Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-06-17
FROM NORFOLK TO OLD POINT.

FROM NORFOLK TO OLD POINT.
According to announcement the
stockholders of the North Carolina Cen
trail and Raleigh and CASTOR Railroads,
and large number of distinguished
gentlemen of the Old North State ar
rived in Portsmouth yesterday morning,
over the Seaboard road.
A large number of ladies' and gentle
men gathered at the depot to welcome
the coming guests.
The hour anuou nced for their arrival
came, but there was no sign yet of the
train, and the multitude waxei soreIy
impatient Time hung heavily until
about fifteen minutes to twelve clock
when the shrill whistle of the approach
ing trains announced the coming of the
excursionists. Ia few minutes more
and the first train, numbering nine pas
scnger cars, steamed up to the steamer
Louisiana, at the Baltimore wharf, and
train No. 2, numbering six passenger
cars, headed for the steamer N. p
Banks, lying at the Annamessic wharf.
Both trains we're filled with ladies
and gentlemen, about nlre hundred in
all, who Were Immediately transferred
to tie respective steamers.
The cry of 'aiI hands aboard then
rung upon the air, and the Louisiana
first slipped her mooriugs and headed
down stream, with al her flags flying,
men shouting, ladies waving handker-
chiefs, and the band playing Life on
the Ocean Wave 1t was fair, brave
sight.
The N. P. Banks, as beautiful and
feet a little mot 50 little either) steamer
as ever rode our waters, followed in her
wake and presented, propoltionalIy,
just as fiue an appearance.
THE HARBoR
The steamers moved slowly until
they reached Fort Norfolk, to allow the
guests time to view the Receiving Ship
New Hampshire, the monitor SAugus,
and the beautiful vista presented by our
city from the water They seemed to
be delighted with the surroundings, and
propounded many questions regarding
the various points of interest.
Negroes composed the band on the
N. P. Banks, which played, whilst pass
ing the Sausus, the national air of the
late Confederacy-'Dixie.' The air, as
was pretty well demonstrated, has not
lost its soul-stirring influence, ard an
electric throb seemingly moved the body
of the entire party.
About one O'Clock the Louisiana
reached the Gibraltar of America
Fortress Monroe-and about half an
hour later the N. Z. Banks Joined her
company.
SCHOOL SHIPS.
i he Naval School Ships Macedonian
and Savannah are lying just off the
Fortress. In passing them the band
on the steamer N. P. Banks struck
up the well-known refrain--' Farewell
Forever to the Star-Spangled Banner,
which We, ourselves, deemed inappro-
pirate, but as the band was composed
of members of the right stripe-thor.
oughly reconstructed-we supposed il
was all right.
FORTRESS MONROE.
The steamers remained at their re-
spectlve wharves at this point only long
enough to allow all who wished to visit
the Fort to get off.
They then steamed along towards The
Capes, but owing to the lateness of the
hour they returned, after having gone
a mile or more beyond the Rip Raps, to
Old Point.
Fortress Monroe doomed up in the
grey background in terrible majesty ,ant
the strangers were profuse in their ex
preston of the beautiful and grand pan
oramic display The whole party, ar
irving at the Point were invited into tn
Fortress by Gen. Barry, Commanding
where they were received by fine musi
dlscoursed by the celebrated Old Poin
Band, and witnessed dress parade O
five companies of artillery Gen. Barry
commanding. Everybody was strucI
with establishment with the differen