
ours an occasion of unalloyed pleasure. Taking
the steamer Worth on Thursday, and having under
one escort three young ladies of Fayetteville, we
had the good fortune to find assembled on board a
very pleasant party, composed of ladies going to
Wilmington and others whose destination, like our
own, was Whitehall. The river was low, and the
Worth seemed to crawl rather than run, while her
whistle was constantly engaged in the effort to
clear away its hoarseness by screaming at a
hundred different landings, all of which wanted a
little room for a few rosin barrels. But we were
content: what mattered it {is} that the stream
was sluggish and the pulling steamer lazy? our
mood was in unison with the lazy sunshine, and
the bending willows, and the sleepy cranes which
seemed to mock us with their drawling, drowsy
flight along the banks. Never have we spent a
more delightful day on the Cape Fear – a congenial
coterie which seemed to extract a pleasing
incident from everything; the skill of the boatmen
in shifting freight from landing to gangway; the
charms of conversation, the pleasures of a game
of whist, a little mixture of frolicking – and when
Whitehall was sighted our hearts were torn
between the anticipation of the enjoyment in
store for us there and regret at bidding good bye
to our Wilmington friends.
At Whitehall the shore was crowded with
persons in waiting; to receive us, while upon the
bank was a great illuminated banner, bearing the
kind greeting, “WELCOME!.” Here we found that
the committee had made their arrangements
perfect: our crowd, consisting of eighteen or
twenty from Fayetteville and Cumberland county
to other, was divided up into small parties, and
sent off to different residences in the
neighborhood, amid much mirth, merriment and
laughter. That night we stayed at Whitehall, the
guest of Mr. James Evans, where we were nicely
entertained and enjoyed a good night’s rest. Here
we made the acquaintance of Commodore Tatnal,
to give him his official title, though he is known to
the masses as “Jim Ferryman.” As we sat in the
piazza overlooking the Cape Fear, listening to the
fast receding paddles of the North State, sounding
like the beats of some great heart in mortal
struggle (has some other great brain evolved this
idea from its inner consciousness?), there came a
call from the other bank, so clear, so shrill, that it
seemed to cleave the sheeny moonlight as a sharp
dinner knife would make its way through fresh
cream cheese – “Hallo! ho!! hallo!!!” “Dat’s Bill
Simpson. I jess know!” exclaimed a great ragged
creature who had been lying at my feet, rising and
stretching his remarkable length before me. Then
he strode off, and soon I heard the plash of the
waves, the reverberating sound of the pole thrown
on the flat, and the ferry-boat was ploughing its
way across to the other shore.
“Old massa give me holiday.
I wish he’d give me more;
I thanked him very kindly
As I rowed my boat from shore,
And down de riber floated,
Wid a heart so light and free,
To de cottage of my dearest May
I longed so much to see” –
Sang the Commodore, as he bent his tall, gaunt
form to the guiding pole, while the moonlight fell
on his broad slouch hat, and trickled down over
his matted beard like molten silver.
“Ah! yes, you nigger! if I was behind you I’d
teach you ‘dearest May!” Come ‘long back heah
wid dat boat, you old fool, and go to bed!” –
screamed a strident female voice from the door of
a cabin on the bank to the right of me.
“Such is life!” mused I; “even the Commodore
must come down off his ‘high horse’ when the
domestic broomstick is brandished aloft, and the
romance of the ferryman’s life wilts before the
blighting influence of his practical fireside.”
“Jim Ferryman” is as honest, and faithful as
the day is long, and there is not a man on the
river who would not trust him with any amount of
money. All honor to the old fellow, rough thought
his exterior and untutored be his mind!
A fearful thing happened the night we reached
Whitehall; we shudder every time the recollection
of it comes across our troubled soul. A trunk,
which was intended to be taken off there, was
accidentally carried on by the Worth; in that trunk
was a vest, a pair of pantaloons (if we may be
pardoned the expression), a shirt (still asking for
pardon), and a cravat; these articles of apparel
were intended to adorn the rather lofty person of
the chairman of the committee of arrangements,
Mr. Jas. Evans, and the world is left to conjecture
what would have been the effect on the fair sex
at that picnic if the Worth hadn’t carried that
trunk to Wilmington. He raised old Cain round
Whitehall when he found out what had happened,
and rejected with scorn a proposition of ours to
lend him a suit. However, he took the matter
philosophically at last, lay down saying something
about “spilt milk,” and we think he snored that
night just as loud as if he had been arrayed like
Solomon in all his glory.
Friday, the picnic day, was bright, balmy and
cloudless, and with a large party of ladies and
gentlemen we set out for the springs. Along the
main road and from every cross-road poured
streams of wagons, carriages, buggies, horsemen
and pedestrians, preparing us to believe what had
been told us – that this would be the biggest
picnic we had ever seen. Bladen Spring is situated
about two hundred yards from the main
Wilmington and Fayetteville road, near the
splendid residence of the late lamented Mr. Russ.
It is a great basin of about 100 gallons capacity,
the water of which is as clear as crystal, as cold as
ice, and possessed of fine medicinal virtues. We
thought we could detect both iron and sulphur,
but we were not under favorable circumstances
for exercising our chemical knowledge while we
drank – for eyes deeper and clearer than this great
bubbling fount of nature were looking into ours,
and on the pellucid surface of this noble spring
was mirrored a form as full of grace as that of any
naiad that ever tripped from wold or dell to lave
in rippling stream in days of yore, and crowned
with that chiefest glory of woman – a wealth of
golden hair which caught every shifting ray as it
danced on the woodland leaves and the ripples of
the limpid stream.
The scene of the picnic was a large grove,
garlanded and festooned in moss with a beauty
that no art could rival, imparting a picturesque,
ancient look which was charming. Every tree
seemed to us to have its history, and we could
almost imagine that as their majestic forms
towered over us, and their gnarled and knotted
limbs swayed to and fro above our heads, they
were whispering of other days, when tired invalids
knelt at their feet and drank the sweet waters
which God has given his creatures; when the
silence of their peaceful realm was startled by
merry laughter; when lovers lingered where the
stillness and the shades were deepest; when the
fathers and the mothers of the young men and
women gathered there that day were as gay and
fair as they – but the sturdy oaks and the gray old
moss have outlived the soft cheeks, bright eyes
and graceful forms which have fallen away into
the dust!
At one end of the grove is a vacant house,
where we soon heard the familiar sounds of tuning
fiddles and scraping bows. In a few minutes a set
was formed, after which we became forgetful of
the programme until a messenger came to tell us
that the crowd was ready for the speech; it
required some little force on the part of the
committee to drag as out, as we were dancing
with a very pretty girl, but we made our
appearance at the stand, around which the people
were thronged on benches, on the ground and in
carriages, and did the best we could for them in
the way of an address for 58 minutes by the
watch, after which Mr. Allen, of Duplin, and Dr.
Devane, of Bladen, responded to repeated calls
which had been made upon them by brief but
pleasing remarks.
We cannot describe the dinner to which we
were invited at 1 o’clock. It was an avalanche of
beef, fat mutton, old ham, chickens, ducks, &c.;
it was a deluge of cake, pies, tarts, puddings, &c.;
it was a flood of pickles, fruits, jellies and sweet
meats; it was a glut of all sorts of good things; it
was a feast tendered to bounteous hospitality,
overflowing in good will and generosity – the
offering of a liberal, whole souled people. The
remainder of the day was devoted to dancing,
promenading and conversation, and sunset closed
the Bladen Spring picnic, the road being alive for
an hour after with homeward bound parties.
There were hundreds present from every
direction, and the counties of Bladen, Duplin,
Pender, New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus,
Sampson, Robeson and Cumberland were
represented on the grounds. The hospitality of
that section and people were lavishly offered to
us, but we wish for ourselves and the ladies in our
charge, to thank the families of Mrs. Wooten, Dr.
Graham and Mr. Gilliam, and Mr. Evans, for many
kindnesses. It required some care on our part to
keep the Fayetteville girls from being purposely
left by the up boat, as they wanted to stay still
another day, and were strenuously urged to do so
by their Bladen friends. We boarded the Worth
about 9 ½ o’clock on Friday night, and reached
home Saturday at noon. Not the least pleasant
part of our trip were the rides down and up on the
Worth; it is an admirably managed steamer – good
fare, clean berths and nice state rooms – and its
captain is not only a good officer, but a pleasant
companion, ever attentive to the wants and
pleasure of his guests.
Crops are generally good in Bladen, though
cotton has rather a bad stand in some parts of the
county.
The people speak cheerfully, and
hopefully, and look forward to the future,
cherishing a bright anticipation of the restoration
of their former thrift and prosperity.
Mr. Allen, in his speech the other day, spoke of
Bladen county as a “land flowing with milk and
honey.” This is ought to be, literally as well as
figuratively; much of its soil is almost
inexhaustible in fertility, while it possesses upon
the banks of the river, at the doors of many of its
farmers, vast beds of marl which is invaluable for
the restoration of impoverished land. It is also
admirably adapted to sheep husbandry, and we
found the people down there almost unanimous in
the determination to join us in our struggle for the
protection of this important agricultural interest.
[North Carolina Gazette – First Edition – Thursday,
August 23, 1877]
Colored Man Drowned.
A young colored man, by the name of Thomas
Dudley, steward on the steamer Colville, Capt.
Henry, running between this city and Bannerman’s
Bridge, Pender county, was accidentally drowned
off that boat on Monday night last. The accident
was not observed by any one on the boat, and, in
fact, the young man was not missed until the
Colville had arrived at her wharf. He was last seen
when the boat was about three miles from town,
about half past 9 o’clock, at which time the crew
were engaged in putting in wood from a flat, two
of which were in tow, while Dudley was employed
in cleaning up his supper dishes. It is usual for him
to lay down and take a short nap after his labor is
performed, while awaiting the arrival of the boat
at her destination, consequently his disappearance
was not noted. Upon reaching the wharf,
however, which could not have been more than
thirty minutes after he was last seen, Capt. Henry
called him to get a match for some purpose, when
it was found that he was tripped up in some
manner by one of the ropes attached to the flats
in tow and thrown overboard, when he was
immediately sucked under by the Colville or one
of the flats. Deceased was about 22 years of age
and leaves a wife and one child at Bannerman’s
Bridge, where he lived. He has been in the employ
of Capt. Henry for about four years, and is
represented to have been attentive to his duties
and strictly honest and trustworthy in every
respect, so much so that Capt. H. would not have
parted with him for any consideration if he could
have helped himself.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday September 7, 1877]
Body Found – Inquest.
The body of Thomas Dudley, the young colored
man who was drowned off the steamer Colville on
Monday night last, an account of which was
published in Wednesday’s paper, was found
yesterday just this side of Rat Island, a little over
three miles from the city. The remains were
brought to the neighborhood of Messrs. Blossom &
Evans’ distillery, where Coroner Hewlett, who had
been notified, held and inquest over the body
yesterday afternoon, the jury returning a verdict
in accordance with the facts as already stated by
us.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday September 14, 1877]
The Drowned Man.
We mentioned a rumor in our last to the effect
that a colored man had been drowned off a flat or
raft between this city and Point Caswell a few
nights previously. We since learn that the man’s
name was Jones, and that he was employed on
one of the flats belonging to Capt. Paddison, of
the steamer North East. He fell off the flat at a
place called Heading’s Bluff, about 37 miles above
Wilmington. Deceased was a resident of
Wilmington, and leaves a wife, the woman
referred to in our last as having made inquiries for
her husband.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday September 28, 1877]
Another Case of Drowning.
A young man by the name of Thaddeus Moore,
aged about 25 years, a resident of Point Caswell,
Pender county, was drowned at Mr. O. G.
Parsley’s wharf, between Dock and Orange
streets, yesterday morning, under the following
circumstances: he came down the river on a flat,
a day or two since, and yesterday morning,
between 3 and 4 o’clock, he went on board of the
steamer North East, which had arrived during the
night and landed at the wharf mentioned,
accompanied by a friend by the name of Pridgen.
Soon afterwards persons on the boat heard a
splashing in the river between the boat and the
wharf, a flat loaded with wood and shingles being
between the wharf and one end of the boat,
leaving an open space. It is presumed that he
forgot the situation of the boat and flat and was
under the impression at the moment that he was
stepping from the boat to the wharf, instead of
which he stepped into the river. Two or three
parties rushed to the rescue, including his friend
Pridgen, who, in the excitement of the moment,
made the same mistake that Moore did, rushing to
the side of the boat and plunging into the river.
He was rescued, however, by the colored fireman
of the boat, a man named Kelly, but only a
glimpse of his more unfortunate companion was
seen ere he disappeared under the flat, whence
he was carried by the treacherous current, adding
one more to the large number who have lost their
lives by falling into the Cape Fear.
Deceased, whose body had not been recovered at
last accounts, was formerly mate on the steamer
North East, and leaves a wife and one child to
mourn the untimely death of a husband and
father.
—
The Late Drowning Case.
The brother of Mr. Thaddeus Moore, who lost his
life by drowning on Tuesday morning last, arrived
here yesterday to look after the body, and see
that it is properly disposed of when recovered,
intending to leave the matter in the hands of
Coroner Hewlett. We learn from Mr. Moore that
his unfortunate brother could not swim a stroke,
being always so afraid of water that he could
never be prevailed upon to make an effort to
learn. He not only leaves a wife and one child, as
stated in our last, but a mother and other
relatives at Point Caswell, besides the brother
alluded to above, who resided at Burgaw.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – November 9, 1877]
— A correspondent at Dublin, Laurens county,
writing to the Savannah Morning News, under date
of October 29, says: “The steamer Colville arrived
at our wharf early this morning. The boat is owned
by a company of North Carolina gentlemen and a
few of our people, and is to run between this
town and the Central Railroad. As the pioneer of
an important enterprise, the Colville has been an
object of general and intense interest to our
people all day, who are now signalizing the event
with big guns and other fireworks, while the
officers and owners of the boat are being
entertained at the Troup House at a public
supper. The Colville is the first boat that has ever
come up the river on low water (and it is now very
low), thereby proving the fact that a boat can run
on our river at all stages of the water. We look to
this as a beginning of a new era in the business
relations of our town and county with Savannah
and the outside world generally, and we hope it
will receive the attention and co-operation from
the Central Railroad and its Board of Directors
which its importance to them will warrant. The
work on the Oconee river begun by the company
some weeks ago is progressing rapidly, and before
long we hope the Colville will be making regular
trips to and from the Oconee bridge, to the great
delight of our merchants and the travelling
public.” The Colville was built here by Messrs.
Colville & Co. and was formerly on the line
between this city and Bannerman’s Bridge, up the
Northeast river.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – November 9, 1877]
Body Recovered.
We learn from Mr. E. Gause, one of the Smithville
pilots, that the body of a drowned white man was
found washed up on Snow’s Marsh, on the
Brunswick side of the river, abreast of Federal
Point and about four miles this side of Smithville,
on Saturday afternoon last. There were eight
dollars in money in one of the pockets of the
deceased, together with a number of orders
bearing the name of Thaddeus Moore, the
unfortunate gentleman from Point Caswell,
Pender county, who was drowned off one of the
wharves of this city two weeks ago yesterday.
Coroner Leonard, of Brunswick, subsequently held
an inquest over the body, the jury returning a
verdict of accidental drowning, after which it was
interred on the Island, where it can easily be
found by the family or friends of the deceased,
who will no doubt wish to have it removed to
Point Caswell.
The body drifted with the current full twenty-five
miles, and Mr. Gause says that during his long
experience as a pilot up and down the Cape Fear
river he has never before known one to be carried
such a distance. It looked fresh when first
discovered and had suffered little or no
mutilation.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – 1877]
A Young Man from Fayetteville Arrested on the
Charge of Highway Robbery.
Chief of Police Brock received a telegram from
Fayetteville, Thursday evening, signed by E. P.
Powers, J.P., requesting him to arrest one John
Williamson, charged with highway robbery, who
would arrive here during the night on the steamer
A. P. Hurt, with further directions to search the
prisoner and send him back to Fayetteville.
Accordingly a look-out was kept for the steamer in
question, and at 2 o’clock yesterday morning she
landed at her wharf, near the foot of Mulberry
street, upon which she was boarded by Sergeant
Savage, of the police force, and the young man
was arrested in his berth, where he was lying
asleep. He aroused and dressed himself, asked no
question as to why he was arrested, and was taken
to the guard house, where he is held to await a
requisition from the authorities of Fayetteville.
The sum of twelve dollars and fifty cents was
found on his person.
Williamson, who is a young man of prepossessing
appearance and well dressed, stated in
conversation with the Chief of Police, yesterday
morning, that he talked with Mr. Powers, on the
market square in Fayetteville on Thursday
morning, just before the steamer left, and that
nothing was said about the matter for which he is
now under arrest, and that no effort was made to
detain him; if there had been he would not have
been here; that he had intended to get off at a
point on the river, but finally concluded to come
here, and had expected to return on the boat
yesterday afternoon. He also requested the Chief
of Police to send him back to Fayetteville as soon
as possible, in accordance with the instructions
from Mr. Powers, Justice of the Peace; but as he
would have to be sent under guard it was thought
best that an officer should come after him, and a
telegram to that effect was sent to Mr. Powers.
We learn that young Williamson has a mother in
Fayetteville, who is highly respected.
After the above was written, Capt. Albert Worth,
of the steamer A. P. Hurt, received a telegram
from Justice Powers, of Fayetteville, directing him
to bring Williamson up, and accordingly he was
placed in the custody of Mr. James E. Flowers, at
Capt. Worth’s request, and delivered on board of
the boat, which left for Fayetteville between 2
and 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – December 14, 1877]
ACCIDENTALLY SHOT. – The steamer North
State left her wharf last Saturday morning at the
regular hour, and while on her way to Wilmington
Capt. Green was shot under the following
circumstances: A New York salesman, a Mr.
