National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-07-31
ONE OFOUR WATER ROUTES
FROM WASHINGTON TO BALTIMORE
BR STEAMER.

NARRATIVE OF THE TRlP-A PLEASANT
sAIL-THE VARIOUS PLACES TOUCHED
CHARACTER AND EXTENT OF TUE TRAF
FIG BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.
tCoErespondenee OF the National Republican,
baltimore, July 80 1874.
Trips to the various landings on the Potomac
river and Chesapeake bay by the steamers ply.
ing between Warrington and Baltimore have
during this season, become very popular, per
some preferring this means Of transportation
owing TO the advantages afforded 10 view the
points OF Interest along the route.
Tuesday night large number Of residents
o. Washington and Georgetown awaited them
selves Of the opportunity Of taking q sail OF
their children, embarked on this vessel at p
m. In all there were about ono hundred pas
sengers; among whom was q large number Of
cOlored people. The night was pleasant, and
notwithstanding the cloudy sky, the moon oc
cssionally shone forth brilliantly. A little az
ter Q O'Clock the whistle OF the Columbia blew
TO "let loose" and soon she was released from
her moo rings and under way.
AFTER STARTING,
the passengers gathered together IN groups on
the decks aud arranged for making Themselves
comfortable until they reached their destina-
tion. The colored folks made themselves
happy on the lower decks by singing old plan
tation and other songs, particular among
which were "Old Aunt Jemima" and "Sher-
mans March to the Sea-" The various voices
were well represented, and If the music was
not always smooth and harmonious, the wild
melody and the intense earnestness Of the
sable choristers gave It a charm and interest
that more than compensated for the lack Of
vocal training and the absence Of artistic ex-
ecution. The excitement which was produced
among the colored passengers by this i'm
provised concert communicated to the white
folks, who gathered around the singers on the
lower decks. This, at first, was considered as
an intrusion by the colored people, and the
singing ceased, but after q satisfactory cXpla-
nation they resumed. "Massa's in the Cold,
Cold Ground" "Thc Year of Jubilee" 'Old
Massa Lincoln sot us Free were then sung
with vim. The whistle blew announcing the
approach to the ancient
CITY OF ALEXANDRIA,
and the singing ceased for the time being. A
few moments more and the Columbia was made
fast to the wharf at the foot of King street,
when several additional passengers embarked.
The first mate called the hands together and
half hour was spent in taking on as freight sew
eral crates of crockery, some grain, guano, and
produce. After leaving Alexandria your cor
engaged in conversation with the
Captain James Harper, and on in
Vitation of this veteran commander, visit was
made through the boat.
1t was built in Baltimore in 1928, and has
since that period undergone numerous renova-
tons, and Is now In perfect order, with Abund-
ance of sleeping accommodations and all other
required of frst-class passenger
steamer. In fact, the "Old Columbia" is Ike
The old Barlow knife that had been repaired so
often that nothing but the bones on the handle
remained to remember the knife. The Colum-
Dia has undergone so many changes that moth
ng of the original boat remains but her name.
The present commander, James Harper, has
had charge Of the vessel during the past
.hirty-fpur yeafs, and there Is not landing on
The route between Washington and Baltimore
but what he is perfectly familiar with. The
next stopping place after leaving Alexandria
was
PYE's WHARF AND GLYAoET,
IN Charles county, Nd, where lot of miscel-
aneous stores were taken on and articles neces-
sary for the maintenance of the hotel at this
point were placed on the wharf. The tobacco
and grain shipped from this landing comes
from the small farms adjacent surrounding
country
SANDY POINT,
IN the same county, was the next stopping
place, but little Of consequence was shipped
from this point. Several passengers landed,
to spend the heated term in this vi
Unity. After completing the load.lg at this
point, the vessel continued on to
LIVERPOOL POINT,
where five hogsheads Of tobacco were loaded
md some miscellaneous stores LEFT on the
wharf. This point is one that became gene
ally known during the late war as a depot for
FNrrN ANfv1 1YUkw h.
Potomac, and from this point Hooker's divi-
lion crossed over into Virginia. Other than
his there is nothing attached to It that would
attract or interest the stranger. The steamer
crossed the river after leaving this landing to
ToMPKINs' POINT,
n King Georges county, Virginia. This place
5 better known as Boyd'S Hole, and is q very
I'D landing. Here $50 sacks Of wheat were
AIKEN on. This wheat was brought to the
wharf from the surrounding counties in carts
lriYen BY darkeys, who made the night lively
Turing the process Of loading by their singing
and merry shouts. Again the vessel changed
her course to the Maryland side aud stopped at
AEDeEMIdA STORE,
q Charles county, Here 9 small lot Of mis-.
ellaneous stores were taken On, And q few bas-
engers landed And also received several pas-
engers. ,,z,
BLUFF POINT.
The steamer, after leaving Andgemima's
tore, proceeded to Bluff Point, which Is beau
iful summer resort on the WicomIco river, haV-
ng lately been purchased by DR.. V. shinn, pro-
rietor of the Union hotel In Georgetown, D.
=, and Mr.. E. G. Wheeler, q well. known mer-
liant Of Washington city. The point contains
25 acres of land, and has, since coming into the
ossession Of these gentlemen, been greatly i'm
roTed. 4 long wharf from the point to the
hannel has been erected, and SO In the future
II boats travelling On the river that have pas
engers for this place will be enabled 70 land
7ithout the least difficulty. DR.. V. shinn and
amily and the family of Charles English, col !
ector Of the port of Georgetown, landed for 8
ojourn of q month or more. Mr.. Frank MIL |
sr, Of Georgetown, is also here.
CHAPTIco WHARF
Tas next visited. This stopping place is In St. |
lsry's county, Nd, and is quite an extensive |
hipping point. A long wharf, from the chan |
el TO the land, has been constructed, and sheds |
uilt at the end for the storing of merchandise |
waiting shipment. The shipments from this |
lace consist principally of grain and tobacco. |
We took on board forty 70 fifty hogsheads Of
obacco and three TO i've hundred sacks of grain |
nd corn meal, Mr.. o. G. Hayden shipping the |
obacco and the farmers around shipping the |
rain. After the freight had been loaded, the |
lands were invited into the grocery store near |
y and supplied with their grog, treat they |
realty relished, after which they mounted |
beir oI-teams and returned to their respective |
plantations.
PLowDEN's WHARF,
n the Wicomico river, in St. Mary's county, |
Id, also received visit. 1t Is at this point /
get of the Columbia to reach Col |
on's and Blackiston's, two favorite resorts on |
his river. A dozen or more ladies and children |
and wendell their way to the above |
,laces, which, t. Is said, are well pstrOniLed, !
he hotels in both being pretty fun. The |
cenery in this vicinity Is grand.
THE POTOMAC FLoTLLA.
This point Is considered the best freight depot |
Ilong the river, and thousands Of dollars |
worth Of stores are shipped from here daily. |
The shipments consist principally Of grain, !
tides and tobacco. On the wharf IL 9 large |
tore and post Office, kept by Mr.. Freeman, |
rom which much Of the clothing and groceries |
ised by the colored people are purchased. On |
be wharf was large number Of the visitors |
o Colton's and Blackiston's awaiting the ar |
ival Of their friends. Among the number was |
honest" Joe Carroll, Of the Twentieth dis |
riot, Washington, who is stopping at Blacki- |
tons for q few weeks. The steamer after |
eayihg Plowden'S wharf headed across the |
Yicomico river to
LANcAsTER's WHARF,
there short stop was made TO take on q cou- |