Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-03
AIiseries of an Excursion Party.

| Mt OF pleasure seekers, to cape May OH MOL
day last. Excursionsts Joined the party by
housands-innocent, shortsighted, unsuspect
ing creatures, destined TO as much misery as
could readily be pressed into the space of one
Tribune relates some of the experiences of this
mammoth pleasure party:
THE SUPPER.
Placards were posted about the saloons with
a list of the comestibies to be obtained and
their market value, and the thoughtful request
that payment should be made on delivery.
The tables were admirably arranged for the
closest social purposes and the jewellers were
tightly held together, just space enough being
left about the boards for the difficult and cal
amitous passage of the walters The restaur.
ant was very compact, the solutions doing
! their honest but not pleasing work in the midst
of the eaters. ''Sober drinks" were dispensed
from bar, ardent tppes flowed from an
other. When We have thrown in a mob of
men and women, all inspired with that i'm.
placable appetite which most clearly attestS
| the relationship of our kind with the brute
creation, it will be easy enough to fill up a
! picture of surprising indelicacy The most
vivid hues of the imagination will not buresque
| the reality. The struggle was Homeric.
| Hoarse cries assaulted the walters. They per-
spired freely quenching their flesh with their
| aprons and towels, which were likewise used
| to purify the implements of appetite. A small
| piece of bread was scented afar off, as by a
| vulture, and snatched on its way to the suffer
ing mouth The glass of water was gone from
the gaze before the moisture Of the first sip had
dried from the lips And at every application
for the most simple thing to eat, there was
coarse assurance that it had "run out" Hour
-
The purse was opened to the waiter with no
other effect than to send him to some fresh
field of speculation in human want and woe.
We need not enlarge the nauseating record
Scenes like these, however insulting to decent
taste however eloquent of barbarous greed,
however disgracetul to every gentleman CON
nected with the vessel on which they were
enacted, may best remain unwritten. We are
sure that enough has been said to disSuade
every sensitive person from like experience,
and tell the public that there can be no ex-
aggeration of the mockeries, insults and rank
obscenities of the refreshment of the pleasure
seekers on the Great Eastern. The annals
OF maritime adventure, with all its horrible
privation, have few cases more affecting than
that of this Christian company.
ON THE DECK.
The inimitable and Undesirable picturesque
ness of the scene on deck came of the rows Of
human forms profane stretched out along the
gunwales, and grouped Unfortunately under
every accidental shelter. The divinity of sleep
was never conrted under less promising cir
cumstances. Some Of the sleepers, having
secured more than a fair share Of mattraSs,
were heavily covered, the protruding head
alone indicating hnman presence. Others, of
uneasy nocturnal habit, were connected with
their mattrass by a single fond limb Others
We're curled compactly on one end Of the
spread. With the exception of the Adamite,
every form of vestment was adopted for the
night. Reckless alike of the moisture of the
air, and of the peril Of insanity which is pro-
verbally attached to sleeping in the moonlight
persons throw off all the garments that could
be modestly dispensed with, and put forth
white feet and bare necks. The female form
was diStinguishable by volume of dress, tucked
away, with a handkerchief about the head in
the most convenient place. The entire noe
turnal gamut of the human voice was run. Not
all slept even with the luxurious accommoda-
dation. AT intervals a waketul band, with
hands clasped over the aching Uranium, made
dreary attempts to be jolly, or, having too much
self respect for such wiltnl deception, vented
their indignation at all concerned in the plea
SAINT excursion. Solitary big oaths ratified out
from the dusk. Here shrewd representative
of the mighty engine" and few inmates were
ensconced in coop, thinking the roost secure
till the growing of the cock Here squatting
circle were getting the spirit out of mystic
rious bottle, and stimulating each other to re-
newed devotion by shouts of song and jest
and by claps and pokes. Further on a desul-
tory sparring match, with hard enough knocks
to keep the participants fully awake all the
rest of the night Yonder a Bonded form.
Approach softly What sweet devotion here,
under the holy moon, on the broad bosom of
the deep? But in the sanctuary the voice of
prayer does not generally express itself by
such singular and uncomfortable sounds.
Blindly staggering ahead of dragging mattrass
come men who have been aroused in an agony
of rheumatism, or cramp, or cinder, muttering
incoherent vows of revenge upon parties en-
tirey unknown. They pass gloomy specters,
sitting bolt upright and facing fate with cigars
in mouth, and they pass moaning women out
spread with salts at nose, and they pass rude
seamen prowling through the camp and max
ing their own peculiar sport of the scrape.
IN THE SALOONS.
Wan ladies languished in the saloons below.
Their disheveled hair streamed over the shout
ders of the stouter forms upon which they
leaned and which sometimes succumbed with
confusing effect. People lay on and under the
tables, amid the foul debris of the late orgie.-,
A few parties held protraced revel, and sooth-
ed the slumberers with the popping of corks
and the wild acclaim of inebriate sympathy
Sounds Of sickness joined with their chorus
The promlscuous pens were choked with
troughs full Of dormant humanity, and emitted
unbearable airs. Far below the deck the wan.
derer stumbled over seepers, breathing heav-
y in the dull heat. Strange room.mates were
brought together by the pervading misery. In
one state room six ladies were accorded berths
Two were disposed to be good the rest fell to
sad recrminaton and abuse of each other, and
banded sharp speeches as to their relative re-
spectabilty, varying the performance by I'M
answered calls Tor the steward which always
mean something, coming from woman. And
yet, with ladies suffering sorely on the floor
of the cabins and on the deck, and with com
paniens willing to pay extreme prices for their
accommodation, many JerthS a0ere mloccupied all
night, and Inaccessible. Many OF the ships mi
for officers were extremely gallant in this
emergency. Their own quarters were given
up to the suffering pleasurers, although the
unaccustomed tatigues attending the exhibit
ton of their ship have made sleep almost es-
sental to lite-eertainly so to health.
NEXT DAY.
In the early hours of Tuesday morning the
unhappy sleepers, more or less moist and
cramped, with all their horrid dreams upon
them, rushed for shelter under the awnings
and into the saloons. The alarming discov-
cry was made that there was no accommoda.
ton made for washing-no water, basin, soap
or towels. The supper scene was repeated
with aggravations, working the victims up to
a fever heat Of disgust and rage. An indigna
ton meeting was held, and after much inham
matory speaking it was resolved that they had
been disappointed and swindled, and in antici
| patton OF other excursions, they caution the
public to take warning by their fate and stay
at home. After weary day at Cape May
the party sought the ship again and started fol-
home Moonlight and the splendid motion for