Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-08-23
EVENING STAR.
LOCAL INTEILraENcr.
5fAf1 OF PIE fnRAcnBrn.-Ths thsf.
nonetsr, In our counting. room, ct II o'clock
W-aAy, stood st 50 degrees above ssro.

sfAfx OF PIE fznRxcx1rn.-Ths thsr.
nometsr, In our counting. room, ut II o'clock
W-oAy, stood st SO degrees above ssro. 7,
AsorHxR Excuasrox-A FrgAtsaiag
"Seene Not in the Bstls n--fhat honored
corps, the Washington Light Infantry. had
favorite steamer George Washington, Captain
Job Corson, was chartered for the occasion,
and started at the appointed hours In the
morning from Georgetown. Washington, Navy
! ard and Alexandria. With Prospects, en-
ivening music, charming breete, bright
eyed ladies, and gay uniformed military, they
proceeded 10 their destination, the, band play
ing beautiful air on passing Mount Vernon,
and soon arrived at the White House Pavilion,
where they engaged in dancing, sad shooting
fox the prizes, the ladies looking on at the
latter, and taking q delightful part in the
former. At the proper time they partook of q
dinner most tempting to the sharpened appe-
lite. The bOat having returned, brought
another load down, making the company num-
Der some FIVE hundred persons On went the
gay dance, and On went the exciting target ex.
ercise. Two targets were set, one for the citi-
Zens and ono for the military net belonging to
the Light Infantry, the shooting at which was
kept up until late in the afternoon. The citi-
xens' board was fairly riddIed, and there were
some six or seven good shots In the military
beard. Thecitisens and military having tlosed,
the Light Infantry set up their target, and put
eighs balls therein in quick time. Then came
the presentation, which took place in the large
hall, where First Lieut.. John F. Tucker trans.
fsrred the day Of presenting the cnps to the
old commander Of the company, Cspt. Joseph
D. Tato. in the presence of . number of Ia
dies To Nj Wallace Kirby, the prize was
presented as the best shot of the citizens; Or
Derby Ssrgesn. John S. Finch, Of the Presi-
dents Mounted Guard, received the military
cup, and to Mr.. Charles Nelson, of the Light
Infantry, were awarded the company's prize,
which was presented and received in appro-
pirate terms The cups are quite neat, and
are properly prepared for the inscriptions
Dancing was resumed, fine supper partaken
of, when the first boat returned heavily laden
Those remaining kept up the festive scene until
about 10 o'clock, when the steamer Thomas
Coiiyer arrived, and the merry party got on
board and started for home, where they ar.
rived about II o'clock. Closing tho excursion
matter, We may say that the military repre-
sented were the Presidents Mounted Guard,
Lieut.. Flint; National Greys, National Guards,
Montgomery Guards, Boone Rifles and Ger,
man Yagers, Lieut.. Peterson. Some of the
Scott Guards and Green Mountain Boys were
also present. The Washington Minstrels, of
the Navy Yard, composed Of Messrs. Griffin,
Wood, Cross, and Ssnderson, sang several ap-
propnate melodies on passing Washington
Grave, at the presentation, and during the in.
teresting trip. G. Columbus furnished din
ner, supper, ice cream, DC, and p NJ. Dubant
other refreshments In excellent style.
The frightening ''scene not in the billsr
..'-. .F,.- THE COLLISION.
As the steamer THIS. Collyer was bringing
up the merry party of the grand excursion last
night, a scene occurred which struck terror to
many of the company While off Fort Wash
ington. whom song and joke were high, some
wore sleeping of the pleasures of the day,
lovers and ladies most delightfully."- chatting,
and all was pleasant around, fearful crash
was heard. ALI started at the sound, some la.
dies, they say, tainted, and men ran to and fro,
to see what was the matter, while wives and
sveethearts clung close to their husbands and
lovers, expecting 10 60 down together Many
rushed to the side Of the boat in the alarm,
and probably all the features of q dreadful
steamboat accident filed tho minds, and pal
piiated the hearts Of many on board Their
fears were soon Gained, however, on learning
thatthe boat was safe, and that the only danger
was in their all getting on one side of the boat
Having righted the frightened party, it was
ascertsined that collision had taken place
between the steamer and small schooner 1t
seems that the schooner was coming down the
river without light ahead, and in conse-
quence the accident took place. The pilot of
the steamer luckily recogni sed the boat in the
dark, but had not time to do more than sheer
OF as much as possible. the larbeard bow of
the steamer coming in contact with the star
board bow of the schooner, despite of all eff.
forts to the contrsry. Capt. Gedney promptly
discovered that the injury to the Collyer was
trinlng, stopped the steamer, and cent a boat
TO the relief Of the schooner. After tn Q COL
iision light had appeared on her. and then
disappeared, and all was darkness. 1t was
sapposed that she sunk, and all hands with her
After considerable suspense, it was ascertain ed
30 the joy of the excursionists that the boat
was safe, but had her bow 30 stove in, and was
% injured otherwise as to have to put in on the
Virginia shore. Her escape, under tie cir.
cumstances. seemed a miracle and the know
ledge of it was quite relief to all on board
the Coilyer, and to mono more than to Capt.
Gedney.
We were sitting on q long boat along side Of
the wheel-house, listening to Messrs Lloyd,
Hough, and others singing Z" Few Days" when
the shock came against the paddle wheels,
breaking part Of them, and making the party
move of in but few seconds. Such, however,
was the g frightening scene which occurred
In the Potomac river on the night of the 2lst
of August, between the good steamer Thomas
Coilyer and the seemingly careless schooner
don't know. The pleasure party will remem
Der it for long time-and all should remem-
Der that Capt Gedney has navigated the Po-
tomsc for twenty years, and is therefore safe
and experience commander.
This running of vessels without lights on
n r. onf. Al
schooner solely to blame for the accident she
brought on herself. The steamer subsequently
had great difficulty to avoid other boats run
ming in the darkness Of the night, without q
single light to designate them. As they do so
1t their own risk, they should take care and
attend to it hereafter, without being made to
do by the strong hand Of the law.
A NEW IDEA ABOUT SEooTING-We learn
that gentleman has arrived in this city with
a scheme or plan for winning a fifty dollar
suit Of clothes. He has q pasteboard with a
bulls eye in the centre, radiating from which
are number Of rays, In which he proposes to
those who pay him one dollar, to insert their
names. The board Is then set up to be shot at
by one good marksman. Whichever name he
name Is given the suit of clothes; but if the
ball hits the centre or misses, the prize is his
Ovn. The winners Of the silver goble,s yes
terday on the excursion of the Washington
Light Infantry, viz: Messrs Kirby, Finch and
Nelson. might we'll be engaged as marksmen
ut the hrst trial of the machine-but it 10 par
ticsisrly to be understood that the person who
shoots is not to be personally interested. A
Mr.. King Is his agent, for whom enquire on
the corner Of K street and the Slashes. Quite
IN ingenious plan, amt il?