Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-04
The Great Ea.tern Exeur.lOn.

For the Spy.
am not surprised you should have followed
in the wake of the New York press in regard
to the falsehoods they have given forth about
the Great Eastern and its recent excursion,
and you have acted i'll good faith, while |
kno1c it has not been so ON their part. l went
out for the express purpose of seeing and
realizing more of the ship in her working
capacity | came home fully satisfied with
ship, the conduct of the officers, servants and
walters, qualifying in some degree the COM
missary, as not equal to what part OF the ar
rangements at least demanded, and this only
in not having a full supply OF water on the
upper deck. One editor has told the truth,
and l ask you to put in his account as an
offset to what you have already given. The
conduct of some of the eXcurslomsts was eX-
tremely annoying to all the rest, and 1t must
have been SO to the officers and crew. If the
New York press had been well feed its report
ers would sing quite another tune. In my
view, no 2000 excursionjss will find better
care on any day. trip, very soon at least.
z.B.
To the Editors of the N. Y. Express: l know
that YOU and yours will be glad to learn that
have enioyed an excursion to Cape Island,
on the leviathan of the waters. l went aboard
knowing no one and made no acquaintance
while there, my object being to see and hear
in a quiet way, as much as possible. The
weather could scarcely have been more pro-
pitious. The ship behaved admirably, and
the pilots did their duty well, as evidence OF
which, we have been safely returned, without
a moments detention on shoal, rocks or sand
bars and as q New Yorker, am glad that
our harbor has shown its capabilities. The
- tba e1,ir mort tho nnnrObatIOn Of
the passengers for their uniform courtesy,
dignity and forbearance; GOODNESS and self
respect characterized them individually and as
a body The patience and the very special
care which they exercised towards the safety
of the passengers is well worthy of note the
result proves it. in that the whole number
were lightered twice, and the mass of them
four times, without an injury to the extent of
the scratch of pin, as tar as is known to
myself this is evidence of commendable care.
l stood by the officer who superintendent the
exit of the passengers at the Cape, and at
New York this morning, and know that ear.
nest expostuIaton, almost approaching to-
entreaty, was employed by him in connection
with some of our own police, in the effort to
persuade the passengers not to crowd down
the gangway and they so arranged it that
only one could leave the ship at time in
cases of ladies and old men the young officers
were especially attentive.
AS to provisions, know from personal OBJ.
servation at the tables, that there was an alum
dant supply tor all, from the time of leaving
New York until our return ;el mean abundant
for "lunch" purposes. The roast beet, the
boiled ham, the bakers bread the butter, nor
the beverage of tea never gave out. | once
called for coffee, but all that had been prepar.
ed was used up but l took cup of tea in.
stead. The ''lunch" was in every respect as
good and at the same price as at Congress Hail
at Cape May, where took lunch myself the
butter of the cape was better.
AS to sleeping, l find no fault. l went for
sea air and slept on deck both nights, and but
for the noise of some fast young men aboard,
who insisted on going the circuit of the deck
twice each night about II, in military style as
to tread, and savage as to the yells, should
have had an unbroken rest from eleven until
daylight,
There was some complaint as to want of
mattresses but that was because more than
half of all who selected to sleep out of berths
helped themselves to two or more. witness
ed the operation, and remarked on its unfair
ness. l had a choice OF several decks, and Sc
lected the upper one, under an awning, and
there was Groom for more" around me. l did
not feel Inconvenience by rain or cinders.-
Some were, who selected to have the sky for
a covering, or who did not choose to go below
when it rained.
l had all the ice and water I desired by SIM
ply going for it. wanted neither after II p.
m. | heard high prices offered for both ice
and water, but it was by persons who were not
willing to take their turn at the table. In ev-
cry case that came under my notice, the SER
wants refused these offers. know of no case
where as much as penny was demanded for
either ice or water, but | observed that some.
times five or ten cent piece was given as
gratuity
The passengers were delivered to the steam
er and returned, here and at the Cape, free of
charge, when they chose to take the steamers
conveyance.
There are two points which think merit
very decided condemnation-thet failure to have
an abundant supply of ice water at half a doz
en- places on the upper deck, and the want of
facilities for washing the face and hands
With these exceptions, did not feel that there
was any reasonable grounds of special com.
plant from the time of leaving New York I'M
til our return. am sure that the recollection
of the whole trip will be peasurable to think
of by myself hereafter. | have been a worlds
traveller during the preceding thirty years, and
seldom have | gone anywhere with as few dis.
agrceables rs were experienced on board the
Great Eastern. | mean by that so few things
which ought, under the circumstances, to be
considered disagreeable; let it, however, be
borne in mind that l am an old stager, and
have learned two lessons, to take things by
their smooth handle, and quietly take care of
number one. If l were asked what pleased
me most l should say the care, and persever-
ance, and GOODNESS of the officers, when most
needed, and the beautiful working of the ma
chinery. EDITOR HALLS jour- OF HEALTH.
New York, Aug. /, 1860.