Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-08-06
For the Delawa are Republican.

THE CRUISE OF TIE PLANTER

The CRUlSE OF THE PLANTER
Just three bours after the sun had crosse
: the meridian of Wilmington, Delaware, on tn
= 18th ofJuly. the Captsin Of the good slooy
Planter, of 80 tons, lying at one of the cit
wharves, approached the prin cipal one of
group of men standing upon the vessels deck
and said:
"Mr. Smidge, fall your party are on board
| shall get underway Immediately.
'As soon as you please, Captain, was th
reply.
, A few minutes later under a single-reefed
maiusail and glib, the little craft was hyinR
down the Chrstiana River before a fresh sou
wester, bound down the Delaware Bay on a
fishing and cunning cruise with fifteen as
jolly sport lovers on board as could be found
any where.
Once in the river we hauled our wind and
/ taking our departure from the Chrstana light
house, laid our course. Although the fresh
breeze brought our boat gunnel to, yet
| we managed TO eat our first meal on board
| quite comfortably.
At sundown came to just below Port Peun,
inalde of Reedy Island; anchoring about a
cables length from the U. S. Revenue Gutter
William Ii. Seward. In the evening some of
US went on shore, taking stroll through Port
| Penn.
We spent our first night on board com fort
able enough, but would have slept better
! could we have retired sansculotes.
l9th.-Underweigh at @ A. NJ, the morAinR
cloudy and pleasant with light wind from
the S. W, which gradually hauled to the N.
W., directly aft. At 8 "A. H., discerned the
oyster feet dredging above Mahons Ditch,
coon came up with them when we hauled up,
and heaving over our dredge, endeavored to
catch some Of the bivalyes. Not pleased with
the scauty number We caught, we ran into
Mahon's ditch, which by the way is good
harbor for such smacks that cruise hereabout;
there being light house at it's southern en-,
trance.
Soon firing of the marches that bound this
stream we ran out again, of for Morris river,
with good breeze abaft the beam. At6P
~, dropped anchor off the "Glengary house"
in this gloomy, musquito psstered river. Ia
the evening We landed and went up to the
GlengarV house, which is about a stones |
throw from the shore, on the north side OF the |
entrance to the river.
The boys finding no chance for dance,
after playing game OF ten pins, put off for |
East Point, where there is quite hotel, but |
there we were go warmly received by the mus
quitos, that we staid but few minutes; be-
coming demoralized we fed, panic-stricken |
for the boat.
July 20th-5.45 A, NJ, stood out in the bay |
bound for Straight creek, very crooked |
stream, by the way, which partly bounds Egg |
Island on the north, but which we did not |
reach, although one four number was anxious
to get there. In the afternoon, whilst ishiHg,
1t came on to blow from the 8. E. and We ran
into the river again.
At midnight, snugly ensooncei in our
hunks, we little dreamt that the Steamer
Westchester had oollided with q schooner of
the Jereey coast, and to prevent her sinking
was beached helpless wreck.
"Ho, for the Breakwater, boys was heard
on the 2lst.
The anchor GATED and fshed, away we went,
passing the crack yatch, the "Delaware," of
Philadelphia, coming in. Laying our course
about 3. 5. W, with light breeze from the
WIN. until we sighted the black buoy on
the ID feet bank; (this is not the direct course,
but was considered desirable one, by some
Of eur party, when we kept away until she
headed s. by W.
"Cross trees, there p
"HalooW
Can you ses the Light HouseH"
"Ay,ay"
"Where awayi'
"About point on the lee bow"
A turn Of the wheel, and our dancing little |
stoop was on the right course. Not loag after
Cape Henlopen Light and the sad hills could
be seen irsm tho deck.
At O'Clock, In the afternoon, our ano hor
kissed the mud 10 the harooF, slo,s by the