The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-06-29
A Semi.O Official Excursion.
A DAY ON LAKE wINNIPIsEoGEE.

Saturday was about as good day as ever
was made for sail on any waters, but it was
specially adapted to the inland waters of Lake
Winnipiseogee. where the vivid green of che
shores, hills and islands, repeated in the mirror
OF the Lake, tempered the glare of the sun,
which otherwise might have been somewhat
trying to the eye. At about eleven o'clock of
this per feet June day, there assembled at Do
ver N. III the directors of the Boston and
Maine Railroad with their families, some of
the officials of the road and few invited
guests, bound on trip over the Lake. The
company nearly filed the car provided for the
excursion, and occupied themselves during the
twenty eight mile ride from Dover to Alton
Bay, in making each others acquaintance and
observing from the car windows the scenery,
which consists chiefly of wood piles in the fore
ground, with very pretty showing of hill and
forest in the background.
At Alton Bay the steamer Mt. Washington
was in waiting, upon which the party promptly
embarked aud were soon en- route for Wolfboro
and Center Harbor. The boat is fine one,
two years old, with handsome lines, neat trim
mings and decorations, convenient arrange
abundant supply of life RATS and preservers,
which it is rather soothing to see around even
in time of calm. She is 40 feet long and
about $50 tons measurement. Captain Wiggin
is one of the most capable and experienced of
fresh water salts, and the engineer has been
plying his vocation on the same route tor thir-
teen years. On the whole the Mt. Washing
ton may be pronounced about as safe and COM
Portable boat as one wonld desire. She is
owned by the B. and NJ. and is run in connec-
ton with the road
About every isle-set body of water which has
not thousand islands has three hundred and
sixty-fve. Lake Winnipseogee is of the latter
class, like Casco Bay and Lake George. We
didn't count the islands but readily concluded
that there are the regulation 365-at all events
there are good many, and the sail among
them is delightful. Wolboro, the first land
ing, ten miles from Alton Bay, is situated on
little elevation above the waters of the lake.
Two large hotels are in sight from the boat,
one turreted, party-colored, snowy palace of
the gingerbreadesque style Of architecture, and
the other plain, substantial looking struc-
ture farther up the hill. There are said to
be other hotels and boarding houses. Along
the shore are many pleasure boats and the sail
ing ana trolling for lake trout are said to be
fine. & +.
Between Wolfboro and Center Harbor-a
distance of twenty miles-are some magnlf-
cent scenic effects The Franconia hills are in
full view, considerable part of the west side
of the White Mountains with the topot Mt
Washington, shrouded in his gray veil Of cloud,
and many other very respectable elevations
Specially noticeable at this season is the inten-
sity and vividness of the green on field and
forest-due probably to the unusual quantity
of rain in the spring and early summer. Cen
ter Harbor lies in sort of angle among the
hills and looks as though it were pretty effec-
tually sheltered from the access of breezes. A
fine large hotel looks upon the Lake flom the
hillside, and a few houses are seen among the
trees. Some of the more enterprising of the
excursionists went ashore on a tour of inspec-
ton; but after wading through large quanti-
ty of hot, deep and peryasiye dust and sand
which seems to be a leading feature of the
place-around several woodples, they were
quite ready to obey the call of the bell and rush
back on board the cool and clean steamer. The
scenery about Center Harbor is lovely and there
are probably fine drives, walks, sails and fi-h-
ing in the vicinity. 4 +- f4}
Railroad directors, in moments of relaxa-
ton from the awe-inspiring dignity of their Or
binary bearing, are very much like other peo-
pie; in fact they display very substantial capa-
bilities for iollity and frolic. The dinner table
is The best field for the exhibition of these
qualities. and the elegant banquet spread in
the spacious saloon of the Mt. Washington was
scene of much rolcking fun, as well as some
very respectable gastronomic feats. The party
seemed to enjoy the situation to the utmost,
strolling up and down the deck, chatting in
groups, discussing the scenery and in general
disportlng themselves after the fashion of the
average pleasant and congenial party of excur-
sionists.
At Dover, on the way home, the party began
to break up, and from that time hearty fare
wells were frequent, until everybody reached
home at night somewhat weary but filled with
the memories of delightful day and with an
ticipatons of the trip which is arranged for
October, when the forest-clsd shores of Winni-
piseogee are Respondent with autumns gaudy
and varied hues.