This occupation was pursued with varying success
during the summer months of '59. The contractor came down every week to
cart the "pavers" away; and many a dispute the boys had with him over
the count. The dispute was generally decided by the carts driving off,
and the contractor paying whatever he pleased. The boys discovered a
rich pocket right near the old Aqueduct bridge. They worked it
enthusiastically and were loath to leave such a find, until they had
overloaded the Eagle. When all the divers climbed aboard, the additional
weight almost swamped her. The strongest swimmers were compelled to go
overboard and resting their hands gently on the gunwale, they propelled
her by swimming toward the shore. They had not proceeded far when the
bottom of the well-worn "Eagle" fell out and the cargo disappeared.
While the boys hung on to the framework of their wrecked craft, their
enemies across the river observed their predicament and sallied forth
in a skiff to chastise them. The Alleghany boys swam for their own shore
as rapidly as possible. On gaining shallow water, they faced about on
their assailants and a battle was fought that was long remembered by the
inhabitants on both sides of the river. In the meantime, the wreck of
the "Gray Eagle" floated gently down to the Ohio, where the powerful
current caught it and hurried it off to the southward.
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