Strauss, was examining his pistol when it was
accidentally discharged, the ball passing through a
wooden partition, a pair of pantaloons hanging
against the wall, and lodging about an inch and a
quarter in the fleshy part of Capt. Green’s leg,
who happened to have his feet up on a table at
the time.
The North State was turned around and Capt.
Green brought home, where an examination
proved the wound to be not dangerous, though it
has caused him a great deal of pain.
[North Carolina Gazette – March 7, 1878]
An Accidental Shooting – Wounding
of Capt. Green, of the Steamer
North State – A Narrow Escape, &c.
Capt. T. J. Green, of the steamer North State,
met with quite a serious accident on Saturday
morning last about 10 o’clock. The boat left
Fayetteville for this place that morning, and had
proceeded about fourteen miles in this direction,
when one of the passengers, a drummer, took out
a common brass-mounted pistol, the barrels of
which would not revolve to suit him and was
examining it, when suddenly the weapon
exploded, the ball going through a partition which
intervened between himself and the Captain’s
office, which is located in the bow of the boat,
also passing through the legs of two pairs of pants
which were hanging up in the room, and entered
the fleshy part of the thigh of Capt. Green, who,
at the moment, was sitting in a chair with his feet
upon a table. Capt. G. immediately cried out that
he was shot, and parties on board rushed to his
assistance{.} The boat was then turned back and
steamed with all haste to Fayetteville, where the
wounded man could receive the necessary medical
aid. The physician announced that the wound was
not necessarily dangerous, though the ball had
passed within about an eighth of an inch of an
important artery, and that he had therefore made
a narrow escape. The ball penetrated the flesh
about two inches, and at last accounts had not
been extracted, owing to its close proximity to
the artery referred to. The patient, however, was
doing as well as could be reasonably expected
under the circumstances. The misfortune is more
to be regretted from the fact that Capt. Green has
on more than one occasion previous to this been
the victim of an accident of a serious nature.
The party who was the innocent cause of the
accident appeared to regret the occurrence very
much. He said he was not aware that there was a
room or office located forward of the partition
toward which he had the pistol pointed when it
exploded.
The steamer again left Fayetteville for this
place at 3 p. m. on Saturday.
[Wilmington Star – March 8, 1878]
--- The steamer Wave is now at Fayetteville,
where she is to be thoroughly overhauled. She
will be supplied with new engines from the works
of Pusey, Jones & Co., Wilmington, Delaware, and
her cabins are to be enlarged for the
accommodation of passengers. It is claimed that
with her new engines the Wave will be the fastest
boat on the river.
[Wilmington Star – May 24, 1878]
FOUND DROWNED. – We are indebted to the
Coroner for the following facts: As the steamer
Murchison was on her upward trip on Thursday,
the 23rd inst., about four miles below this place,
the deck hands discovered the body of a drowned
person in the water, which was afterwards
identified as that of Betsy Manuel, a colored girl,
fourteen years old, the cook’s assistant on the
steamer Hurt. She was missing on Saturday, the
18th inst., and was last seen on the boat, playing
with a bucket with rope attached, used for
drawing water from the river; this bucket was
found floating in the river, about half a mile
below, a short time after. There were many
rumors in circulation, and many opinions
expressed, as to the fate of the unfortunate girl.
Some supposed she had run away to marry a young
man with whom she had been familiar; some
thought she had been decoyed from the boat and
foully dealt with; while others believed she had
been murdered and thrown into the river. Owing
to these facts it was deemed imperative that a
thorough investigation of the case be had before a
jury of inquest, in order that the guilty parties, if
any, might be discovered, and that any upon
whom unjust suspicion rested might be
exonerated. After a post mortem examination of
the body by Dr. W. C. McDuffie, and a careful
sifting of the matter by the Coroner’s jury, they
rendered a verdict that the deceased came to her
death by accidental drowning.
[North Carolina Gazette – May 30, 1878]
--- The steamer Wave, which has been absent at
Fayetteville for some weeks past, where she has
been undergoing thorough repairs, has put in her
appearance again in a new and handsome dress,
which is decidedly becoming and sets her off to
great advantage. Among her improvements is a
handsome lady’s cabin, neatly carpeted and
upholstered, a smoking room, and a general
overhauling of the rooms in general, which have
been put in fine condition. Her cabins are also to
be provided with new and handsome furniture.
There are two state rooms, both fixed up in good
style, a reading room, a promenade deck for the
ladies, and other conveniences, besides which the
promenades on either side of the upper deck have
been considerably widened.
She has been
furnished with a splendid new engine, and newly
painted throughout, white and yellow being the
predominating colors. “Long may she Wave!”
[Wilmington Star – June 22, 1878]
Excursions To-Day.
The steamer Gov. Worth will take down a
family excursion, under the auspices of the
Hibernian
Benevolent
Association,
visiting
Smithville, Fort Caswell and other points of
interest below. No efforts have been spared by
the committee having the matter in charge to
make the excursion a pleasant and agreeable one.
There will be excellent music for dancing, and
refreshments will be served at reasonable prices.
Care will also be taken to preserve the utmost
good order and decorum, and nothing intoxicating
will be allowed on board. The boat will leave the
wharf between Market and Dock streets promptly
at 9 o’clock.
The steamer Passport will make an excursion
to Smithville, Forth Caswell, Fort Fisher and Bald
Head, leaving her wharf at 9:30 o’clock. There
will be music and refreshments.
The Steamer J. S. Underhill will take a select
family party down, visiting Smithville and other
places, and there will doubtless be several other
private excursions.
The colored people have their excursions
mostly by rail, one of the most important going to
Goldsboro, and another to Columbia, S. C.
[The Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, July 4, 1878]
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
----Excursionists to Smithville, Bald Head,
&c. – A Fine Day – Pleasant Trips, &c., &c.
A large number of excursionists went down
to Smithville and other points of interest on
the seashore on Thursday.
The number
altogether is estimated at from one thousand
to twelve hundred, including the colored
firemen and others, who went down on the
steamer Waccamaw. It was our fortune to be
one of the large party who took passage in the
fine steamer Gov. Worth, Capt. Watson,
chartered by the Hibernian Benevolent
Association. This boat left the wharf between
Market and Dock streets shortly after 9
o’clock, and had a fine run to Smithville.
After remaining there about twenty minutes
she again shoved off and proceeded to Bald
Head, where the most of the party landed, a
large proportion of the males going up the
beach for some distance and taking a bath in
the “salt sea waves,” and others, including
quite a number of the ladies, making their
way to Bald Head light – house, going up the
winding stairs leading to the summit of the
tower, from which a fine view of the
surrounding scenery is to be had, including
the white – capped ocean as far out as the eye
could reach, the various forts, Frying Pan
Shoals, stretching far out into the billowy
waste, Cape Fear, and last, but by no means
least, the beautiful and romantic scenery on
the island, one portion of which is covered by
a perfectly impenetrable mantle of green
undergrowth, which cannot be traversed
except where narrow paths have been cut,
while through another portion of it Bald Head
creek and other small streams meander
through a perfectly level bed of green sward,
which, viewed from the top of the tower,
presents a spectacle as lovely as could well be
pictured or even imagined. Several families
reside on the island, and enjoy the full
benefit of the ocean breezes, which here have
full sway. The company partook of a drink of
deliciously cool water from a well on the
premises attached to the lighthouse, rested
briefly from the labor incident to climbing the
steep tower, and then returned to the boat,
which soon afterward proceeded on the
return trip to Smithville. Passing Fort Caswell
a number of people were seen on the beach
making signs for the boat to stop, but, owing
to the condition of the tide at the time, Capt.
Watson deemed it a dangerous experiment to
stop for fear of grounding and having to
remain there for an indefinite period. We
afterwards learned that Rev. Father Gross and
three or four sisters of Mercy, who were on a
brief visit to the fort, were among those who
signaled to the boat, and it was very much
regretted by all that it was inexpedient to
stop.
While the bulk of the excursionists were
indulging in the trip to Bald Head, a number
of those from the Gov. Worth, joined by some
of those from the Underhill, which arrived
shortly afterwards, repaired to the academy,
accompanied by the music from the former
boat, where there was a pleasant dance
during the interval of the departure and
return of the Gov. Worth. As this steamer
neared her wharf on the return from Bald
Head, the steamer Underhill, with her party,
was steaming off in the direction of
Wilmington, and the Waccamaw, loaded down
with colored excursionists, with a brass band
on board, was backing out from the shore to
commence the return trip.
The Worth
remained at Smithville about thirty minutes
allowing all an opportunity of taking a short
stroll on shore, when she also turned her prow
homewards, followed by the Passport, our
party arriving at the wharf about 8 o’clock.
As we arrived at Smithville a salute was
being fired from Fort Johnson in honor of the
day, and the town was gaily decorated with
flags.
The excursion, taken altogether, was an
exceedingly pleasant one, and was greatly
enjoyed by those who participated in it. The
boat was roomy and provided with every
convenience, and the committee in charge
were attentive, courteous and obliging.
The party on the Underhill, under the
general supervision of the “Deacon,” ably
assisted by the “Doctor” and one or two
others, also had a good time, as we presume
those on the other boats did.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, July 6, 1878]
-- The steamer North State, after an absence
at Fayetteville for several weeks, where she has
been undergoing pretty thorough repairs,
repainting, &c., arrived yesterday morning
resplendent in her new attire, and making a fine
appearance.
[Wilmington Star – July 9, 1878]
River Flat for Sale,
BUILT BY A FIRST RATE WORKMAN, OF
Best materials, and in good running condition.
Length 65 feet, width 12 feet, depth 3 feet.
Apply to
Capt. R. P. PADDISON,
Sept 25 1t*
Steamer “North East.”
[Wilmington Star - September 25, 1878]
DESTRUCTIVE CONFLAGRATION
----Several Stores, Warehouses, Sheds and Stables
and Two Steamboats Destroyed – Loss About
$60,000 to $75,000.
Shortly after our paper had gone to press
on Tuesday morning, or about half past 3
o’clock, our firemen and citizens were again
called upon to battle with the fiery element
in one of its most spiteful and destructive
moods. The flames were first discovered in
the starboard quarter of the steamer J. S.
Underhill, which has been laying up at Mr. O.
G. Parsley’s wharf for some time awaiting
repairs. The steamer was laying with her bow
down the stream, and the fire is supposed to
have been communicated to her by a spark
from a fire on a raft, which was close
alongside. The steamer North East, Capt. R.
P. Paddison, running between this city and
Point Caswell, was tied up at the stern of the
Underhill, with a space of only about twenty –
five feet between them. With an ebb tide
and the wind blowing directly towards the
wharf, it was found impossible to move her.
The flames spread with great rapidity, and
soon the wharf to which the Underhill was
moored was, on fire, which was speedily
communicated to the North East. Captain
Paddsion’s family, together with quite a
number of other passengers, were on board,
and so rapidly did the flames spread, after
once getting headway, that the passengers
had to be hurried from the burning steamer.
Captain Paddison’s private papers and about
$100 in money were in his desk, and were
consumed, together with his apparel, &c.
The North East burned to the water’s edge
and sunk, while the wreck of the Underhill
was towed to the west side of the river, in the
neighborhood of Mr. C. W. McClammy’s
distillery, where she was sunk, her smoke –
stack being just visible above the surface of
the water.
In the meantime the devouring element,
fanned by a brisk Southwest wind, was making
rapid headway towards Front street, sweeping
in its resistless course everything that came in
its way. First the wood – yard of Mr. O. G.
Parsley was swept by the flames, which
thence communicated to the adjacent sheds
and warehouses, destroying them and their
contents, and finally taking hold upon the
block of stores facing upon Front street,
which were soon a mass of seething flame.
Up to this time the Fire Department had been
mainly endeavoring to stay the march of the
insatiate fiend, and now, under the direction
of their worthy Chief, they commenced an
herculean effort to prevent the flames from
crossing the street, or diverging from their
hitherto straight course the to direction of
Dock street, which in either case would have
resulted in woeful disaster to our city. The
steamer “Adrian” was broken down early in
the battle and could not be made to work. It
therefore devolved upon the “Little Giant”
and the “Cape Fear” to stay as far as possible
the progress of the flames, in which they
were greatly assisted by the Hook and Ladder
Company.
In the meantime, the fierce wind wafted
showers of sparks and cinders and tufts of
burning hay over the entire width of the city,
in an easterly or northeasterly direction, and
parties had to be stationed on the shingle
roofs, for squares from the scene of the
conflagration, in order to keep the fire from
communicating to them. The danger was at
its height when the flames burst forth from
the warehouse on the corner of Front street
and Muter’s alley, which as filled with hay and
other combustible material, the flames almost
lapping the residence of Mr. J. Loeb, on the
opposite side of the street, while the showers
of sparks were redoubled in their density,
falling upon the buildings, in the yards and on
the sidewalks like snowflakes, calling for the
utmost vigilance on the part of those who
were on the lookout. It was about this time
that a burning brand fell upon the roof of Mr.
T. M. Smith’s kitchen, on Market, between
Sixth and Seventh streets, and set fire to it,
which would have resulted in starting a fresh
conflagration but for the vigilance of a near
neighbor, who hastily procured a ladder and
mounted the roof, when the fire was speedily
extinguished after burning a hold about a foot
square. The roof of the residence of Capt. W.
M. Stevenson, on Fourth street, between
Market and dock, also caught in the same
manner. A large tree in St. James’ Church
yard caught fire, and the flames were also
communicated to the grass in the vacant lot
corner of Third and Dock streets, adjoining
the Catholic Church, and also to the grass plat
in the middle of the street adjoining.
By the almost superhuman efforts of the
firemen and hook and laddermen, after the
flames had communicated from Lippitt’s Block
to Mr. C. Stemmerman’s store on the corner
of Front and Orange streets, which was
partially destroyed, the fire was finally gotten
under control.
Through the exertions of Messrs. Robinson
& King (who had an office in the building on
the corner of Orange and Water streets),
Jimmie Smith, Martin Willard, and a colored
man named Hankins, aided by the crew of the
Norwegian
barque
Frank,
the
large
warehouse, filled with hay and spirits
turpentine, and the adjacent wharf with tar,
on the south side of Orange street, were
saved, thus preventing an extensive spread of
the conflagration in that direction, with great
destruction of property.
The losses and insurance, so far as can
now be estimated, are as follows:
The Steamer J. S. Underhill, the property
of Mr. O. G. Parsley, Jr., was insured for
about her full value, $3,000 in the Phoenix, of
Hartford, represented by Mr. Norwood Giles,
and $3,000 in the Connecticut, represented by
Messrs. W. L. Smith & Co.
The Steamer North East was valued by her
owner, Capt. R. P. Paddison, at $3,600 and
was insured for $2,000 in the Phoenix, of
Hartford, Mr. Norwood Giles.
Mr. O. G. Parsley, in addition to the
steamer Underhill, loses seven hundred tons
of coal, from four hundred to five hundred
cords of wood, from two hundred thousand to
three hundred thousand shingles; two engines
on the wharf, tools, wheelbarrows, two or
three carts and drays, &c., altogether valued
at $7,000 or $8,000, upon which there was no
insurance.
Mr. J. E. Lippitt owned all but one of the
buildings destroyed, and his loss upon the
various stores, warehouses, sheds and stables
amounted in the aggregate to about $17,000,
upon which there was only $7,800 insurance.
This is divided up as follows: $2,000 in the
Phoenix, of Hartford, Mr. Norwood Giles;
$1,000 in the Home, of New York, Mr.
Norwood Giles; $2,400 in the Lancashire,
Messrs. DeRosset & Northrop; $2,000 in the
German – American, Messrs. W. L. Smith &
Co., and $400 in the Petersburg, Metsrs.
DeRosset & Northrop.
The brick building on the corner of Front
and Orange streets, the property of Mr. C.
Stemmerman, was insured for $4,000 in the
Underwriters’ Agency, Messrs. DeRosset &
Northrop. Mr. S.’s stock of furniture was also
badly damaged, upon which there was no
insurance. Messrs. E. Kidder & Son lose about
$10,000 in molasses stored in one of the
warehouses, upon which there was insurance
for $5,000 on the Queen of Liverpool, Messrs.
Atkinson & Manning.
Mr. P. Cumming & Co., lost in hay, grain,
horses and harness about $4,000, in which
there was insurance in the AEtna, of Hartford,
and North America, of Philadelphia, for
$3,400.
Messrs. Adrian & Vollers lost about $1,400
in salt and fish stored in one of the
warehouses, on which there was insurance for
$1,000 in the Howard, of New York.
Mr. H. B. Eilers lost 800 barrels of rosin
and had a small lot of spirits turpentine
destroyed, valued at about $1,500. Insured
for $2,000 in the Hartford, of Hartford,
Messrs. Atkinson & Manning.
Messrs. Robinson & King lost in office
furniture $150. Covered by insurance in the
Atlantic, of New York, DeRosset Northrop.
They also lose some rosin, &c., amount not
asceretained, which is covered by insurance in
the London Assurance.
Their books and
papers were all saved, being in a safe.
Mr. B. D. Morrill’s loss in stock, tools, & c.,
is about $800.
Insured for $300 in the
Wilmington Mutual, Mr. S. N. Cannon.
The house on the east side of Front street,
owned by Mr. W. G. Fowler, and occupied by
Mr. A. Weill, was damaged to the extent of
about $250 by water. Covered by insurance in
a company represented by Messrs. J. W.
Gordon & Bro. Mr. Weill’s furniture was
considerably damaged, which was covered by
insurance with Messrs. DeRosset & Northrop.
Messrs. Paterson, Downing & Co., had a
small loss in naval stores, which was covered
in the London and Liverpool and Globe,
Messrs. J. W. Gordon & Bro.
