The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-08
local IteKI1s-

EXCURSION OF THE WIsASs' SrEAIgR. -
sion to the Capes yesterday morning Al
usual there WAS large crowd on tho wharf
full OF curiosity to see her 10 motion, which
curiosity was gratided about half pat ten
o'clock. While tn: Winans was steaming
up, large party Who were guests of DR..
simpkins had collected on the deck of the
cutter Duane, which in tow of the tug
Young America, had gotten under way and
had proceeded soms distance down the
Elizabeth, when the Winans came steaning
by, presenting much tn, appearance of a
huge whale. 1t was soon discovered that
she would distauc, the whole feet, and it
was suggested that she take said feet 10
tow, which was ION done. and thus fasten-
% together, tandem fashion, the three yes
sels ypassed down the Elizabeth to Hampton
bads, crossed the Roads to the Bay and
then crossed the Bay to Cape Henry. The
weather was mild and pleasant, aud the sea,
save slight ground swell, quite calm; and
aa there was no excitement from incidents
or accidents, the whole party turned their
attention to the good cheer VIII ich b ad been
most literally provided by the host for his
guests. The saline qua Titles or bracing pro-
perties Of the invi gorating breeze which
swept In from the bro ad bosom of the At
lantic, ed to operate upon the gastio
Monies of the whole company, who first at
tackled the fluids aud then the lunch, then
the fuids, and then the fluids again, and
again the fluids, with a gusto and zsst
which was truly refreshing, and we may
add, astonishing to modest men like our
selves. Nevertheless, we soon entered into
the spirst of the fair and got along quite
as comfortable az tn, rest until dinner was
announced. This was another signal for
spirituous manifestations, and then conmen
ced the attack upon the csisine. This, too,
suffered to no uncomfortable extent from
the peculiar state of appetite engendsrsd by
the aforesaid saline breeze, and
Men now ate as tho they had never ate bs-
fore,
And those who had now seemed to eat the
more;
And while we cannot exactly call that din
~ner a
Feast of reason and flow of soul,
( we can safely say we have seldom ssen
party OF gentlemen enj,y a dinner
more. The Winans' steamer was toasted
The officers of the cutter were toasted, and
one of the gentlemen limited that either one
of them "could keep hotel" and in the
language of Asa Trenchard, our American
Cousin, we answered 'just So"
During all this time the Winans steamer
was pulling US through the water at the
- rate of ten or twelve miles an hour, and
while many of US were removing the stray
deposits of the dinner from our masticators
with that peculiar instrument from the pin
ion of goose which has ever been indicative
of our cralt-the quill-the steamer City Of
! Richmona,passed by on her way to the city
Brotherly Love. She sauted the Winans
with two putfs from her whistle, ADD Eo
doubt wondertd-if steamers can wonder
sometimes they wonder-what 10 the world
the Winaas was The Winans returned the
salute with two pats from brazsn lungs
which we think were sufficient to asaur. the
City of Richmond, then and forever that she
was steamer also.
The next craft met on the Bay, was the
George Peabody; she also opened her valves
and made her obeisance to the singular
!. looking craft, which was acknowledged by
the Winans with two Of the most unearthly
shrieks which ever saluted our auricular Or
pans, or walked the sleeping Malard from
his nap on the bosom of the Bay. The next
object which passed US, was Old Pont-our
devil suggests that we passed Old Point and
that Old Point didn't pass us, but we rsck-
on we know-we recognized it by Its brist'
ling and saucy looking sport holes" and Its
tall white tower which, like an eternal SEN
try is ever at Its post, by day its white walls
can be seen many miles off, and at night Its
apex is crowned with beacon light which
renders 1t ever the prominent feature at this
place; but as we said Old Point, its walls,
towers-some one near US said, there were
two-its wharves, its Hotel and little vii
Wage of yellow cottages sailed by us, and we
found our craft ploughipg the more quiet
waters of Hampton Roads, on our home
ward trip.
The company was agreeable, the eatables
and drinkables plentiful, and OF the best
quality, and the whole day had been spent
in so agreeable and pleasant manner, that
no one appeared to rejoice when the boon-
ing guns of the cutter announced the fact
that she was at her moorings
The performance of the Winans' steamer,
like all her performances since she has been
In our waters, was perfectly satisfactory,
and although she belongs to no particular
caste in the society of vessels, and has mos,