The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-06-28

| annual excursion TO Randall's Island This Island,
IL is well known, is a corporation specialization
they gave some 500 900 or $4,000 tor the island,
according TO the bequest or will of Mr.. Randall, the
original proprietor Mr. Thomas Bell is the present
very polite and worthy lessee ofthe island for which
he pays annually the sum OF $500 per annum. We
advise the Common Council to look about the East
River land see If they cannot find some other islands
| TO purchase, always provided they produce good
| cherries
But, as we were saying, yesterday was the day set
apart tor the annual visit which the Common Coun
Gill; by the invitation of the lessee pays to the afore-
SAID Island 1t was very quietly whispered about
among the chosen few that Alderman Hatfields
Dry DOCK Omnlbuses would be ready at one o'clock
In 'front.' OF the City Hall. Accordingly at that hour
the members OF the Common Council, together with
the Aims House Commissioners and quite a num-
Der OF ladies', with some children, were ready TO
enter the omnibuses which were provided for their
reception.
Among the party we noticed the following Alder
men, ex Aldermen, and Assistant Aldermen Hat
field, who was rather the king of the party; Lee,
Who Is next in size and Importance; Woodruff, the
minority prince; Sco!es, who was happy with the
ladies' But we cannot get on in this way, 80 here
| they come: Brady, w. Dodge and ladies' indeed
| most of the gentlemen were accompanied by ladies'
and some OF them very handsome, too-Nichols,
Rawson, Dunning, Vandervoort, Brevoort, Seaman
Alderman Hart of the 18th ward, Nash, the Hon.
NJ q. Leonard, M. c., Patterson, Emmans, Ward
Smith, ex-Alderman of the 18th, Assistant Street
Commissioner Waterman, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Dougherty, Saml. Jones Willis, Clerk
OF the Board OF Aldermen, Dr. Bartol, Clerk of the
Board OF Assistants, Mr. Controller Smith, Mr..
Deputy Comptroller Young, and various others,
whose names we cannot recall. We must not for
get to mention, however, that the Common Coun-
ell, including the ladies, who were allowed to vote
on this occasion per se appointed Alderman Hatfield
to be the captain of the party, and John JONES' of
New York to be the official clerk to record the pro.
ceedings.
The omnibusses were duly frelghted including
the ladies and children, and the baskets and every
thing else that could hold cherries and away we
went to the tune
"Ana were all picking, pick, pick, picking.
And were all picking ripe cherries on the isle"
Nothing specially worthy OF notice occurred, with
the exception of the excessive heat until we arrived
at the foot of l25th street, upon the banks of
the East river, opposite Randalls Island. Here
the only means thatpresented of crossing over was
an old scow, which beggars all description There
were about 100 of the whole party, and as the scow
would not accommodate but fifty, the remainder of
the party had to get over the best way they could
The tide was sitting very strongly up the stream,
and the wind was also blowing strong in the same
direction. Alderman Nicols said he understood
navigation right well, having studied the science in
Canal street great many years ago-he was ac-
cordingly allowed to take the helm, that is, the oar
But sooner had we cast of from the shore, than
the current took usal very rapidly up toward Harlem
Bridge, which was two miles above RandalPs Island
Aid. Nichols insisting all the while that 60
ing directly for the other shore. Everybody else,
however, saw that this course would take us to
Harlem Bridge. BY this time the scow began TO
make water, and all hands were called to the
pumps, but no pumps could be found. The ladies
were OF course alarmed although such of them as
were not sea-sick behaved with great proprety and
presence of mind.
''Thls will never do,'' said Alderman Ward; 1--WE
shall all go to the bottom whereuron he seized
oar, and pulled away most Justify, TO the great
relief of the ladies-but unfortunately pulled the
wrong way, not unirequently happens with those
who pull one way and another. Alderman
Wards rowing the wrong way, in addition to AL
derman Nichols steering the scew up stream,
when he ought to have seered her across the
stream, would certainly have sent the whole
party to Davy Jones's (uot John JenesO locker,had
not Alderman Ward just at the very nick of time,
when all were expecting to go to the bottom, broke
his oar.
Ii is impossible to describe the scene of confu-
sion which ensued. The distressed situation of
the scow was however seen, and boats put off to
the relief of the party-and some on broken pieces
of the scow, and some in one way, and some in
another, got to land. Thiry-nine souls were saved
from off the scow alone. How many were lost
we have not heard.
On arriving at Mr.. BelPs establishment every
thing was in readness-brandy, wine, crackers,
cheese cherries, by the bushel, JOY, harity, and
| happiness to the full II is impossible to describe
| HE antics which were cut, nor would we il we
could great was the JOY of escaping from ship
wreck. Although Mr.. Bell had an abundance of
nice fresh oxhearts, and all sorts of cherries ready
| picked, yet nothing would satisfy Alderman Lee
but he must go to climbing the cherry trees, to the
| great alarm of Alderman Hatfield, who was afraid
the young man would fall. Alderman Nichols I'M
dertook to follow In the footsteps OF his ilusrious
predecessor but fell martyr to his gallantry to
the ladies' for whom he undertook to pick the cher
! RES.
Alderman Ward did not care much about cher
ries, but took particular fancy some fine poul-
try upon the premises, and so you might see him
lurking about the fences with stick in his hand
He fell upontwo very black young crows behind a
tree which he mistook for hens, and was very
anxious to ascertain when they would lay eggs
again. AS they were young cocks, 1t was difficult
for Mr.. Bell to satisfy him, and the subject
finally referred to the Committee Arts, Sciences,
and Schools, of which Alderman Woodruff is
Chairman, from whom lucid report may be ex-
| pected.
| AS for Aldermen Leonard and Seaman, they found
infinite amusement in the dairy yard when they dis
covered two dozen splendid cows, which sup
ply the Corporation tea table at six cents a
quart, pure milk, there being no Croton water