Messrs. Preston Cumming & Co. lost two
valuable mules, Mr. Edgar Parmlee two horses
and harness and drays, and Mr. O. G. Parsley a
driving horse, all of which were burned in
their stables, it being impossible to remove
them.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, December 25,
1878]
BLACK RIVER STEAMBOAT
AND NAVIGATION COMPANY.
The steamer Isis, Capt. S. W. Skinner,
belonging to the above company is now being
thoroughly overhauled and refitted. It is expected
that she will be ready to commence running
regularly between this city and Point Caswell on
or about the 3rd of February.
Capt. R. P. Paddison, formerly of the steamer
North East, whose place the Isis fills, is the
general agent of the company. We learn that the
loss of the North East has caused considerable
inconvenience to shippers, who are compelled at
present to resort to the use of flats to move their
produce. Fortunately they will not have to wait
long before the line is again reopened, and a
steamer running regularly.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, January 4, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- The Fayettevillians have been in the frigid
zone for some time past. Captain Garrason, of
the steamer Murchison reports not only good
skating in that region, but miniature specimens of
icebergs floating around, from Haw and Deep
rivers.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, January 9, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- The divers found it too cold yesterday to begin
the work of raising the wreck of the steamer
North East. They made a preliminary examination
of the situation of affairs beneath the river’s
surface, and will do nothing more until the
weather is warmer.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, January 11, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- Operations with the purpose of raising the
steamer North East were not in progress
yesterday, but Capt. Paddison will not easily
abandon a project when he has entered heartily
into it.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, January 12, 1879]
Up the Cape Fear – Condition of the River.
From Capt. Garrason, of the steamer D.
Murchison, which arrived here last night about 9
o’clock, we learn that the river had risen 55 feet
at Fayetteville, but had commenced to fall a few
minutes before the Murchison left yesterday
morning. Capt. Garrason reports that a good
many cattle were drowned by the freshet, and
that many more will probably be, as he passed
several herds on submerged islands, from which
they would almost certainly be swept by the
rapidity of the current.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, January 15,
1879]
Local Dots.
--- The first “down the river” of the new year, in
the nature of pleasuring, was made on the
steamer Passport Saturday morning. The party of
ladies and gentlemen not only went to Smithville,
but outside, and in spite of the little
unpleasantness of “going to Europe,” in which the
ladies reluctantly indulged, the trip was one of
decided enjoyment.
[The Wilmington Morning Star – January 19, 1879]
The Sunken Boat.
Nothing was done towards getting up the
sunken steamer North East yesterday, on account
of the threatening weather early in the morning,
but Mr. W. L. Beery informs us that operations will
be resumed Monday morning, and that the hull
will probably be brought to the surface on
Tuesday.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, March 2, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- The work of raising the wreck of the steamer
North East was progressing yesterday, but she had
not quite reached the surface.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, March 6, 1879]
FOR THE GAZETTE.
Down the Cape Fear – Early Rising – A
Morning Ride – A Merry Party on
the River, &c.
-----
MR. EDITOR: -- When I think how often ye poor
defenceless {misspelled} editors are overwhelmed
by countless dozens of just such scrawl as the one
I am about to inflict upon you, I must confess that
I feel some compunction in regard to the matter.
Charles Lamb says: “Epistolary matter usually
comprises three topics: news, sentiment, and
puns.“ Don’t, I pray you, look for either here.
No, I only wish to tell you of our trip down the
river to Wilmington a few mornings ago. Monday,
Feb. 24th, found us up, not exactly at “six o’clock
in the morning,“ but just at two-quarters past.
After an early breakfast we set off on our ride of
three miles to the river. The fresh, crisp morning
air blew into our faces, putting more roses into
the cheeks of the fairer portion of our party than
they had known in many weeks before. We were
a merry crowd, I assure you! How we laughed and
chatted! How the jokes went round! How we all
enjoyed them – all except one of our cousins, who
would – very naughty of him, I’m quite sure –
persist in keeping up the reputation he had
somehow acquired of late of being “immensely
sober and dignified.“ We bowled along at a rapid
pace. “Those dreadful (?) girls“ had been so long
getting ready we hadn’t more than time to catch
the boat. Just at the foot of the hill, within half a
mile of the market-house, one of the traces
snapped. Such a time as we had fixing that trace,
only to go a dozen yards and then break down
again! Such was the pressure upon the good
nature of our sober cousin that I’m very much
afraid he regretted his inability to say a naught
word then. The last time that trace broke was
just opposite harness store. A new one was soon
secured – no a new harness store, but a new trace
– and in ten minutes more we were bowling along
all right. We caught the boat – not just in the
“nick of time“ – but fully an hour and a half
before she left the wharf! Now don’t think all the
clocks in the house had run down, and all our
watches had gone on a John Gilpin gallop. No, the
boat had been under repair, and could not get off
at the usual hour. We went on board, and for the
first time I had an introduction to that clever,
genial gentleman, Capt. Albert Worth. He is a
prince of steamboat captains, and deservedly one
of the most popular, if not the most popular on
the river. He manages his boat with the skill and
dexterity a finished young lady displays in the
management of the ample folds of her voluminous
train. There! is not that a comparison for you?
At nine o’clock and twenty ### minutes there
was the warning whistle, and those of our party
who had only come to say “good-bye“ hurried
ashore. Two minutes later the steamer Governor
Worth, with “pennons gaily flying“ – there, what
am I saying? – the colors were not up. I forgot –
well, the Governor Worth steamed away from the
wharf. We stood on deck, gaily waving our
handkerchiefs to friends on shore, just as long as
the white cloth (there’s another mistake! Mine
had a blue border) was visible; then turned to
watch the retreating roofs and spires of
Fayetteville till a bend in the river shut them from
view. Then Mr. McR. Our gallant and gentlemanly
escort, brought chairs, and, seated on the upper
deck, in full view of the “sounding waves“ – no,
the murmuring waves; which is right, anyhow? – O,
I have it now, the “ripple of the translucent
water“ – bad again, the Cape Fear is too muddy!
I’ll begin again: Seated on the upper deck in plain
view not of the
“banks and braes“ of “
Bonnie Doon,“ but of “bonnie Cumberland,“ as
they flitted by, we prepared to discuss “Mrs.
Battle on Whist.“ She was a sensible old lady,
don’t you think? But the book did not occupy us
long. We preferred to use our eyes in another
direction just then. It was the loveliest of days,
not a cloud in the sky, and the blue of the most
beautiful and vivid coloring. The Cape Fear is
truly a winding stream. The trip down the river
must be delightful in summer. Even at this season
it is quite enjoyable. There seems to be such
dense foliage along the banks, such a mingling,
like Joseph’s coat, of “many colors.“ Even now
the trees are beginning to bud, while the cane and
smaller undergrowth are displaying a generous
leafing of vivid green. Five or six miles down the
river the boat stopped at its first landing to take
on some barrels of tar and ###n, ###rawsen,“ as
Mr. Mc R. cautioned me I must pronounce it here
in Wilmington. Now I must confess, as I had never
seen the modus operandi before. I was all agog
with curiosity to take in every detail.
The
steamer “rounded“ in handsome style, and lay
alongside. Where in the world was the landing?
Nothing but a steep bank full thirty-five or forty
feet, all on a “down grade,“ and on the summit
those “rawsen“ barrels, all in “grim array,“
waiting to be taken on board. Now how was it
going to be done? I couldn’t understand it. A
brilliant idea struck me; I would appeal to the
Captain. “Now, Captain Worth,“ I said, “if you
please to explain how you are going to get those
rawsen barrels aboard, I shall be much obliged.
You certainly are not going to tumble them down
that steep bank. Why, they will either burst open
or tumble into the river. And certainly the men
are not going to tote ( that is a very expressive
word of ours out in Georgia ) them down on their
shoulders. Why, it will take them a month of
Sundays, and we won’t get into Wilmington in
time to attend the next 4th of July celebration!“
[These last are what our dear old sober-sided
cousin would call “exaggerations of speech.“] The
Captain didn’t reply to these eager questions; he
only pointed to the bank, and said, “Look
yonder!“ What did we see? Why, those self-same
barrels, all in one nice, precise, exact row, one
behind the other, like soldiers in a rank, like ducks
in a file, coming gently yet swiftly “down grade,“
closely packed together, yet never encroaching
one upon the other. No smashing, no bouncing,
no getting out of order, yet coming with an exact
precision to the hands outstretched to lift them on
board. Yes, that was it exactly. But how did they
get that first barrel in place, and start the whole
raft of them rolling? We determined to find out
next time. We wouldn’t turn our back again, and
waste so much time talking. “And now,“ said the
Captain, “we will stop a few hundred yards below
here and take on water.“ “Take on water?“ we
echoed. “You surely don’t mean to swamp us. O,
I dare say you mean water to drink. Now where
are you to get it? Not out of the river, I hope. If
you do, I shall decline with thanks.“ The Captain
smiled again, and drew our attention to a clear,
sparkling rill of water, coming with a rapid,
graceful flow from out the mouth of a wooden
spout some dozen yards ahead of us. I tackled the
Captain with very nearly the same question I had
in regard to the “rawsin“ barrels, “How are we to
get it? “ “Lean over the railing and drink from the
spout,“ he said, with a sly twinkle in his eye, “or
catch it in your hand ## ### .“ “A very brilliant
idea,“ we answered him, “but will you please be
so kind as to get out a life insurance policy for us
before we do the leaning.“ The boat moved in
close to the bank and stopped; a plank was thrown
across, a little negro boy leaped upon it and
dexterously fitted a long pipe-like piece of canvas
and rubber hose to the mouth of the water-spout,
an, lo! The water flowed gracefully and freely into
the vessels placed on deck to receive it.
Now, I dare say, after all this, you are
beginning to think your correspondent very much
of a “land lubber.“ Well, although I have been
many times out on the “broad Atlantic“ and had
more than one “salt water bath,“ yet this was my
first trip on board a river boat, and the
experience was quite novel, I assure you.
Many pleasing incidents occurred during the
trip, but I have not time to tell you of them now.
We had the pleasure of meeting on board Gen. M.
P. Taylor, who is representing the Sun and the
South Atlantic, of this city. We found him quite
social, and decidedly entertaining in conversation.
We expected to reach Wilmington that
evening, but, owing to several delays along the
river, the boat did not get in till seven o’clock the
next morning. Therefore we had to spend the
night on board, but did not regret it, as we had
most comfortable quarters and the best of
attention.
Our first impressions of Wilmington are most
favorable. We will write you more anon.
Yours truly,
ANDY.
[North Carolina Gazette – March 6, 1879]
The Revenue Cutter Colfax.
The Wilmington (Del.) Commercial has the
following in reference to the steamer Colfax:
“The U. S. cutter Schuyler Colfax, which
has been at the shipyard of Pusey, Jones &
Co., of this city, since last July, undergoing
extensive repairs, is now ready to leave, and
in a few days will depart for Wilmington, N.
C., where she will report for duty. This
afternoon she goes out upon the Delaware for
the purpose of adjusting her compasses, and
will return this evening or tomorrow morning.
The vessel has been lengthened twenty-five
feet, midships; has a new cylinder, new
boiler, new wheels – in fact all her fitting is
new, and, with the exception of the hull, she
is a new ship. She was built in 1871, by
Dialogue & Wood, of Philadelphia.
“The following are the officers of the
Colfax: Captain, Frank Barr; First Lieutenant,
Fred. M. Munger; Third Lieutenant, J. U.
Rhodes; Chief Engineer, M. T. Chevers;
Second Assistant Engineer, Eugene Webbar;
Pilot, E. H. Cranmer.”
The Colfax, we learn, has been detained
on account of the discovery that a portion of
her copper sheathing had been torn off by the
heavy ice in the Delaware.
She is now
undergoing repairs, and it is expected will
leave for this port in a few days.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, March 7, 1879]
Up at Last.
The steamer North East poked her nose out of
the water yesterday and looked like she was
ashamed of herself for lying abed so long. It was
suggested that she could very properly be
recorded as among the arrivals from below.
Captain Dick Paddison was present when she made
her appearance. The work of raising her will be
completed to-day, we understand.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, March 8, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- The steamer North East was brought entirely
to the surface yesterday.
[Wilmington Morning Star – March 9, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- There was a private excursion on the Passport
last night, with moonlight and music on the
waters.
----The Revenue Cutter Colfax, Capt. Barr, put in
her appearance in our waters on Sunday last, after
a somewhat lengthy absence at Wilmington,
Delaware, where she has been undergoing
extensive repairs, some mention of which has
already been made in our columns. We welcome
Capt. Barr and his beautiful craft back to this
station.
[The Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, March 11,
1879]
RIVER AND MARINE ITEMS.
--- The new boiler for the steamer Wave has
arrived, and the boat will be detained here for a
week or two in order to have the old boiler
removed and the new one placed in position. The
capacity of the new boiler is nearly fifty per cent.
greater than that of the old one.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, March 18, 1879]
Local Dots.
--- The new boiler for the steamer Wave will be
put in at the wharves of the W. & W. R. R., where
it has been unloaded from the cars.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, March 19, 1879]
RIVER AND MARINE ITEMS.
--- The steamer Wave has received her new boiler
and has been overhauled and otherwise improved.
It is expected that she will resume her trips on the
river next Tuesday. It is now claimed that she will
be the swiftest boat on the line between this city
and Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, March 22, 1879]
River and Marine.
--The steamer Wave left for Fayetteville
yesterday afternoon with a full freight.
[Wilmington Morning Star – March 28, 1879]
RIVER AND MARINE.
--- The steamer D. Murchison, Captain Garrason,
which left for Fayetteville at 2 P. M. yesterday,
will remain at that place for two weeks from next
Wednesday for repairs, repainting, &c.
[Wilmington Morning Star - Sunday, March 30, 1879]
CORRESPONENCE.
============
FOR THE GAZETTE.
Another Trip Down the Cape Fear – Parting
with Friends – Good-bye, Fayetteville – “
Homeward-Bound “ – Retrospective –
Incidents of the Journey, &c.
----EDITOR GAZETTE: -- In the fair sweet light of
the early morning the steamer “Murchison“ lies
alongside of her wharf; the gang plank is thrown
out, we step on board; the gallant captain hastens
to meet us; we make our way to the ladies‘ cabin,
thence to the after deck, and stand there for a
few moments to chat with friends. Then comes
the parting we have dreaded for so many days.
Once before we wafted a gay “good bye“ from the
deck of the steamer “Worth“ for a jaunt down the
river – a gay good bye, then, for we were coming
back in a little while; but now this is a good-bye,
it may be, like Enoch Arden‘s – “for years or
forever,“ for though during the past few months
our barque has many times drifted from its
moorings, yet now it is “homeward bound.“
The ropes part; they are quickly drawn in; our
steamer floats slowly and gracefully out to midriver, then swings round under full steam, and
with her monster wheel beating the waters into
milk-white foam she heads away down the river.
Good bye, Fayetteville, good bye: Noble old
town! Though thy former glory has departed;
though “the axe has been laid at the root of thy
throne,“ though the old glad days of thy
brightness are gone, and the pomp of they
pageantry shorn; “yet thy people can still“ laugh
from clear throats, “for their faith is ever-present
with them – the faith of a near and bright future –
when the phoenix, proud bird, shall spring from its
ashes; when the shriveled beans, as in the
beautiful legend, shall burst into life within the
hollow of the empty gourd; when thine shall be
not a mere sounding name, not a dead and buried
past, but an every vivifying present. Farewell! To
us, gazing with eager, ardent eyes, our own future
lies bright and alluring before us.
We are
“homeward-bound.“ Away out among the bright
green valleys and “red old hills of Georgia“ – in
one noon where the sun seems never to forget to
shine; where the cherry trees are now one mass of
snowy bloom, and the song of the robins is heard
all day long, nestles the dear home to which our
heart has turned many times since we left it.
Joyous will be the home coming. Eyes will grow
brighter, hearts beat faster, the alabaster boxes
of love spring wide open at our touch. Even now
our lips quiver in eager anticipation. Yet there
comes one sad, tender thought – a thought of the
present. We are standing now one the deck of a
steamer, each revolution of its wheels bearing us
further and further from the place which, for
three months past, has been to us a second home
– from hearts that beat for us, too – whose tender
words make tender re-echoes within our own
hearts, with whom we have lived, and mingled,
and held communion for so long. Is it a wonder,
then, that we bow our head with deep emotion as
we murmur our last farewell; that up from our
heart leaps into one deep, long sob of regret as
our boat rounds the curve, and the last glimmer of
the banks, the trees, the tops of the houses – the
arches of the old bridge fade from our view?
“Sweet Innisfallen, fare thee well!
May calm and sunshine long {be thine;}
How dear thou art let others tell,
While but to feel how dear be mine. ”
Once more “good bye.“ If in the coming years our
feet should never press thy soil again; if our eyes
should never more rest upon they “banks and
braes,“ yet memory will ever keep fresh and
green within our heart a tender thought of they
and of thy clever, whole souled people. Out on
the great sea of life their barques and ours have
drifted far apart – perhaps never to meet here
again, yet we pray God each and every one of
them
May find the same welcoming haven at last,
And touch on the banks of the “Beautiful Shore.“
Our steamer glides along. We hastily brush the
tears from our eyes, and turning our back – not
our heart – upon the past, prepare to enjoy the
present, to anticipate the future.
Capt. Garrason, ever thoughtful, ever kind,
brings chairs, and seated on the forward deck,
with the soft warm sunshine falling in a happy
flood around us, we give ourself up to dreaming.
The air is so soft – so delicious – it is simply bliss to
breathe it; all manner of “sweet smells“ are
wafted to us from the banks on either side.
“For the spring has come secure,
Raining blossoms over all;
And the woods, with blessings green,
On the earth-born children call.“
The cane looks brighter, the trees are more vivid
in their coloring than they were three weeks ago.
