Sailing Shipp Built on the Ohio (The Pittsburgh gazette, 24 Jul 1865, p4.)
An original article from the Cincinnati Commercial was republished in The Pittsburgh Gazette on 24 Jul 1865. The sailing ship Mary Belle Roberts had arrived in New York City loaded with sugar after sailing ten days from Havana. The interesting part of the story is that the bark Mary Belle Roberts had been built on the banks of the Ohio River near Blennerhasett’s Island.
The bark Mary Belle Roberts was built under the watchful eye of Capt Martin R Roberts of San Francisco. Construction was interrupted when the rebels closed the Mississippi River. It was not until the fall of Vicksburg that the bark was completed. It was launched and floated to Cairo. From there it was towed to New Orleans. From New Orleans, the Mary Belle Roberts sailed to Havanna.
The Mary Belle Roberts, built entirely of Ohio timber and covered for more than two years, was the largest craft constructed along the Ohio River.
Copyright©2019 Francis W Nash
All Rights Reserved
No part of this website may be reproduced without permission in writing from the author.
Tags: ohio river steamboats