The Portland daily press., 1874-09-01
Interference that led nearlv al, Of NC 20 rotrrn q


fact we took several of Mr.. Weaver's guests
deserters who had gone off to Martha's Vine |
yard and Cape Cod.
During the day many thousands of people |
visited the ship, and she was an object of Curl |
osity and interest to the residents of and visitors
at the city by the sea, in whose commodious
harbor she had sought a temporary haven.
After a sumptuous dinner in the spacious sa-
loon, the decks were put in order for mass
meeting. and the Peking was, to quote one of
the speakers, subjected to the final and
severest test of her powers of endurance in
being compelled to encounter storm of
American eloquence. Russell Sage, the Pres.
and interesting sketch of the history of the
corporation he represented, and the aims and
objects of the new departure which the excur-
sion was designed to initiate Mr.. Sage was
formerly member of Congress from the Trov
district in this state, but for several Years has
resided in this city and is one of the leading
railway managers of the country. His intro
dnction into this corporation is recent, and he
took hold of it at a time when it's fortunes
were so desperate that it seemed inevitable for
a while that it must go into bankruptcy. Last
October its stock was selling below % per cent.
1t has now advanced to AZ or As. By close econ
emy, by careful outstanding of resources, by
judicious use of all the means of revenue at its
disposal it has been lifted into. such compare
tive soundness of condition, that the Directors
have seen their way clear to contract for this
ship, which cost equipped 81 100000, and also
for her companion, the .Toko''- they call them
"the City Of Peking and .sthe City Of Toxic,
but hope they will have the good sense to
avoid such superiority of title before the ves-
sells are registered, for it is at once an affecta-
ton and an imitation-the Toxic to follow inn
mediately and to be ready for sea within sixty
days. They have also given orders for three
ships of 5000 tons burden each-these being
nearly double that size. All of them are to be
built by John Roach at his shipyard on the
Delaware.
This great corporation has now thirty-two
steamers afloat of au aggregate burden in round
numbers of an hundred thousand tons; of
these seven are new screw boats, and the resi-
due are side wheelers They run line from
New York to Aspinwall, 1900 miles, Panama to
San Francisco, 5000 miles, San Francisco to
Hong Kong 5000 miles--11. 300. Besides this main
line, five of their side wheel boats, from 1000 to
2700 tons, ply between Yokohama and Shang-
hal. They also have regular line from San
Francisco to San Diego, distance Of 4SO miles,
and another from Panama to Acapulco.
As an example of the enormous saving of
cost in the employment of screw steamers in
the place of side wheelers, Mr.. Sage cited the
comparison between the last voyages of one of
each class of these boats.
The Henry Chauncey (side wheel) ran from
Panama to San Francisco in seven days and
four hours, consuming 552 tons Of coal, or at
the rate of " tons daily.
The Acapulco made the same voyage in seven
days and eight hours, using 1873 tons of coal,
| less than third as much as the Henry Chaun-
cey, or at the rate of % tons daily.
Here was a saving not merely of 1863 tons of
coal in seven days voyage, but of the space
which that quantity of fuel occupied. Either
| would have afforded a reasonable profit of such
| trip.
The side wheel steamer Japan, one of the
largest of the fleet, 1900 tons burden, burns six
| ty tons of coal-not severe consumption for a
ship of her class.
| The Picking is $500 tons burden. The same
speed can be got out of her with 40 tons of coal,
and she can carry taoice as many passengers and
three times as mach freight
| Gov. Parker succeeded Mr.. Sage and was
followed by Mr., Kellogg, Mr. Townsend, Mr..
Kelly, Gen. Horace Porter, one of the wittest
| speakers ia the country, Erastus Brooks and
| others. Loud calls were made for Mr. Roach,
but with the characteristic modesty of genius
he refused to appear. He was cheered heartily,
however, as every allusion to him throughout
| the meeting had been. Mr. Rufus Hatch, the
managing director, whose share in the conduct
of the excursion, as well as in the resusctation
of the fortunes of the company was apprecia-
lively recognized, was also summoned to the
improvised rostrum, but could not be persuad-
ed to make his bow to the expectant audience.
After the meeting adjourned there was vocal
and instrumental music in profuse abundance
and of excellentqnality, and dancing to the full
capacity of the extensive deck.
At midnight the last visitors were despatched
to the shore, and soon after the floating castle
was speeding homeward. The ensuing m orn-
ing was as lovely as the two preceding days had
proved, and the enjoyment of everybody on
board seemed to have become even greater as
better acquaintance grew up among the pas
sengers, and "reminiscences of the excursion
seasoned the conversation of the parting hours
We cast anchor in New York next day al
about one o'clock P. NJ. but Mr.. Delmonico
had by that time spread out one of his most
tempting feasts, of which all were disposed to
partake before dispensing. so that it was three
o'clock, or Whereabouts, before the little steam
vessels began to bear away the gratifed voyag.
ers. On reaching the wharf carriages were al
hand to bear the company to their respective
destinations Nothing whatever had been for
| gotten or omitted which could conduce to the
pleasure of the guests. 1t was in all respects a
perfect affair of its kind, and reflects the high.
est possible credit upon the taste and hospital.
| ity of the directors, under whose auspices il
was conceived and accomplished. They exhib-
tied no less discernment in the selection of their
visitors than in the preparations for their en-.
tertainment The Ladies' and gentlemen of the
party were carefully observant of propriety, and
| yet not in the slightest degree formal nor con-
strained. The utmost good humor prevailed
throughout the trip, but no coarseness of speech
or action no excess of boisterousness. Wine
flowed in abundance, but there was not an in
stance of immoderate use of it. The President
conducted himself with his usual urbanty, and
mingled with his fellow passengers with that
entire absence of pretenson which is so marked
| feature of his character. He hasn't particle
of the pride of station about him. and yet there
| is an atmosphere of dignity around him which
compels the instructive Difference of all who
come into his presence. He is fond of and al
ways ready to take full share in conversation
| if he is in company which is congenial to him.
But his capacity for reticence, when he is not
entirely sure of his audience, is inexhaustble.
| He is kindly natured man. This trait is OBJ
servable in his minutest actions He is also a
| gallant man, in the best sense of the term. His
attentions to his wife, though never obtrusve
ror demonstrative, are nevertheless, always
constant and delicate.
Altogether the initial voyage of the stately
Picking gives augury of successful career upon
the Pacific ocean, whittier she will shortly wend
her way, fine specimen of American skill and
enterprise, and representing in an especial man