The water ripples as the light breeze stirs across
it, then breaks into graceful curves, which emit
tiny jets and sparkles as the sunlight plays upon it.
The birds flit from tree to tree, or cleaving the air
with long graceful downward dippings of their
wings fly high above our heads, the joyous twitter,
the merry trill, bursting forth from their tiny
throats, and waking an echoing chord of sweetest
music in our own heart.
The morning wears on; the trees fling their
long shadows across the stream – how cool and
inviting the banks look! How the white sand
glistens and stretches away on either side in great
waves of gleaming light. Down among the trees,
in the shadow of the o’er hanging cane-brakes, so
near the river’s edge their long tails idly brush the
water, a group of mild-eyed cows are lying,
blinking contentedly in the sunshine.
A sharp quick whistle arouses us from our
reverie; the bell taps; the steamer “rounds to;”
the plank is thrown across, and a lady her escort,
and her trunk come aboard. How lightly she trips
across! We can see nothing but a plump figure in
a water proof cloak, with a palmetto hat trimmed
with black velveteen perched jauntily to one side;
but the manner in which she turns to speak to her
escort, the laugh, the sudden pull she gives her
hat, the way in which she holds her dress, all
betray the rustic belle. She throws her head back
to look up at the deck where we are standing.
Our eyes meet. She bows and smiles – quite a
rustic bow, it is true, but charming in its naïve
simplicity. We bow and smile in return. That is
sufficient. When she comes aboard she is not at
all backward about cultivating our acquaintance.
One cannot be stiff or formal on a steamer or in a
railroad car. Directly we go back to our old nook
on the forward deck and enjoy the sunning with
all a turtle’s relish. Very soon our attention is
attracted by the cry: “Heigh ho! There!” We turn
quickly. On the bank are a half dozen darkies in
all the glory of holiday attire, three women and
three men; and two more making their way across
the river just in front of us, in a light canoe. If
they do not mind they will be caught by the swell,
or by the boat itself. The women on the bank
seem to think so, too, for their loud cries of “Look
out!” “Look out!” “Better get out of de way,
dar!” come to us quite distinctly. But evidently
the men have no fear, all too well assured of their
skill as expert oarsmen to expect a collision or a
swamping. As the boat runs near the bank one
fat, good-natured old “mamma“ decked out in a
flaming new print, and big white apron, her round
ebony face fairly shining with delight, drops us a
“courtesy.” “How d’ye do, Missus?” “How d’ye
do, mamma.” Nodding and smiling, and just then
thinking of our baby days – was it so long ago!
When we used to cuddle down in the great, kind
arms of our own dear old black “mamma,“ and
with our head upon her bosom be lulled to sleep
with the songs she used to crone. “What’s up,
Auntie?” we questioned, with another nod and
smile. “Gwine to a weddin at Rob’sons landing,”
stooping down to brush off a bit of mud from her
white apron. “O, is that it? Now, don’t forget to
send us a bit of the cake, Auntie.” At this
“Auntie“ stares, and as the steamer glides by we
can just catch the tones of her voice shouting
after us; “Whar? whar? whar send it to?”
A half hour later comes the clear sound of the
dinner bell, as it swings to and fro in the
###{paper damaged} be,” the polite and smiling {}
We obey the call with alacrity, and at {}t of the
well spread table, on which Aunt Chloe’s hands
have arranged everything so temptingly, our
mouth begins to water. Capt. Garrason takes seat
{at} the foot of the table and pre {}es with all the
{} uity and grace of an accomplished host. Su###
Mrs. G. has had him in ### Among other things we
have for {} twelve pounds. It is served up in
“Uncle### s” best sytle, and we do it full justice.
As we get up from the table the whistle blows
for Elizabeth Town, and Capt. Garrason, ever
polite, ever attentive, and solicitous for our
enjoyment, proposes our going ashore and taking
a walk through the small but quite famous little
town.
There are many points of historical
interest, which want of time only keeps us from
visiting.
Among other places we visit the
celebrated Tory’s Hole – a deep and rather
picturesque ravine – where it is said many Tories
had concealed themselves for days, and even
weeks at a time.
One building in the
neighborhood pointed out to us is over a hundred
years old, and yet in a state of preservation. At
the store of Mr. Mulford we are shown quite a
curiosity in the shape of a huge bone, dug from an
old marl pit, within a short distance of Elizabeth
Town. It appears to be a part of the hip joint of
some monstrous animal, and measures 12 inches
across the widest point. On our way back to the
boat Capt. Garrason finds and measures a huge
grape vine, declared by the good people of
Elizabeth to be the largest ever yet discovered.
This monster vine measures 46 ½ inches in
circumference. Just think of that!
Three o’clock and fifteen minutes, P. M. when
we come ### and steam away from Elizabeth
Town ##### arm chair, on the forward deck,
allure us once more. With a little sigh of restful
content we thrown ourselves within it, our elbows
on the railing, our hands supporting our chin, and
go to dreaming again. The evening wears on In
all the beauty of its picturesque windings
stretches the Cape Fear before us; away out
yonder the water breaks into little ripples, tiny
waves, gentle undulations, which toy and sport
like coy, sweet nymphs in their frolics; the boat
breaks in upon their play## them with stormy
breath into tossing surges, which dash away on
either side, and climb high up the banks. “The
charm’d sunset lingers low adown in the red
west;” a golden, glow, delicious in its warmth and
tint, lingers over land and sky, casting wavering
lights and shadows on the gleaming sheet of foam
below – glinting upon the stretches of white sand,
while the maple, and elm, and pine tops are
sunset flushed. From out the cane-brake comes
the low, soft piping of birds, the delicious
fragrance of the yellow jessamines, and the
amorous odor of the wild grape blooms are wafted
to us from the depth of the green crown’d woods.
One of the bow hands lies half across the capstan
fast asleep, another is coiled up at his feet, his
head serenely reposing against a pile of wood;
from the stern of the boat comes a low, faint
whistle, never getting an octave higher, but low,
and to us almost as musical as the bird tri’l on the
banks. Our eyes close, our head falls upon our
folded arms;
“How sweet it were hearing the flowing stream
With half-shut eyes ever to seem
Falling asleep in a half dream.”
Where are we? How far away are the “Happy
Isles?” Are we drifting away to that land in which
it seems already afternoon, where round the coast
the languid air doth swoon; the land of the lotus
blooms?
An hour later when we come on deck again,
“The night already darkles;
Holy star succeeds to star;
Dazzling lights and fainter sparkles
Glimmer near and gleam afar.”
To-morrow morning when we open our eyes we
will be one hundred and twelve miles on our
journey and in Carolina’s “Queen City near the
Sea,”
Au revoir!
“NAN MARIE”
[North Carolina Gazette – April 3, 1879]
Resumption of Trips.
The steamer Passport, having undergone
thorough overhauling in her machinery, and
looking bright, as the “dollar of our daddies,” will
resume her regular trips tomorrow. Commodore
Harper is still in command, and midnight prowlers
have not yet placed Frank Wilkinson hors du
combat.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, April 10, 1879]
--- Capt. A. H. Worth, of the steamer A. P.
Hurt, has been appointed mail agent on the route
between Wilmington and Fayetteville. We are
glad to make this announcement, as we are
satisfied the mail service on the river will now be
properly performed. Capt. Worth retains his old
position also.
[Wilmington Star – April 11, 1879]
--- The Steamer D. Murchison, Capt. Garrason,
after an absence of about three weeks at
Fayetteville, where she has been undergoing an
overhauling, arrived yesterday morning dressed
out in a new spring suit, and presenting a very
neat and handsome appearance. She left on
regular schedule time (2 p. m.) and it was
expected that she would reach Fayetteville by 3 a.
m. to-day, being an hour in advance of her regular
time.
[Wilmington Star – April 20, 1879]
FLAT SUNK. – The fine new flat belonging to
the Str. Murchison and being carried with the Isis,
Capt. W. A. Robeson, was sunk by “ snagging “
just about Kelly’s Cove Tuesday night.
One
hundred bales of cotton went into the river, but
we learn that the loss will be slight, as the cotton
can all be got out with slight damage, and the flat
can be raised. The flat belonged to the Express
Line, and the cargo was the property of Williams
& Murchison.
[North Carolina Gazette – November 20, 1879]
--- The steamer D. Murchison, Capt. Garrason,
from Fayetteville, came down on the freshet
yesterday in quick time, making the run in 9 hours
and 30 minutes, including stoppages. She arrived
at her wharf in this city at 9.30 o’clock last night.
Capt. Garrason reports the river as booming, with
a rise of thirty feet at Fayetteville, and a prospect
of more.
[Wilmington Star – March 19, 1880]
RIVER AND MARINE.
----- Frank Williston, colored, of Fayetteville, who
arrived here from Elizabethtown yesterday
morning, reports that he left the steamers D.
Murchison and A. P. Hurt at Morehead shoals, five
miles above Elizabethtown, on Wednesday, trying
to pull over, the former making her way up and
the latter down. He went across the country to
Abbottsburg, and there took the train for
Wilmington. Up to the time he left Elizabethtown
not a drop of the recent rains, so abundant here,
had fallen there or anywhere in the vicinity. The
steamer North State, which left here for
Fayetteville Tuesday, cracked her cylinder head
near Elizabethtown, and will, we learn, return to
the city for repairs. No tidings of the Wave, which
left Fayetteville for this place Monday.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, July 2, 1880]
Family Excursion on the Fifth.
It will be seen by reference to our advertising
columns that a grand family excursion will be
given to Smithville, Fort Caswell and the Blackfish
Grounds on Monday next, the 5th inst., on the
steamer Passport. The boat will leave her wharf
at 8 A. M., and returning will leave Fort Caswell at
3:30 and Smithville at 4:30 P. M. Refreshments
will be furnished on board at city prices. Tickets
can be had of Messrs. James Madden, J. Corbett,
F. H. Darby, J. W. Reilly or L. Brown, members of
the committee, under whose auspices the
excursion will no doubt be an enjoyable one in
every sense of the word.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, July 3, 1880]
Excursion Down the River.
Our friends will not forget the grand excursion
to take place on Monday, on the steamer
Passport. The boat, as before stated, will leave
her wharf at 8 o’clock. The Italian String Band has
been engaged for the occasion, and will stop at
Fort Caswell with the dancers, while those who
prefer the trip outside are gratifying their
inclinations in that respect. The excursion bids
fair to be a very enjoyable one. It is under the
management of a committee who will spare no
pains to insure general satisfaction.
Refreshments will be supplied on board at city
prices.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, July 4, 1880]
Excursion up the River.
A family excursion is advertised to take place
on the new steamer John Dawson tomorrow,
(Monday), to the Hamme plantation, the boat to
leave her wharf foot of Princess street at 8 A. M.
A good band of music will be in attendance,
refreshments furnished at city prices, and no
objectionable persons will be allowed on board.
The Committee of Arrangements consists of James
W. Monroe, D. B. Futrell, E. G. Parmlee and W. J.
Smith. Thanks for an invitation to participate.
The Hamme place is one of the favorite resorts
of pleasure seekers.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, July 4, 1880]
The Excursion Monday.
One of the most enjoyable and pleasant
excursions of the season was that on the steamer
Passport, Capt. Harper, on Monday, the 5th. The
crowd was limited to just enough to make
everybody comfortable, and it was altogether one
of the most orderly and well behaved excursions
we have ever participated in. The boat left her
wharf at about half past 8 o’clock A. M., touched
at Fort Fisher, stopped at Smithville a few
minutes, and then steamed to Fort Caswell, where
a large number of the excursionists, with the
Italian String Band disembarked, while the
remainder went out to the Blackfish grounds.
Those who stopped at Caswell amused themselves
by walking about among the ruins of the fort, in
strolling on the beach, and in dancing in the
building erected there for that purpose.
When the boat arrived from the Blackfish
grounds there was a rush to get on board, but the
crowd were turned back, with the information
that it would take fully a half hour to wash off the
decks and cleanse the boat, which told a tale that
it needed not the ghastly countenances and
demure aspect of many of those who ventured out
among the “rolling billows” to verify. On the
homeward trip the boat stopped for an hour at
Smithville, again touched at Fort Fisher, to take in
those who had stopped at the rocks to fish, and
reached her wharf at a very reasonable hour, the
excursionists being delighted with their trip, much
of the pleasure of which was due to the admirable
arrangements of the Committee.
The Passport was very handsomely decorated
with flags in honor of the day and the occasion.
Owing to the short notice given the excursion
to the Hamme plantation, on the Steamer John
Dawson, Capt. Sherman, was not as largely
patronized as would otherwise have been the
case, but about forty ladies and gentlemen
embarked for the trip and enjoyed it immensely.
Dancing was kept up all the way there and back,
and also in the building used for that purpose on
the grounds. The boat returned to her wharf
about half-past 4 o’clock, no untoward accident or
incident happening to mar the pleasure of the
voyage.
The day was a very pleasant one for
excursions.
----RIVER AND MARINE.
-- There is no improvement in the river. There
was a rise of about three inches a few days ago,
but it has fallen off again. The boats are now
refusing to take passengers on account of the
delay they will experience in reaching
Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, July 7, 1880]
RIVER AND MARINE.
-- A telegram was received from Fayetteville by
Messrs. Williams & Murchison, on Thursday
afternoon, stating that the river had risen ten
inches, and another yesterday morning, from Mr.
J. D. Williams, announcing a rise of about fifteen
inches.
The boats have been running very
irregularly for the past two weeks on account of
the lowness of the water.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, July 10, 1880]
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
======
EXCURSION to the BLACKFISH GROUNDS, the
FORTS and SMITHVILLE.
The Ladies of the Fifth Street Methodist Church
will give an Excursion on WEDNESDAY NEXT, 14th
inst., on Steamer PASSPORT, to the above places.
Refreshments served on board at low rates.
Tickets 50 cents round trip, to be had at
Heinsberger’s and Yates’ Bookstores, or at the
Steamer on morning of Excursion.
Steamer leaves at 8 o’clock sharp. Jy 11 2t
-------------
FOR THE OUTER BLACK FISH GROUNDS and Rocks
at New Inlet. The “PASSPORT” will leave Tuesday
morning (13th inst.) at 5 o’clock for the above
fishing points. Parties desiring having an all day’s
fish at the Inlet, will have a nice opportunity.
Fare to Black Fish Grounds $1.00 To Inlet and
Return 50 cents.
JOHN H. HARPER
Jy 11 1t
Master and Agent.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, July 11, 1880]
Local Dots.
-- The Steamer Passport has been chartered by
the C. M. Stedman Fire Company, for their
excursion on Wednesday, the 21st inst.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, July 13, 1880]
Moonlight, Music, & c.
Capt. J. W. Harper, of the steamer Passport,
advertises a moonlight excursion to come off
Monday night, the boat leaving the wharf at 8
o’clock and returning promptly at 1 A. M. Only a
limited number of tickets will be sold, good order
will be enforced, and music and refreshments will
be provided: The steamer will go as far as Fort
Fisher. There’s your chance for a nice time.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, July 18, 1880]
=- Capt. Green, of the steamer North State,
reports only twenty inches of water on the shoals
at what is known at “The Cypress,” and says the
water has not been so low before since 1866. No
rain of consequence has fallen up the river
recently.
[Wilmington Star – October 7, 1880]
Steamboat Notice.
-----ON AND AFTER THIS DATE THE STEAM
ers of the CAPE FEAR AND PEOPLE’S STEAMBOAT
COMPANY will leave their wharves as follows:
GOVERNOR WORTH will leave Fayetteville
Mondays and Thursdays at 7 o’clock a. m., and
Wilmington Tuesday’s and Fridays at 2 o’clock p.
m.
NORTH
STATE
will
leave
Fayetteville
Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7 o’clock a. m., and
Wilmington Thursdays and Mondays at 2 o’clock p.
m.
J. A. WORTH, Agent.
April 29, 1880
2tf
------
CHANGE OF SCHEDULE.
-----THE BOATS OF THE EXPRESS STEAM
boat Company will run as follows from this date
until further notice.
Steamer D. MURCHISON, Capt. Alonzo
Garrason, will leave Fayetteville every Tuesday
and Friday at 7 o’clock A. M., and Wilmington
every Wednesday and Saturday at 2 o’clock P.M.
Steamer WAVE, Capt. W. A. Robeson, will
leave Fayetteville on Mondays and Thursdays at 7
o’clock A. M., and Wilmington Tuesdays and
Fridays at 1 o’clock P. M. connecting with the
Western Railroad at Fayetteville on Wednesdays
and Saturdays.
J. D. WILLIAMS & CO.
Agents at Fayetteville, N. C.
April 29, 1880
1tf
[Fayetteville Examiner – Thursday, October 14, 1880]
RIVER AND MARINE.
-- A flat loaded with cotton, which was in tow
of the steamer D. Murchison, ran on a snag near
Kelley’s Cove, about fifty miles up the Cape Fear
river, on Sunday afternoon last, and sunk. The
steamer A. P. Hurt, which arrived here on Sunday,
left that night about 12 o’clock to render
assistance in recovering the cotton, and the
steamer Wave, which arrived here yesterday
morning, at 4 o’clock, left with the same purpose
in view early in the forenoon. The steamer was
bound for this city, and the flat had on it about
300 bales of cotton, the damage to which will
probably not be material.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, November 9, 1880]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------ The cotton which was sunk by the snagging of
a flat at Kelley’s Cove, while in tow of the
steamer D. Murchison, on Monday last, has been
brought to this city by the steamers Wave, A. P.
Hurt and Murchison.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, November 10,
1880]
--- We have omitted to mention a matter of
some moment in steamboating circles, and that is
the recent resignation of Capt. Garrason, of the
steamer D. Murchison, whose long and faithful
services on the river had endeared him to his
employers and won him a host of friends. He
gives up his position, we learn, to engage in other
business. He is succeeded in command of the
steamer by Capt. Jerre Roberts, of Fayetteville, a
gentleman of experience, and who, about twentyfive years ago, was one of a firm who run on the
river, between this city and Fayetteville, what
was known as the Frank & Jerre Line of steamers,
being called after the brothers, Frank and Jerre
Roberts.
