Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-07-29
For the Spy.
Excursisn of the Vachusett FIshins
Club.
For the Spy.


OFF BLOCK ISLAND, July 9th, 1888.
hessrs Editors Perhaps a few short notes of
our excursion may not be entirely undressing
to your readers, especially to the friends of those
who are now with us. We started, as you know,
from Worcester on Friday last, at 10 IA o'clock,
A NJ arrived in Norwich at IL o'clock. took
dinner at the Wauregan House, and went on
board the splendid schooner, Julius Webb"
Captain Fargo. The schooner named
after Julius Webb, Esq. of Norwich, one of her
owners, who accompanied the excursion. We
found the vessel amply provisioned, and also
furnished with mattresses placed at our disposal
for the trip by the Norwich and New York
Steamboat Company
Everything being in readiness, towed
down the river two miles below Allyn's Point,
by the steam tug belonging to the Steamboat
Company. Soon after she left us, the wind went
down, and our further progress was stayed for
several hours. While lying there we were passed
blythe steamer Commonwealth. on her way to
New York. We saluted her by cheers, which
were answered by her steam whistle and the wav-
ing oflights. We finally arrived at New London
about ii z O'Clock, and took aboard seven of
uut palbfF WHlCu naQ come GOWN In lle SLedn-
boat We laid off New London until morning,
and then set sail for Gardeners Bay, where we
arrived IN few hours, and part of the party went
on shore to hunt and dig cur bait. Having OBJ
tanned our supply, we started for Montauk Point
for fishing, but, from lack of wind, failed to reach
there, and hove to and anchored under the oppo-
site side of Gardeners Island for the night.
The next morning, the wind being N. E., and
blowing hard, we concluded to move round to
the other side OF the island and spend the day
quietly.
Arriving there. the whole party went on shore
on the island and had a clam bake and crab
hunt, which was entered into with much zest by
the party Part of the company visited the pro.
pretor and different parts OF the island.
The island is about nine miles long, and con-
tains about three Thousand acres of land, and is
owned by John Griswold Gardner. 1t has been
owned by his ancestors from the first settlement
OF the country, the first owner being Lion Gard
ner, who arrived in America Nov. 2Sth, 1855, and
was the first Englishman who settled in New
YORK. After commanding the garrison at Say
brook four years, he removed to the Isle of
Wight, called, by the indians, ManchangohOc,
having purchased it of them. He died in 1868,
and his wife two years after, in 1863. David their
son. was born at Sayorook, April 10Th, 1886. the
first white child born in Connecticut. The above
dates were taken from grave stones in a cemetery
upon the island The property has been from
that time, until the last owner, entailed to the
eluSot sun VI TIE ldluliJs nut tue OWueC, hnO
preceded the present one, was never married, and
the property was left to his two brothers and
sister. The present owner bought out the shares
of the brother and sister, and is now sole owner,
He also is unmarried, is forty-two years Of age.
and will PROBABLY die without issue, and that,
too, at no distant day. judging from his appear
ance and habits.
The Island is a large property. About forty
laborers are employed upon this large farm, and
there are about seventy souls upon the Island
The stock consists of seventy horses two hum
dred head of cattle, twelve yoke of working oxen,
one thousand four hundred and seventy three
sheep, from five hundred to seven hundred lambs,
ninety hogs. and other things in proportion. The
crops under cultivation one hundred and sixty
acres OF wheat, seventy five of corn, seventy-hve
of oats, twelve OF potatoes, six of barley, and
sufficient grass to make four hundred and fifty
tons OF hay.
Monday Morning started early for Mou-
tauk Point, for FISH, and spent the day in sailing
and fishing, but with poor success in the latter
Montauk Point is the extreme Eastern end of
Long Island, this end of which is inhabited prin
cipay by the - tribe of Indians.
We anchored for the night upon the North side
of this point, and party from the schooner at
tempted to land with boat, but were unable to
do so, the shore being completely lined by a reef
of rocks, with the surf breaking over them. We
therefore obliged Is drink our coffee and tea
without milk for the next day,
Tuesday morning, we started for Block Island,
with fresh breeze, and, when fairly at sea, those
of the party who wanted to rough sea were
satisfied, il not gratifed. The breakfast table
was thin this morning, most of the party feeling
more disposed to discharge than take in freight.
Of our entire party of forty six, not more than
ten were disposed to walk the deck during a
greater part of Tuesday forenoon, several begging
hard to be put ashore at the nearest point. One
in particular offered tha captain five dollars to
land him at Newport. But at the present writ
ing, the wind has gone down, and the sea is COM
paratively smooth, and quite share of the com.
pany have again made their appearance, but we
shall lose some of them soon as we arrive in
Newport.
8 O'Clock, p. I've have had spanking
breeze from Block Island. and have just arrived
at Newport; all we'll as could be expected We
shall leave some time in the night for the Vine.
yard Sound.