Existing comment:
Life on the Canal
By 1859, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal operated from Cumberland to Georgetown. In that year, an anonymous writer signed on as a crew member to work a canal boat. Follow the voyage of Williamsport canal boat Captain Cross and his crew. Travel down the C&O Canal on his boat, "Caroline of Williamsport" and experience Life on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal 1859!
"The trip was not to be a picnic or a personally conduction excursion, and I soon found that it was not to be a junket. I was to go as a boatman, to work, dress, eat and sleep as other boatmen did."
"... the boat was towed up to the basin.. the coal was dumped... tons at a time... furnishing the 120 tons that the boat carried."
"While waiting at Williamsport the captain made an awning of cotton cloth covering the steering deck and cabin. This made the boat very comfortable through the long hot days that followed."
"At Georgetown... the captain reported that the boat would be unloaded." |