[Wilmington Star – December 1, 1880]
Snow at Fayetteville.
The steamer Wave reports three or four inches
of snow at Fayetteville on Wednesday and
Wednesday night. Some of the young people
enjoyed themselves at sleigh riding to a limited
extent, but the under crust was not of sufficient
strength and durableness to render the sport
altogether as pleasant as it might have been. The
Wave brought quite a layer of snow on her upper
deck, and appreciating the scarcity of the article
in these parts, it was obligingly dumped upon the
wharf, so that Wilmingtonians might luxuriate in
the possession of imported snow.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, January 1, 1881]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------- Messrs. Worth & Worth are in receipt of a
telegram from Fayetteville announcing that the
steamer Governor Worth was snagged and sunk at
Council’s Bluff, about thirty miles this side of
Fayetteville, on Wednesday morning last, while on
her upward trip. A messenger was forthwith sent
to Fayetteville to report the disaster, when the
steamer A. P. Hurt was dispatched to the
assistance of the unlucky steamer. Steam pumps
will also be sent up from Wilmington to aid in
raising her, which will not be a very difficult
matter unless the thaw now going on among the
snow and ice in the upper Cape Fear should
precipitate a heavy freshet upon her before she
has been brought to the surface. The cargo,
which was a light one, was all saved.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, January 7, 1881]
-- The latest news received in regard to the
Steamer Governor Worth is to the effect that she
is now completely under water, owing to the
freshet, in the river, and that it has been decided
not to attempt anything towards raising her until
the water subsides. She struck on the snag about
five o’clock Wednesday morning, or about an hour
before day, and ran a mile or so after the accident
before it was discovered that she was leaking so
badly, it being a very common occurrence for the
steamer to strike on such obstructions without
damage. All the furniture and fixtures were
saved.
The boat is well secured and no
apprehension is felt that she will sustain any
injury from the freshet.
RIVER AND MARINE.
-- A telegram was received by Messrs. Worth &
Worth, yesterday morning, to the effect that
there had been a rise of about twenty-five feet in
the Cape Fear, caused by the great thaw of ice
and snow going on up the river, and that the
water was still rising.
-- We learn that the steamer A. P. Hurt was
under pretty good control when she arrived here
yesterday morning, with not the slightest chance
of her “cutting up any capers” to hurt, there
being no less than five steamboat captains on
board to keep her straight, to-wit: Green, Worth,
Garrason, Thornton and Watson.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, January 8, 1881]
Lamp Explosion.
A little excitement was created on the steamer
John Dawson, just before her arrival here on
Friday night, by the explosion of a lamp filled with
signal oil, No damage, save the slight burning of
the desk upon which it was standing and the
momentary frightening of two ladies.
RIVER AND MARINE.
------- The latest accounts from the river are to the
effect that there has been about a forty feet rise,
with a prospect of still more water before the
freshet abates. The upper works of the steamer
Gov. Worth, which was sunk near Council’s Bluff
on Wednesday morning last, are also reported to
be carried away by the torrent of water
precipitated down the river, and it is now
apprehended that she will prove a complete
wreck.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, January 9, 1881]
A Severe Fall.
Mr. John R Paddison, of Point Caswell, Pender
county, left the steamer John Dawson, at the foot
of Princess street, on Monday evening, to attend
the temperance lecture at the Opera House, at
which time the tide was so high that a person
could step from the boat to the wharf or from the
wharf to the boat without any difficulty. When he
returned, after the meeting was over, the tide
had fallen considerably, causing the boat to be
some distance below the cap of the wharf, and
he, not being familiar with the wharf or with the
actions of the tide, attempted to step on board of
the boat, when he slipped and fell a distance of
about four feet upon the deck of the steamer, his
head striking one of the fenders, by which he
received a severe gash over one of his eyes,
besides being badly shocked. A physician was
called, who pronounced his injuries painful but in
no wise serious.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, January 12,
1881]
--- The latest news received in regard to the
Steamer Governor Worth is to the effect that she
is now completely under water, owing to the
freshet in the river, and that it has been decided
not to attempt anything towards raising her until
the water subsides. She struck on the snag about
five o’clock Wednesday morning, or about an hour
before day, and ran a mile or so after the accident
before it was discovered that she was leaking so
badly, it being a very common occurrence for the
steamer to strike on such obstructions without
damage. All the furniture and fixtures were
saved.
The boat is well secured and no
apprehension is felt that she will sustain any
injury from the freshet.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – January 14, 1881]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------
-- Several pieces of the upper works of the
steamer Gov. Worth, sunk at Council’s Bluff,
about thirty miles this side of Fayetteville, were
picked up in the neighborhood of the ferry, on the
west side of the river, having been brought all
that distance by the freshet now prevailing in the
river.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, January 14, 1881]
Capt. Geo. L. Morton, Supervising Inspector of the
Tenth Steamboat Inspection District, comprising
the Gulf States and the Lower Mississippi Valley, in
his report for the year ending December 31st,
1880, says that out of two and a quarter million
passengers carried on steamboats in that district,
there has not been a single life lost.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday Morning, January
15, 1881]
A Sad Accident—Reported Loss of Life.
It is reported that two young men, Messrs.
Washington and James Autry, of Bladen county,
lost their lives on timber raft, which was carried
into Brunswick river from the Cape Fear, four
miles above this city, about dusk Friday evening.
There were five rafts in company coming down the
Cape Fear, and all were carried into Brunswick
river by the strong tide and a gale of wind blowing
at the time. The men on four of the rafts
managed to get ashore — several of them making
narrow escapes from drowning in doing so; but the
two young men mentioned remained on their raft
and have not since been heard of, although it,
with the other rafts which were abandoned, was
found yesterday in the neighborhood of the jetties
below this city.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, January 16, 1881]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------
-- The steamer A. P. Hurt, which arrived here
yesterday morning, reports only about twelve feet
of water now on the shoals. The work of raising
the steamer Gov. Worth is expected to be
commenced to-day, under the supervision of Capt.
S. W. Skinner, who has the contract for the work.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, January 19,
1881]
A Miniature Explosion.
Yesterday, about a quarter past 12 o’clock,
persons in the neighborhood of the wharf opposite
Messrs. Hall & Pearsall’s store were startled by a
loud hissing sound, which was followed by a
shower of hot steam, which caused a general
stampede among those on the wharf in that
particular locality, as well as those on the schrs.
Julia Elizabeth and E. Francis, which were tied up
there. It was soon discovered that the cause of
this unusual demonstration was an explosion on
board of the steamer William Nyce, which had
just run up alongside of the E. Francis, the outer
schooner named above. The explosion amounted
to nothing more than the blowing of a patch off
the boiler, and slightly injuring the fireman, but it
would have resulted much more seriously had
there been any one close by, and at the same
time in direct line with the volume of scalding
steam which was blown through the aperture.
Capt. Dicksey was standing just to one side of the
door of the engine room, narrowly escaping the
avalanche of steam, while Capt. Ingram, of the
British schooner Julia Elizabeth, was standing just
outside of the line of the scalding vapor. Mr. John
Sweeney, the engineer, was in an apartment
adjoining the engine room, writing at the
moment, and thus escaped a scalding. Several
persons on the vessels were considerably
spattered, but none hurt. The damage to the
boiler was slight.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, January 22, 1881]
-- Capt. Robeson, of the steamer Wave, reports
the river rising pretty rapidly, under the influence
of late rains, with about twelve or fourteen feet
of water now on the shoals. In consequence of
the breakage of one of the heavy cross-beams of
the steamer Governor Worth, to which a chain
was attached and an attempt being made to get
her up, she settled back to her old position in the
river, and operations are now again temporarily
retarded by the light freshet.
[Wilmington Star – March 22, 1881]
EXPRESS STEAMBOAT CO.
-----STEAMER SCHEDULE.
-----ON AND AFTER APRIL FIRST AND UNTIL
further notice.
The Steamer D. MURCHISON, Capt. Jerry H.
Roberts, will leave Fayetteville every Tuesday and
Friday at 7 o’clock A. M. and Wilmington every
Wednesday and Saturday at 2 o’clock P. M.
The Steamer WAVE, Capt. Wm. A. Robeson,
will leave Fayetteville Wednesday and Saturday at
7 o’clock A. M., and Wilmington Monday and
Thursday at 2 o’clock P. M.
J. D. WILLIAMS & CO.
Agents Fayetteville, N. C.
March 22, 1881
49tf
[Fayetteville Examiner – March 24, 1881]
--Through the efforts of Capt. Skinner and his
associates the Steamer Governor Worth, which
was snagged and sunk up the Cape Fear River,
near Council’s Bluff, about thirty miles this side of
Fayetteville, on the 5th of January last, has been
finally raised to the surface, and is expected here
for repairs in the course of a few days.
[Wilmington Star – April 8, 1881]
--The steamer Gov. Worth, which was snagged and
sunk a short distance above Council’s Bluff,
between twenty and thirty miles this side of
Fayetteville, on the 5th of January last, while on
her upward trip, and which was raised a few days
since under the superintendence of Capt. Skinner,
arrived here on Sunday last, between 12 and 1
o’clock, and was tied up at Messrs. Worth &
Worth’s wharf. The hull and machinery of the
steamer seem to be but slightly damaged, but the
upper works have been battered and broken up
very badly, and present quite a demoralized
appearance. Some of the pipes are also bent to
some extent. The hole snagged in her bottom,
and which caused her to sink, is only about eight
or ten inches square, and is located near the
bows. After she was gotten up the leak was
stopped as nearly as possible, when she steamed
down to Wilmington without any assistance. She
was expected to go on Capt. Skinner’s railway
yesterday. The damage is estimated at $6,000.
----[Wilmington Star – April 15, 1881]
--The work of rebuilding the river steamer
Governor Worth is progressing under the
supervision of Capt. Sam’l Skinner, at his ship-yard
in this city. Her upper works will be entirely
remodeled, and the space between decks
increased to thirteen and a half feet, which will
largely increase her stowage capacity for cotton.
[Wilmington Star – June 3, 1881]
RIVER AND MARINE.
-- The repairs to the steamer Gov. Worth, which
sunk in the Cape Fear some months ago, have
been completed, and she is now only awaiting a
sufficiency of water in the river to resume her
regular trips. The work was done under the
supervision of Capt. Sam. Skinner.
[Wilmington Star – July 19, 1881]
--- The steamer D. Murchison, Capt. Jerry
Roberts, put in her appearance here yesterday,
after an absence of about two weeks, in an
entirely new and handsome summer suit, having in
that time been thoroughly overhauled, repainted,
etc. For a short time she will have as much as she
can attend to, as the Wave will go on the ways on
her arrival here to have her bottom examined,
and undergo whatever repairs may be necessary.
[? – July 21, 1881]
THE RIVER FREE.—The Cape Fear Navigation
Company received a few days ago from the U. S.
Government a check for $10,000, the sum named
in the act of the U. S. Congress, to be paid the
company for the surrender of their rights in the C.
F. River. The deed of surrender has been signed,
sealed and delivered, and the river is now free to
all navigators and all craft from a dug-out of the
size of a horse trough to the Great Eastern. We
are glad that the job is over. The next thing is to
increase the depth of water, which practical men
say can be done. It is not probable that any thing
will be done in that direction until the season of
low water, which may be expected during next
summer.
[Fayetteville Examiner – Thursday, December 1, 1881]
River and Marine.
--- Capt. Roberts, of the steamer D. Murchison,
which arrived from Fayetteville yesterday
morning, reports about 20 feet of water on the
shoals, showing a falling off of about five feet
from the highest point reached during the present
freshet, which was thirty feet.
It was very
blustery during the trip, and on Friday, about sixty
files up the river, in the neighborhood of “The
Cypress,” Capt. R. noticed that the atmosphere
was quite thick with snow for a few minutes.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Sunday Morning, January 1,
1882]
--- Capt. W. A. Robeson, for many years the
popular commander of the Wave, has bought that
fine steamer from the Express Steamboat
Company, and will hereafter run her on his own
account. Messrs. G. W. Williams & Co. will be the
Wilmington agents.
“Sandy” is one of the
“institutions” of the Cape Fear river, and he has
the best wishes of a host of friends. Long may he
Wave.
[? – January 6, 1882]
TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.
----An Old Citizen Has His Skull Fearfully
Crushed by a Falling Block of Wood, &c.
Mr. A. G. Black, formerly of Fayetteville, but
for the past two or three years an esteemed
citizen of this place, met with a terrible accident
yesterday morning, about 9.30 o’clock. It appears
that Mr. Black, who was employed at Capt. Sam.
Skinner’s marine railway, went to Wilson’s steam
saw mill to get some large block, for use at the
shipyard; and also to pay a bill which was due by
Capt. Skinner to Mr. Wilson. He called at Mr. W.’s
office, paid the bill and presented the order for
the blocks, when he was told that they would be
sent as soon as possible. He said he would go and
pick some out that he wanted for immediate use,
and left the office for that purpose. Mr. Wilson
supposed he had gone out into the yard where the
blocks were usually piled up, but instead of that it
seems he went around the mill to a point where
blocks were being thrown from an upper window,
and where he was immediately after hit by one,
which struck him bleeding and senseless to the
ground, where he was shortly afterwards
discovered.
He was taken with all possible
dispatch to his home, above the store on the
northeast corner of Front and Dock streets, and
surgical attention procured, when his condition
was pronounced a very critical one, his skull being
badly fractured on the right side, near the
temple, and his entire right side being paralyzed.
He remained totally unconscious and speechless
during the day. The only wonder is that he was
not killed instantly, as the block, which was
thrown from a window about fifteen feet high,
was about seven or eight feet in length and ten by
ten in its other dimensions, weighing about two
hundred pounds. The place where he received the
terrible blow was an unfrequented one, except by
those employed on the premises; hence no lookout was kept or fear entertained of a possible
accident. A large number of the friends of the
unfortunate man called to see him during
yesterday, and the attentions upon him were
unremitting.
At 12 o’clock last night Mr. Black was still
alive, but his condition was unchanged.
--Local Dots.
--- The colored military company came down
from Fayetteville on the steamer Hurt last night,
to take part in the Decoration ceremonies to-day.
--Local Dots.
--- Capt. R. P. Paddison came to town yesterday
with the first ripe peach of the season pinned to
the lapel of his coat. It made a nice button-hole
bouquet. It belonged to the Amsden variety and
came from Capt. Paddison’s orchard at Maultsby’s
Point.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, May 30, 1882]
River and Marine.
--- The little steamer Lisbon, Capt. Phillips, on
the line between this city and Lisbon, Sampson
county, was ashore at last accounts, near
Newkirk’s Landing, in Black River, which is an
evidence that the water is getting pretty low.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Wednesday, May 31, 1882]
The Masonic Excursion Down the River – Dinner
at the Hotel Brunswick, &c.
Contrary to the apprehensions of those who
remained at home the excursion of our Masonic
friends on the steamer Passport yesterday proved
a very enjoyable one, and the visitors as a general
thing expressed themselves as delighted. It rained
here a good portion of the day, and also blew a
gale. Down the river it blew a pretty stiff breeze,
which reddened the faces of the excursionists as
much as if the sun had shone; but the only shower
of rain of any consequence very considerately
came while they were at dinner at Smithville.
The dinner, by the way, was an excellent one and
was served by mine host of the Hotel Brunswick,
which was opened for the first time, informally,
for the reception of his Masonic guests. About one
hundred and thirty persons went down on the
boat, and over one hundred took dinner at the
hotel.
In consequence of the stiff breeze and heavy
sea the Passport did not go outside, but went
close to the Bar, to give the visitors a good sniff of
the salt breeze of “Old Ocean.”
The boat left her wharf at 9 A. M. and returned
about 6 P. M.
---
Death of Mr. A. G. Black.
After lingering speechless and unconscious
since meeting with the terrible accident at the
steam saw mill of Mr. A. Y. Wilson, in this city on
Monday morning last, the particulars of which
appeared in Tuesday’s STAR, Mr. Archie G. Black
breathed his last yesterday afternoon about 2
o’clock. Deceased came to this country from
Scotland and worked in Wilmington for a number
of years as a shipbuilder, having been the master
builder in the construction of the North State, the
Cumberland and other steamers running on the
line between this city and Fayetteville.
He
removed to Fayetteville some time previous to the
war where he resided until within the last two or
three years, when he returned to Wilmington, and
has been since employed at the marine railway of
Capt. S. W. Skinner. He was a man of very
industrious habits, of strict integrity and deep
piety, being a consistent, useful and devoted
member of the First Baptist Church. He leaves a
large family to mourn their loss, but they are
consoled with the reflection that he was prepared
for the great change.
The remains will be taken to Fayetteville for
interment, leaving on the steamer at 2 P. M. today.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, June 2, 1882]
The Upper Cape Fear Improvement.
Capt. W. H. James, who has charge of the
upper Cape Fear River improvement, informs us
that he will probably take his boats up
preparatory to commencing operations the latter
part of this week, providing the river continues
falling. Very little can be done towards cleaning
out and improving the river while the water is
high.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Wednesday, June 7, 1882]
Cape Fear and Brunswick Ferries.
Mr. M. H. Rouse, late engineer of the steamer
D. Murchison, has leased the ferries across the
Cape Fear and Brunswick rivers opposite this city,
and will take charge of the same on Saturday
next, the first day of July. He will put on a
steamer of some sort in a few days thereafter and
ascertain by actual experiment how a steam ferry
will operate, it being his intention to inaugurate
all the improvements possible for the benefit of
the travelling public by that particular route.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Sunday, June 25, 1882]
The Military Excursion on the Steamer Passport
Yesterday.
