Wilmington journal., 1873-08-01
VOL. 90.

at Weldon by a committee of citizens
from Norfolk and Portsmouth, who
brought carload of welcome along
with them. Arriving at Portsmouth,
still another committee were on hand
to receive the visitors and extend to
them the hospitaities of the twin
cities, and escorted the party TO Nor
folks beautiful and spacious hotel, the
Atlantic House. which is kept in a
manner worthy the reputation and
growing Importance of that city.
| The following day the visitors. under
escort of Mayor Ludlow and large
! Norfolk, were invited on board of the
splendid steamer, Miles Standish,
and visited in turn the different points
in the harbor, including Vue de LEau
and Old Pointa Comfort. The Navy
Yard was visited, and through the
kindness of Chief Engineer Brooks,
the party were shown all the objects of
| interest to be seen. Visiting. then tile
truly magnificent steamer, Old Domin-
ion, of the New York line ofthat name,
Captain Walker received us most
cordially and entertained us most hos
pitably. When we ego down to the
sea in ships" commend us to Captain
| Walker and bis goodly steamer. We
left with salute from the guns OF the
Old Dominion.
We called next upon our old friend
Captain Hill of the Louisiana, the pop
ular Bay Line steamer, and we are
sorry for the man who has never en-
| loved one of Captain Hills delightful
sllppers after long, dusty and hungry
ssride on the rail" We took the Cap
tain little by surprise, but he was
equal to this, as he is to all other occa-
sions. We were soon invited to the
| dining saloon, where We found the
| tables loaded with the choicest wines.
| Here for the first time, during "our
| flow of soul" were toasts formally re-
Dlied to. Mr.. p. Walsh, the sterling
| Editor Of the Augusta U,Dnicic 0'id
Sentinel was called to his feet by
toast complimentary to Georgia and
! the Augusta merchants. In closing
his very handsome repl y, a compliment
to Virginia caused Mr.. Starke, OF Nor
! folk, to respond to the sentiment, i'll
obedience to calls upon him. HIS
reputation belongs t. North Carolina
as we'll as Virginia, and both States
had cause to- be proud of their son on
this occasion.
In closing he did not forget the Old
North State, and referred to her SO
handsomely and SO feeIingly that his
personal reference and the calls were
hardly necessary to make us acEnowl-
edge the compliment to olIr State.
With hearty good-wishes the party
reluctantly bid goodbye to Captain
Hill, and re e,O barked on board OF the
Miles Standish for Vue de L Eau, where
the party were entertained at dinner IN
Mr.. Freeman's best style. We found
at this popular resort a large party of
visitors, comprising many of the best
families Of the Southern States. All
seemed charmed with the place and the
entertainment.
Our party were then taken ont some
distance seaward, and returning landed
at Old Point Comfort and were escorted
to Fortress Monroe. We were kindly
received, and We're permitted to witness
some very fine artillery practice by the
garrison. Among the other artillery
improvements we saw the Gatlin gun
the most wonderful and destructive OF
all We learn that this gun IS super
ceding all other revolving guns, even
in Europe. We should hate very much
to charge n battery of them worked
by cool men. The pleasure OF ON
visit was not more enhanced by the
beautiful dress parade with which ii
closed, than by the courtesy with which
we were received.
A delightful trip back, not forgetting
supper at Vue de L'Eau, the magnili
cent ballroom and the dance with the
beautiful presiding fairies, which wan
of time did not permit the young gen
tlemen of the party to enjoy, close'
one of the most pleasant days we ev7l
enjoyed.
We were indebted to Major Hope
the accomplished editor of the Norfoll
JIrginian, and most agreeable
gentleman for many acts OF attention
am! were gratificd to make the ac
uuaintance of Colonel Gilman, of thu
Richmond press, during the trip
; These gentlemen have and are cxertine
n great influence i'll Virginia, and bet
ter or more capable men never grace.
the editorial sanctum.
With these pleasures the origlna
excursion was at an end, but por
ton Of the party concluded to exten'
the trip to Baltimore, of whom W
were one. But we must defer an
reference thereto until tomorrow.
We should do injustice to ourscli
= = and to our friends who were the re
cipicnts, Of their kindly attention,
we did not refer especially to Captai
f. w. Clark, of the Atlantic Coas
Line, Mr.. G.. Kelly and Mr.. Jne
{ jenkins, of the Wilmington, Columbi
u and Augusta Railroad, and Capital
u Fillyaw, of the Wilmington an
|" Weldon Railroad. Captain Clark az
companied the party from August;
Z and all united in thanking him for til
" provisions made for their comfort an
entertainment.
' Mr. E. G.. Chic, Superintendent {
the Roanoke and Seaboard Railroa.
ID Messrs. Hatcher, McGarrick IN
Smith, of the Atlantic Coast Lin
It placed the entire party under man
J. oblioatiOns. To these gentlemen an