Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-06-06
LOG AL N H w >.
RETURN OF THE ST.. JOINS CADETS. -Th'

RETURN OF THE ST.. JOINS CADETS. The
cadet corps of st. Johns Academy reached
home from the trip up the canal at 2.2O to-day.
The boys are very much burned, and come
home evidently in need Of good bath In the
Potomac and the friendly aid Of the washer,
woman; but we arc glad to learn that beyond
the loss Of cap or so, and few tin cups, Gc.,
overheard, not an accident occurred, and that
the entire party has enjoyed the trip greatly
the only regret being that it was SO soon over.
Eating bread and meat without plates or KNIVES
and folks, and drinking hot coffee IN the morn
ing from the tin cup with which II was ulPpcu
out Of the wash boiler has charm lot ooys'
which sleeping on the floor between ola an 81
and being reused in the small hours OF the
night to 60 on guard, cannot take away. Ouch
school excursions, though genera'y longer ones,
CON ha m doubt of their utility for purposes
both If instruction and health. A gentleman
Who accompanied the party furnishes the fol
having account of the places visited 60:
we left the basin at p. m. on Monday, q
crowd of ladies and gentlemen cheering us uu-
til we were out of hearing. The boys then put
away their uniforms and donned their worst
clothes, and by the time we reached the aque-
duct everything was ready for sleeping, but
very little was obtained that night, the excite
mcnt and the novelty of the situation keeping
every one awake By early morning the boat
had reached the Great Falls and nearly all the
party crossed the ferry and viewed that SUBJ
tme spectacle, finer one than people 60 hun
dreds of miles to see. At we were off again,
and passing the Monaccy Viaduct with the
splendid new railroad bridge in full view, reach
cd the Point of Rocks at 6 p. m. Here we
STAYED until S, the boys taking a fine bath 10
the canal At one, while all but the guard
were asleep, we reached the point opposite the
Ferry. Early in the morning a committee Of
the citizens visited US, and some of the officers
went over to pay their respects to the Mayor,
and at 9 the boys went over without arms and
saw and examined Jefferson S rock, upon which
they were permitted to climb but we're forbid.
den to break off pieces. Soon, however, crowd
of youthful Harpers Fcrrians appeared with
hatchets and began an attack Oh the rock with
a vigor which promised its speedy. destruction;
but neither their prohcred vandalism nor their
offer to supply the requisite 'hell-go Mikes,
for fishing purposes, seemed to be appreciated,
as they were evidently expecting "a consldera-
ton.
I'm the afternoon party assembled Mary
land Heights under the guidance of MIR: Cor
uclius J Hogan an old student of the Academy,
who had had the honor Of guiding Stonewall
Jackson up to his attack on the forts there.
The ascent tried the endurance of those COM
posing the party, the afternoon being extreme:
" hot but the cool water at the splendid
mountain springs refreshed them and the
rand descent was pleasant. Most of the boys
however, went fishing for black bass, but none
were caught. At night sudden shower came
up before there was time to prepare tor It,, and
not few got little wet, but nobody suffered
from it. The next morning uniforms were
douncd and the cadets marched through the
Ferry and over Camp Hill to Bolivar and thence
back by the river road, to view the scene OF the
great flood. In front of the Mayors residence
and the Mountain View HOTEL they drilled by
tap of drum, going through the manual with
precision which greatly pleased the old SOL
dicrs who witnessed it. The boys were then
allowed to visit the scene of John Browns
raid, in the old armory yard, &c. During the
day many handsome boquets were sent to Var1-
Gus cadets with cards bearing tho names OF the
fair donors, with their compliments. Alto
gcthcr, the reception Of the boys was most
cordial one on the part o. everybody In the town.
"At q pmthe boat left her moorings, with
three cheers for Harper's Ferry and it's people.
At six stop was made at magnificent spring,
where the boys had good bath in tho Poto-
mac, and after good night rest we found our
selves at the Falls again. Here there was anoth.
er short stop, and after passing Georgetown at
twelve, We got safely home at little alter Two.
The party consisted of forty eight cadets, with
two teachers and five young men who had &C.
ccpted invitations to accompany them.
Upon the return of the excursionists this
afternoon, subscription was taken up, a sui
fcicnt amount of powder purchased, and the
Coon Killer taken out to the canal, and salute
fired in honor of the kindly manner in which
the cadets and others from Alexandria had
been entertained by the authorities and citizens
of Harper's Ferry.