The military excursion yesterday turned out to
be (as we expected) and exceedingly pleasant
affair, and those who participated in it are to be
congratulated that they had an opportunity of
exchanging the heated atmosphere of the city,
where the thermometer was ranging among the
nineties, for refreshing and invigorating ocean
breezes. There were more that two hundred
persons on board, and a season of enjoyment,
unmarred by a single untoward circumstance, was
the verdict of all who participated in the
excursion.
The most of the members of the Wilmington
Light Infantry, under whose auspices the excursion
was given, were not in uniform, only a color guard
of about twelve or fourteen being required to
attire themselves in military rig.
The excursionists visited the forts and other
places of interest below, and also went a short
distance outside.
On the way up the votes were counted to
ascertain who had been “elected” as the most
popular lady on board, and it was found that the
honor belonged to Miss Hill, of Goldsboro, to
whom the handsome floral tribute, in the form of
a cross-bow, was awarded, Lt. E. A. Oldham, of
the New South, making the presentation speech.
Returning, the boat reached her wharf about 6
o’clock.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Friday, June 30, 1882]
Accidentally Drowned.
At Whitehall, on the night of Tuesday, the 18th
inst., between 1 and 2 o’clock, Walter Dobbin,
about 18 years of age and a son of Monroe Dobbin,
colored, in attempting to step from a flat to the
steamer North State, with a torch-light in his
hand, missed his footing, fell overboard between
the boat and the flat, and was drowned. Search
was made for the body, but at last accounts it had
not been recovered.
[Wilmington Star – July 21, 1882]
Death of Capt. E. C. Skinner.
The Richmond State has this to say of this
gentleman, a brother of Capt. S. W. Skinner, of
this city: “Capt. Ed. C. Skinner, a well known and
popular gentleman, died here yesterday at his
mother’s residence of paralysis. Capt. Skinner
was a native of Richmond, and the son of the late
Capt. Samuel Skinner. He was a gallant soldier in
the Confederate army, and served with distinction
at Gettysburg. For the past seventeen years he
has been in the towing service on the James
river.”
[Wilmington Star – September 29, 1882]
Flat for Sale,
I WILL SELL A LARGE NEW FLAT AT A BARGAIN,
built by Capt. S. W. Skinner last Spring. Capacity
45 Cords Wood or 500 Barrels Rosin.
OCT 4 1t* R. P. PADDISON.
[Wilmington Star - October 9, 1882]
Messrs. C. S. Love & Co. have assumed the agency
for the steamer Bladen, and she will hereafter run
between Wilmington and Willis’ Creek, instead of
going through to Fayetteville. She will leave the
foot of Dock street every Tuesday and Friday.
[Wilmington Star – January 19, 1883]
“Hysted.”—Two charming young ladies recently
fixed the matrimonial noose about the necks of
Commadant Mckethan and Private R. H.
Tomlinson, of the Independent Light Infantry; and
while the command was on parade the other day,
their comrades finished the business by “hysting”
them.
[Carolina Observer – Thursday, March 1, 1883]
DOWN CAPE FEAR RIVER
FROM FAYETTEVILLE TO WILMINGTON
IN TWENTY HOURS.
PICTURESQUE SCENES ENJOYED BY DAVID DAVIS
AND HIS BRIDE ON THEIR WEDDING JOURNEY.
WILMINGTON, N. C., March 17. – No one who
has business in Fayetteville, N. C., should ever be
in a hurry to get there or in haste to get away, for
if anybody has gone there in that state of mind, or
should go there expecting to arrive and get away
speedily, he will be disappointed. A man in a
great hurry there would be sadly out of place in
one of the serenest villages on the footstool. No
one ever is in a hurry there, and the only instance
recollected of anybody’s getting away in a hurry is
that of the departure of Gen. Joe Johnston with
the rebel army, just 18 years ago. To get to it
from the North one must travel on the Coast Line
by way of Richmond and Petersburg to Weldon,
and then change cars, proceeding by the Raleigh
and Gaston Railroad in a very leisurely manner to
Raleigh. There another change must be made to
the Raleigh and Augusta Air Line in order to reach
Sanford. At Sanford a halt must be made over
night, for the connecting railroads do not find it
convenient to arrange their timetables for the
traveler. On the contrary, it is so disarranged that
the Fayetteville-bound traveler gets to Sanford
just after the arrival from Fayetteville of the only
train each day from that place while he who wants
to get away from Fayetteville reaches Sanford on
his way North half a day before or after the
departure of the only train. A merciful veil of
darkness conceals the dreariness of Sanford from
the eyes of the stranger who reaches it for the
first time. A glimmer of light attracts him to the
only hotel. Upon entering he finds the house to
be mean and untidy, and the bed to which he will
retire, in the fond hope of rest after a rough and
tedious jolting over an uneven railroad in dingy
cars, will probably be supplied with a husk
mattress, into the stuffing of which a too liberal
proportion of corn-cobs appear to have found
their way. Daylight will reveal ceilings and walls
of unpainted boards, a carpetless and not too
clean floor, and primitive meagerness of
furnishing unrelieved by neatness.
If the
traveler’s appetite be not ruined by the
contemplation of his desolate quarters, and he
rise in time, he may get a breakfast. To the sound
of a clanging bell he will be marshaled into a bare
dining-room, in which are set several circular
tables. Each table is made in two sections. An
outer rim, a foot or two in width, is set with
plates and their accompanying knives and forks.
The inner section is movable, and when the
traveler sits down at one of the plates, the
movable section, as it is whirled about by persons
accustomed to the contrivance, presents to him,
on its edge, a panorama of breakfast, a “merrygo-round,” where the places of hobby horses and
riders are occupied by plates of butter, bread,
port scrap, scraps of beef fried brown and
indigestibly hard, eggs, fried chicken, fried
hominy, shortcake, and other variously larded
things in which the palate of the native Tar Heel
delights. As a linen cloth is impracticable on such
a table, the viands are spread on oiled cloth
nailed down. Fortunate is the man who can so
time his efforts to pick as he prefers from the
uninviting spread, for it is much more than
probably that the novice who reaches for eggs will
put his hand in the butter, or aiming for fried
chicken will thrust his fork into the sugarbowl.
The head will swim with the recollection of this
waltzing breakfast-table long after the only eastbound train of the day has lazily pulled away from
the row of squalid shops and bar-rooms that make
up the hamlet and goes most leisurely puffing and
thumping along toward Fayetteville.
A good
runner might begin at his breakfast and easily
catch the train after he had seen it start. Going
out of Sanford soon after 8, it clatters over an illballasted track through pine forests full of
withered trunks, past many trees tapped for
turpentine, and many stacks of newly cut pine
kindlings, and if no untoward accident prevents
arrives at Fayetteville, 42 miles away, in about
three hours, reaching that peaceful village some
time before noon.
To one who has time to look about Fayetteville
in the Spring of the year, when, as now, the peach
trees are in bloom, the birds singing in gardens
and orchards, the laburnum, spirea, and flowering
almond beginning to scatter their blossoms on the
ground, the jonquils, the hyacinths, and the
narcissus brightening all the borders, and the
trees putting on their garments of delicate green,
a few days could be pleasantly spent. There are,
too, miles of the old rebel works, raised to defend
the place against the advance of the Union army,
but these are worn down in places where roads
have been broken through them, and nature and
time are hiding them with grass and trees or
washing them back into the fields from which they
were raised by rebellious hands. The man who
has not time to inspect these interesting works, or
recall the stirring events of March, 1865, because
he is impressed with the necessity of getting
away, may yet find time to walk a few hundred
yards to the spot where once stood the
Fayetteville Arsenal. When Gen. Sherman was
here he visited it, and when he left there was not
one brick of the arsenal and its many outbuildings
standing. He utterly destroyed it, and at the
same time demolished several other buildings, and
the ruins of the Observer, a newspaper which had
not carefully regulated its abuse of Gen. Sherman,
still stands on the principal corner, just as they
were left, a black and moldy memento. Here and
there one comes across a chimney standing in the
midst of similar ruins. The colored people will all
tell you when you ask what these ruins are,
“Sherman done it,” and with a grin that conveys
no suggestion of regret. “Were you glad to see
Sherman come?” I asked of an old and grizzled
black may out at Tokay. “Yes, mas’r; glad ter see
um come, and glad ter see um go.” One may look
long and fruitlessly for signs of that advancement
upon which North Carolina is disposed to pride
itself. They are not here. There is the dusty,
unpaved road, common to all Southern towns. At
the end of the main street is a quaint old brick
building, once the Capitol of the State; now it is a
market-house, and outside, drawn up close to the
sidewalk, is a cart full of weather-beaten leather
buckets and a truck of ladders, this collection of
apparatus being the sole public protection against
the spread of fire for a town of 4,000 population.
These primitive appliances are never housed, for
fear delay might be caused, in case of discovery of
a fire, in hunting for the keeper of the key.
The visitor who dreads the way out of
Fayetteville by rail may leave the place by boat.
When David Davis was married here, on
Wednesday last, he chose to make the first stage
of his wedding journey in this manner, going down
the Cape Fear River to Wilmington. The distance
is 112 miles, and is traversed by steam-boats
almost as antiquated as the fire apparatus which
stands idly in the market-place. A boat leaves
nearly every day from each end of the route. As
the passenger traffic is light, no tourist ever
choosing this route for pleasure, the boats are not
built with much regard for beauty of outline, but
rather with the object of carrying as much
turpentine, resin, and cotton as possible, as fast
as the usually shallow stream will permit. Most of
the half-dozen boats are, therefore, dingy, oldfashioned craft, flat as to hulls, with their guards
close to the water, with a capacious main deck
and a saloon deck perched high upon the frailestlooking supports. As the stream has normally an
average width of only about 200 feet, the channel
being narrower, all but one of the boats are
propelled by a large wheel at the stern. Your
correspondent embarked on Thursday morning on
the only side-wheeler on the river, the General
Worth. A less attractive-looking object than this
vessel probably never tied up to shore as a steamboat. She had no more lines of beauty than a dry
goods box, and from bow to stern was in evident
need of repair, while her ancient coat of white
paint was obscured by soot where it had not been
scraped off by hard usage, suggesting the thought
that General Worth {Governor Worth} had gone
through a prolonged battle with the elements and
been frequently under fire. Twenty-four hours
before, David Davis had started with his bride and
her friends on one of the stern-wheelers, the only
one, by the way, that is tidy and comparatively
comfortable for passengers. The General worth
got away, after much noise on the part of the
negro deck-hands in shipping the last lot of cotton
bales, at 8:30 o’clock, her high-pressure engines
working with much thumping and wheezing and
her steampipes snorting sterterously.
As she
gained headway, her nose plowed deep into the
stream, rolling the water, thick with mud, in
heavy swells against the steep and deeply
steamed banks. The shad fishermen, who were at
work with drift-nets, guiding them from long,
narrow, square-ended skiffs, paddled hurriedly
out of the steamer’s course and into out-of-theway nooks to escape the wash. As the steamer
sailed along she passed several landings, and
inquiry having been made as to their names, the
Captain produced a list two feet long containing
the names of the 160 landings between
Fayetteville and Wilmington. There were others
not names, and if a man should have come down
the steep bank at any point where the shore was
not incumbered with fallen pine trees, and waved
his hat to the negro pilot, the General Worth
would have run her bow against the bank and
taken him aboard. Old Ferry, nine miles from
Fayetteville, was a type of all the other landings.
Here the boat was slowed up against the red clay
bank, before a steep hillside, in which there was a
well-worn gully. At the top of the hill 30 or 40
barrels of resin were awaiting shipment. The way
in which these barrels, each weighing about 350
pounds, were transferred from shore to boat was
very simple, requiring the least possible exertion
on the part of the negroes who did the work. The
first barrel was swung head to the steamer, in the
gully leading to the gangway. All the other
barrels were rolled against this, in a long line.
Two strong negroes, one at either side of the first
barrel, just restrained it as it was forced down the
hill by the weight of the barrels following, and
when the head of the line touched the steamboat’s guard the entire line was allowed to roll
one by one upon the deck. There was no hurry
about the work, and the throng of black men who
performed it sang merrily, in a peculiar sort of
style, one man leading with such expressions as
“Come ‘long yer,” or “She’m guine to roll now,”
long drawn out as the sailor sings his “Heave ho!”
the gang of roustabouts falling in with a
harmonious but wordless refrain.
The long
afternoon was spent in making frequent landings,
with short runs between, the stops being now for
resin, again for cotton, and at regular intervals for
wood only. There were few houses to be seen
along this watery track through the pine forests.
A half-dozen persons at a landing was a large
crowd, and when so many human beings were
seen together they would stare at the passengers
on the General Worth as intently as if they had
but then seen the first of a strange race of
people. Curiosity, by the way, is not alone a
Yankee weakness. I will defy anybody to produce
men and women who possess greater capacity for
concentrated staring than some of the people who
are to be met in this same North Carolina. The
scrutiny which strangers have to undergo,
particularly ladies, would be offensive if it were
not so laughable. It is not meant to be offensive,
for the people meet you very kindly and treat you
courteously, and the impression that they are
suspicious wears away on very short acquaintance.
Out of the recesses of a very dingy and greasylooking cook’s cabin, hidden somewhere behind
one of the cranks that turned the General Worth’s
wheels, a dinner was early in the afternoon
brought forth by the steward, and after its aroma
had distributed itself among the hungry
passengers they were summoned to eat it in the
plain little dining-room. The group of strangers,
three newspaper correspondents, and the wife of
one of them, a lady who proved an excellent
traveler and observer, found it good; a wellcooked meal, better in quality and in preparation
than the meals at most of the North Carolina
hotels, which are as a rule excessively bad. When
night fell the boat was signaled from the shore by
burning brands of pine, and as the vessel waited
for more barrels of resin or bales of cotton the
shouting negroes were lighted to their work by the
same sort of illumination. The scene at night was
weird and picturesque in the extreme.
The
burning torches, the shadows of the negro deckhands as they passed between the light and the
wooded banks, the somber forest draped with gray
moss that swung fantastically in the pale
moonlight, the clouds of smoke and sparks rising
from the steamer’s funnel, were all strange and
interesting, and the songs of the roustabouts, still
kept up, did not cease to be curiously amusing.
During the evening, while the General Worth was
steering carefully through some of the sharp turns
in the river, the D. Murchison, which had carried
David Davis and his bride to Wilmington, was met
and spoken on her way back to Fayetteville. She
had had a remarkably quick passage, having run to
Wilmington in 13 hours, the only stops made being
eight for “wooding up.” The General Worth
stopped everywhere that freight offered, and did
not reach Wilmington until 4:30 in the morning
after she left Fayetteville, the trip being made in
20 hours, or at the rate of five and three-fifths
miles an hour. That was a little faster than canalboat traveling, but not much. Slow as it was, it
was as expeditious a way out of Fayetteville to
the North as that by rail through Sanford, and it
was a welcome route by which to escape the
dreary railroad ride through the pine forests and
the dizzying revolving table at the Sanford Hotel,
which every traveler to and from Fayetteville
must sit down to contemplate or else go
supperless to bed to pursue his journey fasting.
[The New York Times – March 19, 1883]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------- Capt. Smith, of the steamer D. Murchison,
reports that there had been a rise of about
twenty-five feet in the river up to the time he left
Fayetteville Tuesday morning, and that it was still
rising slowly.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, March 29, 1883]
Launching a New Steamer.
The steamer alluded to a few weeks ago as
being under process of construction at the yard
attached to the dry dock, was launched on Friday,
at 12 o’clock, in the presence of quite a large
crowd, including a number of ladies, who had
previously decorated the steamer with flowers,
etc. The new craft, which was very appropriately
christened the River Queen – as she is claimed to
be the lightest draught steamer on the river,
drawing only about ten inches – is 100 feet long,
21 feet width of beam and 4 feet deep. The
machinery, which is all new, is now being put in
position, and it is expected that she will be ready
to commence her trips on or about the 12th of
May. She is owned by Messrs. James Bagley and
James C. Stewart, who design running her on the
North East River and Long Creek.
She was
launched under the superintendence of Capt. B.
W. Berry, the contractor and builder. She is a
very neat and handsome boat. By the way,
Messrs. Bagley & Stewart request us to extend
their thanks to the ladies who so kindly
manifested their interest, by contributing floral
offerings on the occasion.
[?? -- May 4, 1883]
Express Steamboat Co.
-------
STEAMER SCHEDULE
-------
ON and after April 1st and until further
notice the Steamer D. Murchison, Capt. J. C.
Smith, will leave Fayetteville every Tuesday and
Friday at 7 o’clock A. M. and Wilmington every
Wednesday and Saturday at 2 P. M.
Steamer Wave, Capt. W. A. Robeson, will
leave Fayetteville every Wednesday and Saturday
at 7 o’clock A. M. and Wilmington Monday and
Thursday at 2 o’clock P. M.
A. B. WILLIAMS & CO.
Agents,
Fayetteville, N. C.
April 12, 1883
10tf
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, April 12, 1883.]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------ The schooner Katie Edwards, a regular visitor at
this port, being on the line between this city and
Onslow county, was sunk in Bear Inlet, at Brown
Sound, between Swansboro and New River, on
Wednesday night last. She was loaded with
turpentine. No further particulars have thus far
been received, but it is thought the cargo will
probably be saved. The schooner Ray, Capt.
Dennis, has gone to the relief of the unfortunate
vessel. The schooner Katie Edwards is the
property of Messrs. Hall & Pearsall, of this city.
[Wilmington Morning Star - Tuesday, May 15, 1883.]
Sudden death of Capt. A. P. Hurt.
A private letter was received here yesterday
announcing the sad intelligence of the death of
Capt. A. P. Hurt, which took place suddenly in
Fayetteville on Friday. It appears that he retired
to his room in the Fayetteville Hotel about 12
o’clock, requesting to be called to dinner, and
when a servant was sent to arouse him it was
found that he was cold in death. Deceased was
between 60 and 70 years of age.
