Steamboat on the Chenango Canal

Binghamton Republican
February 24, 1863:
    Mr. Dickinson has presented to the Canal Board. the petition of Abram Bevier and Nelson Orcutt, to navigate the Chenango Canal with a Steam Packet. A steamboat is now being built in this village by William Ogden, for this purpose. A twelve-horse locomotive engine and the wheels are now building by Shapley, Dunk, & Co.

   It is intended to run from Binghamton to Hamilton in 11 hours, and to accommodate 100 passengers, and 25 tons of freight. It is to be ready for launching immediately on the opening of the Canal.

 Binghamton Republican
Thursday, March 5, 1863

    “Steamboat on the Chenango Canal. – We have already stated that Mr. Dickinson has presented to the Canal Board, the petition of Abram Bevier and Nelson Orcutt, to navigate the Chenango Canal with a Steam Packet. A steamboat is now being built in this village by Wm. Ogden for this purpose. A twelve-horse locomotive engine and the wheels are now building by Shapley, Dunk & Co. The boat is to be as large as the passage through the locks will admit.
 “It is intended to run from Binghamton to Hamilton in 11 hours, and to accommodate 100 passengers, and 25 tons of freight. Is to be ready for launching immediately on the opening of the canal. This will mark an era on the Chenango Canal, and will stir up the sluggish waters of that inland channel. The idea is a good one – the accommodation will be great, and we trust that the project will be entirely successful. It is to be called, we learn, Will-o’-the- Wisp, – a light that can’t be caught!”

Waterville Times
March 13, 1863

    Steamboat on the Chenango Canal. - We understand, says the Hamilton Union, that a steamboat is being built at Binghamton to navigate the Chenango Canal. It is to have  12-horse locomotive, and will be called “Will o’-the-Wisp.” The boat is to be as large as the passage of the locks will admit. It is intended to run from Binghamton to Hamilton in eleven hours, and to accommodate one hundred passengers and twenty-five tons of freight.

Chenango Telegraph
Wed., May 27, 1863

    The “Will-o-the Wisp.” - Messrs. Orcutt & Bevier have launched  their new canal steamboat, and it now lies at dock, near Shapley & Dunk’s  Machine shop, whee the engine is being made.
    Messrs. B. & O. expected to have been ready at the opening of the canal, and the delay is a great disappointment to them as well as others. This enterprise is worthy of patronage, and we trust it will abundantly reward the projectors. A steamboat line on the Chenango canal will be a novelty and a great convenience. - Binghamton Republican.
Oxford Times
Wednesday, June 24, 1863

    Steam Packet. - The steam packet, Captain Orcutt, so long promised that had well nigh passed out of mind, or came to be regarded as a matter of fancy than fact, actually made its appearance last Wednesday evening, after having announced its approach with all the pomp of larger craft, by blowing its whistle.
    There was quite a gathering in the vicinity of the canal bridge to welcome the distinguished stranger, whose name Will o’ the Wisp, is to say the least quite romantic for a voyager upon the raging canal. The boat is very neat and pretty, and we sincerely trust will prove a success to those who have the enterprise in charge. The arrival of the first steam boat certainly marks an era in the history of our quiet village. It commenced its regular trips on Monday.


Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, N.Y.
Wednesday, June 24, 1863

    Steam on the Canal. - We are glad to the citizens of Norwich and the “Surrounding Metropolis,” that our village is now in regular steam communication with Baltimore and other seaport places. This fact was demonstrated on Wednesday evening last, by the appearance on Wednesday evening last, by the appearance at hour wharves of a genuine steamer, the famous “Will of the Wisp” of which we have heretofore made mention.
    She is a handsome little craft, at least all who saw her said she, and we have not a bit of doubt of it. 
We take a look at her upon some future visit, and five our readers a description of he. We understand that here master has abandoned  the idea of running to Hamilton, but that she will run from Binghamton here upon alternate days with the horse packet.  No one will longer claim that we are isolated. With Pete Clark’s Stages to the Forks, Pet Packard’s Stages to Deposit, Capt. Stever’s Packet and the little steam to Binghamton, and a fair prospect for the “Dummy,” who cares for the Albany & Susquehanna?

An unsigned letter to the editor dated Norwich, June 21 and published in the Oneida Weekly Herald on June 30, 1863:
    “The new steam canal packet Will o’the Wisp came up from Binghamton last week on a trial trip. It is propelled by a twelve horsepower engine, and makes, when in full operation, four and a half miles an hour, including lock detentions and the common casualties of canal navigation. It is very neatly furnished, and is pronounced by its maker and builder, and owner, Captain Orcutt, a success. It will ply between here and Binghamton alternative days with Capt. Stiver’s horse packet boat Norwich, thus ensuring a daily marine communication between Norwich and the capital of Broome county.”

Chenango Telegraph, Norwich
Wed., August 6, 1863

    STEAMBOAT. - The much talked-of steam packet, Will-o-the Wisp, made two trips to this port last week, and  we learn that her captain and owner intend to run her regularly hereafter. She is to come up on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and return on Tuesday. Thursdays and Saturdays. On Wednesday last the boat made a couple of excursion trips to Mead’s Pool, and was each time completely loaded with ladies and gentlemen.

    All were loud in praise of her as a convenient and pleasant means of getting along on the “raging canal.” It is peculiarly gratifying to us to be able to say that Norwich is no longe cut off from the great world - our means of communication with every known part of the world, except those along the line of the Albany & Susquehanna Railroad, are now perfect. 

Hamilton Republican
Thursday, September 17, 1863

   “Will o’ the Wisp.”
    Saturday evening last, our people were startled by the sound of a shrill steam whistle toward the south part of the town, and were soon after gratified by the appearance of the beautiful little canal steamer “Will o’ the Wisp,” which has been so long talked about, but which we all had given up any ideas of seeing here; but she steamed in and remained until 7 o’clock Monday morning, when we had an opportunity of riding a few miles upon her.
    The boat is neatly finished, with a cabin on each end, which are of sufficient capacity to accommodate 100 or more persons. Capt. Orcutt, who is large and good natured, and every inch a gentleman, has not succeeded in gaining the speed of his boat he hoped to, but now he averages four or five miles an hour including lockages, which is infinitely more pleasant and comfortable than being jammed into a close, jolting stage.
    The “Will o’ the Wisp” may be expected back here on Thursday afternoon, and will remain here Friday for the purpose of giving our citizens an excursion, and if sufficient inducements are held out. Capt. Orcutt intends to make regular trips from Binghamton here until the close of navigation. We hope our citizens will interest themselves in this matter and secure the benefits of the visit of the packet.
Chenango Telegraph
 June 4, 1915

     One year a steam packet made its appearance on the canal - I think it was called the Lillie, but this is not certain. I do not remember  if it was owned by Captain Steever or was a rival conveyance.  I have even forgotten whether it and the regular boat ran at the same time. However, it ran but a single year, and I always understood that its wake so washed the banks that the authorities refused to let it continue. 

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