Capt. Hurt came here from Virginia about 1851
or 1852, and superintended the building of the
steamers A. P. Hurt, which was named for him;
the Governor Worth, the Flora McDonald, and
other steamers. For many years he was a favorite
captain on the river, known and respected by
everybody who frequented the Cape Fear, and left
the river about ten years ago, having achieved a
moderate competency, since which time he has
been engaged in merchandizing. Deceased lost his
wife many years ago, and leaves no immediate
descendants; but a large circle of attached friends
mourn the departure from among them of one
who held a high place in their affection.
-----Excursion Next Thursday.
Now then, if you would have a good time, go
down on the Passport Thursday next on the
excursion given by the ladies of the Front Street
M. E. Church. Dinner will be served on board, and
the ladies know how to get it up in good style. It
promises to be a fine affair. Plenty of ice cream
and good things generally.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, June 10, 1883]
The Steamer John Dawson.
We learn that Capt. R. P. Paddison has
purchased the interest of Capt. David Sherman in
the steamer John Dawson, on the line between
this city and point Caswell, Pender county, and
that hereafter he will be the sole owner of the
boat. Capt. A. M. Calvin is in command under the
new arrangements.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, June 13, 1883]
Moonlight and Music.
We learn that arrangements are in progress for
a moonlight excursion on the steamer Passport,
under the auspices of Capt. J. W. Harper and Mr.
Geo. N. Harris, on the night of Tuesday, the 19th
inst., the moon being at her full on the morning of
the 20th. It is proposed to make it a grand affair,
the managers being determined that nothing shall
be lacking on their part in the way of constituting
it such. There will be music for dancing, of
course.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday, June 14, 1883]
SUDDEN DEATH OF CAPT. HURT. -
Last
Friday, at about dinner-time, the community was
startled by the news that Capt. Hurt had been
found dead in his room at the Fayetteville Hotel.
About 12 m. Capt. Hurt went to his room to lie
down, Mr. Chas. Glover, the proprietor of the
hotel, handing him a paper to read as he passed.
At dinner-time a servant went up to his room, but
returned to the office and reported that he could
not be roused. Mr. Glover then went to the room
and found that Capt. Hurt was indeed dead,
though his body was still warm. Physicians were
summoned who pronounced it a case of apoplexy,
and Dr. J. W. McNeill, the coroner, considered the
cause of death so patent as to obviate the
necessity of an inquest. The deceased was not a
man of robust health but he was not an invalid,
and was apparently as well as usual, talking with
friends and acquaintances an hour or two before
his sudden death.
Capt. Hurt was for many years prominently
identified with our boating interests, being one of
the best known captains on the river and a large
stockholder in one of the lines. A steamer now
plies the Cape Fear, bearing his name. After the
war Capt. Hurt engaged in mercantile business for
a time, but of late years he has led a life of quiet
and retirement, spending the summer in the
mountains and the winter in Fayetteville. He was
a Virginian by birth, and was about 73 years of
age.
[Fayetteville Observer June 14th 1883]
WORK AT THE RIVER.—The work of extending the
railroad track to the wharves of the Express
Steamboat Company is being rapidly pushed to
completion, and there will soon be every facility
for receiving the river freight as it arrives.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, June 28, 1883]
-- The steamer North State, Capt. Green,
arrived yesterday from the “Cypress,” having
there exchanged cargoes with the steamer A. P.
Hurt. The Wave is on the other side of the shoals.
[Wilmington Star – July 28, 1883]
-- The steamer North State, Capt. Green,
arrived here yesterday, being the first Fayetteville
boat here in several days. Capt. Green has had
word from Capt. Worth, of the steamer A. P.
Hurt, not to leave Wilmington again until he hears
from him at Fayetteville.
In the meantime,
however, the North State will make a trip to “The
Cypress” with a quantity of freight for that place,
intermediate points, and Waddell’s Ferry and
Elizabethtown. The freight for “The Cypress.” For
Waddell’s Ferry, seven miles above, and for
Elizabethtown, ten or twelve miles above, will be
left at “The Cypress” and the persons notified by
letter from the agents here to call and get their
goods. The river was still falling at last account.
[Wilmington Star – August 4, 1883 BRC]
IMPROVEMENT OF THE UPPER CAPE FEAR. – In a
conversation with one of our most intelligent and
observant steamboat captains, recently, the
reporter asked him if he had noticed any
improvement in the river from the work which had
thus far been accomplished under the late
appropriation from the general government. His
reply was that the only jetty put in and completed
was as “They Cypress,” which had caused an
improvement, in the way of deepening the bed of
the channel, of not less than one foot. He
thought it would amount to more than one foot,
but to be entirely safe he would put it at that. As
to the result of the removal of the overhanging
branches of trees along the lower part of the
river, the improvement had been more marked
and noticeable than he had thought possible. As
to what may be expected when all the jetties are
put down and the work completed, there can be
nothing but conjecture, but the improvement so
far is calculated to fore-shadow the best of
results. – Wil. Star.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, October 18, 1883]
A Flat Loaded with Steel Rails Sinks.
The steamer Wave, which left for Fayetteville
yesterday afternoon, about half past 3 o’clock,
returned no long afterwards with the information
that one of her lighters, loaded with steel rails for
the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad, had
struck a snag just above Point Peter and sunk. We
suppose measures will be taken at once to recover
the rails, which are probably not in very deep
water.
[Wilmington Star – November 13, 1883]
Express Steamboat Line!
-----
Freight and Passenger Rates Reduced!
[steamboat image]
THE IRON STEAMER “WAVE,” WITH SUPErior
Passenger Accommodations.
Leaves Wilmington Mondays and Thursdays at 2
o’clock P. M.
Leaves Fayetteville Wednesdays and Saturdays
at 7 A. M.
The IRON STEAMER “D. MURCHISON,” First Class
in all her appointments, and having been recently
overhauled.
Leaves Wilmington Wednesdays and Saturdays at
2 P. M.
Leaves Fayetteville Tuesdays and Fridays at 7
A. M.
Elegant Passenger Accommodations. Through
Cabin Passage, including Berth and Meals, $3.00.
GEO. W. WILLIAMS & CO.,
Agents, Wilmington,
A. B. WILLIAMS & CO.,
jan 11 3t
nac
Agents, Fayetteville.
[Wilmington Star – January 11, 1884]
-- Capt. Thomas J. Green, so long in command of
the North State, is now performing the same
functions on the steamer Bladen, while Capt.
Irving Robinson has assumed the command of the
North State. They are both familiar with the
devious windings and uncertain tide of the
coquetish Cape Fear and know how to handle a
steamboat under any and all circumstances.
[Wilmington Star – January 18, 1884]
Collision on the River. -– Saturday night, in
rounding one of the bends on the Cape Fear,
the steamers Murchison and Wave came into
collision, but without material damage to
either. On arrival at Wilmington the colored
stewardess, Lottie Hollingsworth, was found
dead in the cabin, but whether from heart
disease with which she was afflicted, or in
consequence of the collision, is not yet known
here.
[Fayetteville Observer – Wednesday, January 23, 1884.]
Sudden Death on a Steamboat.
Lotta Robinson, the well known colored
stewardess of the steamer Wave, dropped
dead on that boat on Saturday night last,
about 10 o’clock, while she was on her last
down trip to this city. It appears that the
boat stopped for a short time at Pridgen’s
Landing, about thirty miles above this city, to
take in wood, and while the crew were
performing that work the cries of some one in
distress were heard, and, upon investigation,
Lotta Robinson was found prostrated upon the
upper deck, back of the ladies’ cabin, in the
agonies of death. Every attention was paid to
the unfortunate woman by the officers and
crew of the boat, but she breathed her last in
a few minutes. Heart disease is supposed to
have been the cause of her death.
Deceased, who was well known both here
and in Fayetteville, was about 50 years of
age. The remains were brought to this city,
where they were prepared for burial, and
then shipped back to Fayetteville, where they
will be interred.
She leaves five or six
children.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, January 25, 1884]
-- The river is still quite high, but the water is
gradually falling. On Monday of last week the
steamer North State took five hundred bags of
guano from the Navassa Guano Works at this place
to Red Rock, some twelve or fourteen miles above
the bridge at Fayetteville, and on Friday the
steamer A. P. Hurt took five hundred more bags
for the same destination.
[Wilmington Star – February 1, 1884]
-- The steamer River Queen, Capt. Bagley,
arrived here yesterday from Lillington, on
Long Creek, in Pender county, which stream
has lately been made navigable to the point
named through the efforts of the workmen
under Capt. W. H. James. Capt. Bagley says
the people of Lillington gave him a warm
reception when he first reached there.
The River Queen brings quite a freight and
several passengers. Hereafter she will run
alternately between Wilmington and Lillington
and Wilmington and Bannerman’s Bridge.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – February 8, 1884]
Sale of a River Steamer.
The steamer North State has been purchased
from Messrs. Worth & Worth by some parties in
Georgia to run on the Altamaha and tributary
rivers. She will be commanded by Capt. R. P.
Paddison, who owns an interest in her. The North
State has been long and favorably known as one of
the most popular and successful boats on the
river. She will leave for her destination about the
latter part of the week.
Capt. Paddison
contemplates making no change in his boat on the
Black river at present, and will not remove his
family to Georgia. We are glad to know that we
are not likely to lose Capt. Paddison permanently.
[Wilmington Star – February 15, 1884]
Found Drowned.
The body of a colored man was found
floating in the river opposite the fish market
yesterday, and it was subsequently conveyed
into the basin, foot of Dock street. The
remains proved to be those of an eccentric
individual who always insisted upon wearing
the name of Annie Gaston, and partly arraying
himself in the garb of a woman. He formerly
lived at Dr. Anderson’s place on the Sound,
where he was employed, but left there a year
or so ago and went to the City Hospital, where
he remained under treatment for some time.
Since then he has been going as cook on some
of the river boats, and following other
pursuits. About two weeks ago he was missed
from the house of Reuben McDonald, on
Second street, between Market and Princess,
where he was stopping at the time, and had
not been seen or heard of since until his body
was discovered in the river yesterday. His
face was badly disfigured, but he was easily
identified by his garb (particularly the apron,
which he always wore) and the watch which
was found on his person.
Deceased was about 30 years of age, and
said he formerly lived about ten miles from
Fayetteville. The remains were interred last
evening in Oak Grove Cemetery, at the
expense of the county.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, February 22, 1884]
OFFICE CAPE FEAR NAVIGATION COMPANY,
Fayetteville, N. C., June 28, 1872
A COMPLAINT has been made to this office by
a commander of one of the Steamers
navigating the Cape Fear River, that Raftsmen
are in the habit of connecting two rafts
together and floating down stream abreast,
thereby greatly obstructing navigation as well
as endangering boats and passengers. Now
this is to notify all such offenders, that in
case of loss or damage resulting from the
violation of the Navigation Law, as
complained of, said offenders will be held to
a strict account in law.
J. D. WILLIAMS, President
of the Cape Fear Navigation
Company.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, February 22, 1884]
-- We learn that the steamer North State,
Capt. Paddison, on her way from this port to
Georgia, put in at Calabash, N. C., about two
miles and a half this side of Little River, S. C., for
a harbor from the gale on Saturday morning last.
[Wilmington Star – February 26, 1884]
Steamboat Inspectors.
The inspectors of steamboats for this
district are here on business connected with
their office. Mr. Peter Taglio, of Charleston,
comes in the place of our venerable friend,
Mr. Kirkwood, who has so long and faithfully
filled the position, but who was lately retired
on account of his extreme age, he being 84
years old Mr. Taglio is inspector of hulls, Mr.
Hewes retaining his position as inspector of
boilers.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, February 29, 1884]
MARCH RECORDS.-Freshets in the Cape Fear River always occur
between the 5th and 29th of March, &c. March
8th, 1865, was the great freshet, known as the
"Sherman Freshet." Sherman arriving here on the
11th and being much delayed by high water. In
1882 there was a forty foot rise on the 15th of
March. In 1883 a thirty foot rise on the 17th. Again
last years, March 21st, we had heavy snow, also
snow on the 26th. Easter Sunday last year the 25th
of March was cold and sleety.
[Fayetteville Observer - Wednesday, March 19, 1884.]
-- We learn from Messrs. C. S. Love & Co.,
the agents here, that the steamer Bladen will
undergo extensive repairs and improvements
after she has made one or two more trips.
She will be furnished with a steel boiler and
heavier engines, and will be extended in
length fully twenty feet. Besides, her cabins
will be made larger and refurnished in a more
elegant style. In a word, it is intended to
make her a first class boat in all respects, and
it is probable that her name will also be
changed. The new boiler and engines are
already here and ready to be placed in
position. She will go on Capt. Sam Skinner’s
marine railway.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, March 21, 1884]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------ The steamer Bladen, commanded by Capt.
Thos. Green, which we stated a week or two ago
was to be lengthened twenty feet, provided with a
steel boiler, heavier engines, and other
improvements, is now up for the desired changes
and her trips will therefore be suspended until she
comes forth in her new dress and equipments.
[Wilmington Star – March 28, 1884]
-- Capt. R. P. Paddison, who left here some
weeks ago on the steamer North State, for
Georgia, after making a stormy and eventful trip,
but going through without the slightest mishap,
and making one trip, has returned home for a
brief season on a visit to his family. He expects to
return to Georgia next week. The North State is
to run up the Altamaha river to the junction of the
Oconee and Ocmulgee rivers; up the Oconee river
to Mt. Vernon and up the Ocmulgee to Abbeyville,
making a distance of about three hundred miles.
Doctortown is the terminus on the Altamaha river,
and here the freight is transferred to the
Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad. Capt.
Paddison informs us that he has met with good
success so far and the prospect ahead is very
encouraging. He expected to leave for Point
Cawell last evening.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – March 28, 1884]
-- Arrangements have been entered into whereby
the steamer Gov. Worth, of the Cape Fear &
People’s line of steamers, will hereafter be run
between certain points on the St. John’s River,
Florida. She will go out next week in charge of
Capt. Thos. R. Payne, an experienced coast pilot
and steamboat captain of Florida, and will make
no more trips between this city and Fayetteville.
The boat has not been sold.
[Wilmington Star – April 6, 1884]
RIVER AND MARINE.
-- The steamer Governor Worth, which is
hereafter to run on the St. John’s River, Florida,
as stated by us a few days ago, was cleared at the
Custom House yesterday and will leave for her
destination to-day or to-morrow, in charge of
Capt. Thos. R. Payne. It is like losing an old
friend, the “Governor” has been so long on our
river.
[Wilmington Star – April 10, 1884]
Death of Alexander Sprunt,
of Wilmington, N.C.
The wires announced the death a few days
since of Mr. Alexander Sprunt, of Wilmington, N.
C., the father of Messrs. J. D. and T. E. Sprunt, so
well known here, and who have the sympathy of
our whole people in their loss. Speaking of Mr.
Sprunt and exchange says:
Mr. Sprunt was born at Viewfield, near Perth,
Scotland, on the 28th of September, 1815, and
was therefore in the 69th year of his age. He was
educated in Edinburgh, and subsequently
remained in Glascow for about two years. After
leaving Glascow he proceeded to Port Spain,
Trinidad, where he became a junior partner in the
firm of Reed, Irvin & Co., merchants, and the
same time held the appointment of Queen’s
Commissioner at that port. He remained in PortSpain for about fourteen years, when he returned
to Scotland and thence came to Wilmington,
reaching his future home in the year 1852. He has
since been engaged in mercantile pursuits, being
at the time of his death the senior in the well
known firm of Alex Sprunt & Son. On the 31st of
March, 1866, he received from Her Majesty’s
Government the appointment of British Vice
Consul at Wilmington - a position which he
continued to hold up to the time of his death.
He was one of the founders of the Second
Presbyterian church of that city, has contributed
largely to its advancement and success, and at his
death was one of its ruling elders. He was also
President of the organization known as the St.
George and St. Andrew Society, and of the
Wilmington Library Association, in both of which
societies he took a deep interest.
[Advertiser and Appeal, Saturday Morning, April 19, 1884
- Brunswick, GA]
A New Steamer – Her Successful Trial Trip, &c.
The new steamer Excelsior, which has just
been completed by Capt. Bowdoin, made her trial
trip yesterday afternoon, and we are pleased to
know answered every expectation of her owner.
The peculiar character of her construction renders
the Excelsior an object of interest upon our
waters. She is about the ordinary dimensions of
our river steamers, her propelling power being a
screw, which is adjustable to any depth of water
not less than thirteen inches, and by these means
her owner claims to practically overcome the
inconveniences of the low water in the Cape Fear
and its tributaries. The guests on the occasion of
her trip were splendidly feted, the honors being
done by Capt. W. H. James, and they, with us,
join in wishing the new enterprise all success.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, April 25, 1884]
A Mule Commits Suicide.
A mule was being led ashore from the steamer
D. Murchison, yesterday morning, when he
suddenly conceived a disgust for sublunary things
and jumped overboard and drowned himself. The
dead body of the animal was subsequently taken
from the river in front of Messrs. Hall & Pearsall’s
store, by some of the street force, and buried at
the expense of the city. No inquest.
[Wilmington Star – May 9, 1884]
THE STEAMER WAVE.—In common with their
numerous other friends, we regret to hear of
Capt. W. A. Robeson’s and his brother’s loss by
the sinking of their steamer near Wilmington last
week. But we were glad to hear that it is thought
the larger part of the cargo is saved, and that the
boat can be raised without great expense. The
reported drowning of the colored cook, Ned
Beebe, is a sad feature of the accident.
From the Wilmington Review of Monday
evening we learn later particulars of the disaster,
as follows:
The steamer Wave, Capt. Robinson, capsized in
the Cape Fear at Wanet’s Landing, at 5 o’clock
yesterday morning, while on her way from
Fayetteville to this city, and three of those on
board were drowned. The circumstances were as
follows:
In coming round a curve in the river, near that
place, the speed of the boat caused her to careen
so that her outside guard was under the water.
This caused the cargo, which consisted of between
400 and 500 barrels of rosin and spirits of
turpentine, to ship to that side, the weight of
which capsized the boat. Those drowned were
Empie Hill, a passenger, Lucy Brewington,
colored, a passenger, and Ned Beebe, colored,
cook. The accident happened at an hour when all
the passengers and those of the crew not
employed were asleep in their berths, and all
those came very near being lost. The other
passengers were Messrs. Edward Lilly and E. D.
Burkhimer of this city, Mr. Buchanan, of Charleston, S. C. and Miss Shepherd, aged about 14 years.
Mr. Lilly was badly bruised and was saved with
considerable difficulty. Messrs. Buchanan and
Burkhimer came very near drowning and were
saved only by super-human efforts. Miss Shepherd
was in eminent peril, but she maintained the most
perfect composure and coolness throughout the
trying ordeal through which she was compelled to
pass with an almost inevitable death staring her in
the face. The door of her stateroom was locked
and it was some time, and not until the water had
reached above her waist, before she was rescued
by the determined efforts of Capt. Robeson. After
the accident Capt. Robeson started and walked to
this city, reaching here at about 1 o’clock
yesterday afternoon, and gave the first
intelligence of the disaster. The steamtug Wm.
Nyce was immediately sent to the scene and
returned about 10 o’clock that night with the
passengers. The dredging boat was sent up this
morning to render such assistance in raising the
Wave and securing the cargo as may be necessary.
[Fayetteville Observer – Thursday, June 5, 1884.]
RIVER AND MARINE.
-------- The body of Mr. Empie Hill, one of the victims
of the Wave disaster, was found Wednesday night
just below Turkey Point, and that of Ned Bebee
has also bee recovered, having been found about
half a mile from Wanut Landing.
The steamer is now afloat and it is expected to
get her entirely clear by this evening. Her wheel
is now about a foot out of water.
[Wilmington Star – June 7, 1884]
TERRIBLE DISASTER.
----The Steamer Wave Upsets on the River and Three
Persons are Drowned—Narrow Escape of Others—The
Steamer Nyce Goes to the Rescue—The Survivors
Brought to this City.
On Sunday our community was startled by the
announcement of the intelligence that the
steamer Wave, of the Express Steamboat
Company’s line, had met with a terrible disaster
and that three persons were drowned; which
number, by common report, was afterwards
erroneously augmented to four. The news of the
accident was brought by Capt. Robeson, Mr. Nick
Carr and Mr. Bryant Watson, who left the steamer
at the point where she went down. The steamer
Wm. Nyce got up steam and started about 5
o’clock for the scene of the disaster, arriving
there the same evening about 8 o’clock, when the
survivors were taken on board, with the exception
of Capt. Jeff. Robeson and two deck hands, and
brought them to this city. We first interviewed
Mr. Carr, and subsequently talked with Mr. H. D.
Burkhimer, from whom we obtained the following
particulars.
The steamer was rounding a sharp curve or
point in the river, about twenty-two miles above
this city, at or near John Wanut’s Landing, about
half past 5 o’clock on Sunday morning, just as the
sun had commenced rising, when she keeled over
too far on one side, and the water began to pour
in over her guards, when the freight, consisting of
barrels of naval stores, boxes, crates, etc., was
shifted from the starboard to the port side, which
had the effect to turn her over. She rested on one
side, with the upper part about two feet above
the water, and the lower part apparently on the
bottom, for a few minutes, when, being relieved
of the greater part of the cargo, she gradually
uprighted and settled down in about twenty feet
of water, having one hundred casks of spirits of
turpentine in her hold. In the meantime the
stancheons had broken loose between the cabin
and the main deck, and the former, with
hurricane deck and pilot house attached, left the
hull and settled down on the boiler and part of
cargo of rosin at the side of the boat, a portion of
the hurricane deck being out of the water. The
passengers were mostly in their berths when the
alarm was given. They consisted of Messrs. E.
Lilly, N. Carr and H. D. Burkhimer and Miss Katie
Shepherd, of this city. Mr. J. A. Buchanan, of
South Carolina, Mr. Empie Hill, of Bladen, Mr.
Bryant Watson, of Fayetteville, and Lucy
Brewington, colored, of Fayetteville.
The
passengers got out as best they could, Mr. Lilly
and Mr. Burkhimer both having some difficulty in
getting their doors open. Mr. Burkhimer also got
his hands badly cut in trying to escape by a
window and when he finally succeeded in getting
out by the door the water was up to his waist.
Miss Shepherd was rescued from her berth by
Capt. Jeff. Robeson and placed in a position of
safety on the hurricane deck. Mr. Burkhimer,
upon reaching the deck, thinking the boat was
about to go to pieces, jumped overboard, and
himself, Mr. Buchanan and the colored steward
were carried away from the boat about one
hundred yards and landed among a parcel of
rubbish, where they remained until Capt. Robeson
sent a boat and took them off and put them
ashore; Mr. Burkhimer sustaining himself with a
spirits cask under one arm and a plank under the
other and Mr. Buchanan clinging to a piece of the
engine house. Mr. Burkhimer says that Mr. Hill
was some distance lower down the river and he
heard his call three times for help after which he
threw up his hands and sank. The fireman, when
he awoke, was completely submerged by the
water. Mr. Lilly, who had jumped overboard in
the first excitement and confusion, was assisted
upon the hurricane deck by Capt. Robeson and
others. As soon as possible the survivors were all
landed on the shore and repaired to the residence
of Mr. John Wanut, by whom they were very
kindly treated. It was ascertained that Mr. Empie
Hill, aged about 25 years, a nephew of the late
Adam Empie, of this city; Ned. Beebe, the colored
cook, aged about 50, and Lucy Brewington,
colored, of Fayetteville, aged about 30, were
drowned. It is a wonder, considering the number
and quantity of barrels, boxes, rubbish, etc., that
was drifting about, and among which many of the
men were at one time struggling, that more lives
were not lost. There was very little excitement
among the crew and passengers, and the coolness
displayed by all, and especially by Capt. Jeff.
Robeson, was one reason why so many were
saved.
Among the few articles saved from the wreck
were two boxes of eggs, and these served to help
out in furnishing the large number with dinner and
supper.
In the meantime Capt. Robeson, Mr. Carr and
Mr. Bryant Watson had started for the railroad
station at Northwest, a distance of about five or
six miles, hoping to meet the train on the Carolina
Central road, but reached there about ten
minutes too late. They then started to walk to
Wilmington and reached there about 12 o’clock,
when they dispatched the steamer Nyce to the
assistance of their shipwrecked friends and
comrades, and she returned about 10 o’clock
Sunday night with all of the passengers and crew
except those named as staying by the wreck.
Yesterday the dredging boat was sent up to see
what help could be rendered. At last accounts the
cargo of naval stores, or a portion of it, was
drifting off.
Mr. Lilly, who was quite badly bruised, lost his
valise, pocket book containing about $50 and a
gold watch chain. Miss Shepherd’s trunk drifted
off, but was picked up by persons on a raft and
was taken off by the steamer Nyce as she came up
Sunday evening. Mr. Burkhimer was considerably
bruised and cut by glass, and got a sprained ankle.
This is the first accident of a serious nature
that has happened on our river for a long time.
The following is a list of the officers and crew
of the Wave: Capt. W. A. Robeson, master; Capt.
Jeff Robeson, engineer; Dallis Austin, assistant
engineer; Ned Beebe, cook; Sam Williams,
steward; Horace Williams, fireman; Sam Dunn,
Charles McIntire, John Smith and two others, deck
hands; Archie White, 1st pilot; Wm. Roberts, 2nd
pilot.
Archie White, colored, one of the pilots, was
active in picking up those in the water and
displayed much zeal and courage.
[The Wilmington Weekly Star – June 7, 1884]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------- The body of Mr. Empie Hill, one of the victims
of the Wave disaster, was found Wednesday night
just below Turkey Point, and that of Ned Bebee
has also been recovered, having been found about
half a mile from Wanut Landing.
The steamer is now afloat and it is expected to
get her entirely clear by this evening. Her wheel
is now about a foot out of water.
[The Wilmington Star – June 7, 1884]
-- The steamer Bladen, which has been off the line
between this city and Fayetteville since the 25th of
March last, undergoing certain alterations,
improvements and repairs, has been launched
from Capt. Skinner’s steam marine railway, and
left for Fayetteville yesterday afternoon, the
demand for freight room being such that it was
decided to complete the work of painting her
while running. The present trip is not considered
a regular one. She will return next Wednesday
night and clear on Thursday, and after the 1st day
of July will run a regular schedule, leaving here
every Tuesday and Friday and carrying the United
States mail. She has undergone very decided
improvement, thirteen feet have been added to
her length, while she has been provided with new
steel boilers and heavier machinery. Everything
about her is new, including four nice state-rooms,
saloons, &c., affording first class accommodation
for twenty-passengers. Capt. T. J. Green, so long
and favorably known as first officer of the steamer
North State, is still in command of the Bladen,
and will be glad to see his old friends and as many
new ones as may be pleased to called upon him.
[Wilmington Star – June 14, 1884]
Steamer Bladen.
The Steamer Bladen has been thoroughly
overhauled and repaired, indeed it has really been
made a new boat of and has made its appearance
on the Cape Fear in such improved dress that her
old acquaintances will scarcely recognize it. We
welcome it back and hope that it may have a
prosperous course among its sister boats on our
beautiful river.
----Steamer Wave at Wilmington.
The Steamer Wave which met with such a
severe accident two weeks ago on her down trip
from this point to Wilmington, has been raised,
and towed into the latter place where she will be
pumped out and the necessary repairs added. The
Wave is one of the smartest little boats that ever
plied the upper Cape Fear. Her speed was never
surpassed. Her owners deserve great credit for
the enterprise, they have displayed in raising and
getting her to Wilmington. The dispatch with
which this result was accomplished was truly
wonderful. We shall soon expect to hear her
whistle at this wharf.
[The Sun – Fayetteville, N.C. – Tuesday, June 17, 1884]
--- Capt. Jeff Robinson and his carpenters came
down on the steamer D. Murchison, yesterday, for
the purpose of making necessary repairs upon the
steamer Wave, which will be hauled up on Capt.
Skinner’s marine railway to-day.
[Wilmington Star – June 19, 1884]
RIVER AND MARINE.
---------- A letter received here yesterday from ten miles
below Fayetteville states that the river is now
very full from the recent heavy rains. When the
steamer D. Murchison left Fayetteville Tuesday
morning there were no indications of a freshet.
[Wilmington Morning Star -- Thursday, July 3, 1884.]
-- The steamer Lisbon, which has for some time
past been on the line between this place and
Lisbon, Sampson county, is now at Point Caswell,
where she is being thoroughly overhauled, and will
have twenty feet added to her length. She will
also be refitted with new machinery. Mr. A. J.
Johnson, her owner, informs us that she is
expected to resume her regular trips on or about
the last of August.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – Friday, July 11, 1884]
The pilot boat GRACIE and the schooner MARY
WHEELER are on the ways at Capt. Skinner’s
shipyard, for overhauling, and painting. Repairs
to the hull of the steamer WAVE have been
finished and she is now afloat, with carpenters
busily engaged putting on the upper deck. The
WAVE, by the way, was the first vessel taken out
of the water on the marine railway after the
completion of the work of reconstruction that had
been in progress at the yard for about three
months. During that time the railway was rebuilt
from its foundation throughout, with new irons
and cradles, and is now complete and substantial
in every particular. A new house has been built
over the engines and boilers, and other
improvements have been made. We noticed a
large lighter being built at the yard for the
steamer BLADEN.
[Wilmington Weekly Star – August 1, 1884]
Carter, Augustus M. - 26th August, 1884
RIVER AND MARINE.
---------- The river is very low and the water is still
falling. So steamboatmen report.
--- The steamer Lisbon has been thoroughly
overhauled, enlarged and improved and started
out on her first trip yesterday.
--- The steamer Wave, which met with a serious
disaster up the river some months ago, which
necessitated
extensive
repairs,
has
now
commenced her regular trips again having arrived
here from Fayetteville yesterday morning, and left
on the return trip at 3 p. m. The Wave has been
remodeled in a measure, being lighter and more
roomy than before. The gentlemen’s cabin and
dining room have been completed and workmen
are now engaged in putting up the ladies’ cabin.
She draws less water than before the accident and
is believed to be a stronger and better boat in
every way. The engine room is open, in
accordance with the custom of steamers on many
other rivers, instead of being inclosed as
heretofore, and will remain so all summer, or as
long as the weather will permit. The boat is being
thoroughly repainted and will present a handsome
appearance when completed. She is commanded
by Capt. Jeff Robeson.
River Improvements.
Under the supervision of the engineers in charge
of the upper Cape Fear river improvements, the
work of building a jetty at Fayetteville is now in
progress, and when completed, will prove a great
advantage in the matter of navigation, as boats
can then go up to the wharf without any trouble
or detention whatever. Heretofore the boats have
often experienced much difficulty on account of
the low water on the shoals there.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Friday, August 29, 1884.]
RIVER AND MARINE.
--------- In coming up the river yesterday the steamer
Passport broke one of the blades of her propeller.
She will be detained here to day in order to put in
a new propeller, and will resume her regular
schedule Monday. The steamer Italian will take
her place to-day, leaving at 5 o’clock this
afternoon, and returning early Monday morning.
Steamer Passport.
IN CONSEQUENCE OF A SLIGHT ACCIDENT
in her machinery, the PASSPORT will not leave for
Smithville today, but will resume her regular
schedule
Monday
morning.
For
the
accommodation of persons wishing to spend
Sunday at Smithville, the Steamer ITALIAN will
leave Wilmington at 5 P. M. to-day, returning
early
Monday
morning.
J. W. HARPER
Captain
[Wilmington Morning Star – Saturday, August 30, 1884.]
Local Dots.
-- The steam launch Dudine, recently constructed
for Capt. Bowdoin, is now at Seaside Park and
ready to convey visitors to and from the beach.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Sunday, August 31, 1884.]
RIVER AND MARINE.
--------- The main shaft attached to the wheel of the
steamer D. Murchison has been out of order for
some time past, and a new one has been ordered
to replace it and will probably arrive in a few
days, when she will be laid up for a short time and
the Wave will run her schedule.
--- On one occasion during the trip of the steamer
Wave between this city and Fayetteville – the first
since the late disaster – she made 14 miles in one
hour and seven seconds. Her machinery is in
perfect order, she runs smoothly, draws less water
and makes better time than before the accident.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, September 2, 1884.]
Arrival to Wilmington Port
-- Katie Edwards, Capt. Bell, from New River, with
cargo of naval stores for “Hall & Pearsall”
[Wilmington Morning Star – Thursday Morning,
September 4, 1884.]
RIVER AND MARINE.
-------- The steamers Wave and D. Murchison arrived
from Fayetteville yesterday. The latter was due
on Saturday, but did not reach here until
yesterday afternoon about 5 o’clock. It seems that
she and the Wave got stuck on the shoals near
Elizabethtown, and stayed on them about ten
hours, finally getting off some time during Sunday,
and then the Murchison had a good deal of trouble
before she finally got over all the shoals. The
steamer Murchison will not return to Fayetteville
at present, but will go on the marine railway for a
general overhauling and repairs, repainting, &c.;
and in the meantime the Wave will run her
schedule.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Tuesday, September 9, 1884.]
--- The low stage of water in the upper Cape Fear
prevents the Fayetteville boats from running their
regular schedules. The steamers A. P. Hurt and
Bladen, due here yesterday, had not arrived up to
last night.
[Wilmington Morning Star – Wednesday, September 10,
1884.]
--- The steamer D. Murchison came off the ways
Thursday evening and yesterday started up the
river on a trial trip, with a flat in tow, expecting
to go as far as Elizabethtown. She has been in the
hands of the carpenters, painters and machinists
for some weeks past, during which she received a
thorough overhauling, and is now almost as good
as new. Particular attention has been paid to the
improvement of the ladies’ cabin. Her wheels are
also new, and much of the old machinery has been
replaced. We congratulate Capt. Smith on the
fine appearance of his boat and hope he will soon
have plenty of water to test her in her new
toggery.
[Wilmington Star – October 18, 1884]
--- Intelligence was received here yesterday to
the effect that the steamer Wave had sunk near
Whitehall, on her way down to this city. It is
supposed that in consequence of the low stage of
the water in the river she had run on a snag,
which caused the accident.
[The Wilmington Star – December 2, 1884]
RIVER AND MARINE.
------- Capt. S. W. Skinner went up the river
yesterday on the steamer Excelsior, with two
steam pumps and a gang of hands for the purpose
of raising and floating the steamer Wave, sunk at
Whitehall. From Capt. Jeff Robinson, who came
down for assistance, we learn that the Wave lies
close in shore, with the freight deck out of water.
[The Wilmington Star – December 4, 1884]
--- The steamer Wave arrived here early
yesterday morning, and was hauled up on Capt.
Skinner’s marine railway for repairs to her hull,
etc.
[The Wilmington Star – December 7, 1884]
DIED.
WILDER.--At the residence of his son-in-law, Mr. S.
H. Morton, No. 720 North Fourth Street, at 5 P.M.,
December 15th, 1884, Mr. ABRAM WILDER, aged 72
years.
Funeral from residence Wednesday afternoon,
at 3 o'clock, thence to Bellevue Cemetery.
Friends and acquaintances of the family are
respectfully invited to attend.
[The Morning Star -- Wilmington, NC Tue, Dec 16, 1884.]