The New York herald., 1874-07-12
YORK HERALD SUNDAY JULY II. 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET
HAPPY LITTLE FOLK.
Another Poor Children's
Excursion.
Two Thousand Blissful Fourth Ward Boys
and Girls in the Water at Oriental Grove.

Az eleut ociOck yeSterday morning tne lower
part OF Oak street, in the vicinity Of the Fourth
precinct police station, was packed with children.
They each held tickets for the second picnic excur-
sion of the Poor Chdrens Excursion Fund given
TO the children OF the Fourth ward. Captain
Ulman and his Oflcers took charge OF marshalliDg
the post In line the little girls at the head led by
the Governors Island Band. AS the clock struck
eight the happy procession marched towards Mar
ket street. some 800 girls, followed by
1000 boys, averaging in years from nve TO
fourteen As the throng passed onward
toward the foot OF Market street they were cheered
at frequent Intervals by surgng crowds. At the
pier the children were taken on board the commo-
dlous excursion barge Chicago, whose VIDE decks
Afforded ample room for this representation OF the
poor children Of the metropolis Colonel George
F. Williams, who has charge OF the excursion,
superntended the reception OF the company on
the barge, placing the girls who were all neatly
dressed In their Sunday suits. on the main deck,
while the boys. who were clad "a they apnear III
the streets every day, went above.
ANXIOUS MOTHERS
came to the dock to place their darngs under
Colonel Williams care. They remembered him as
conducting these excursions during the two pre-
ceding summers. and they seemed to think that
under his charge their girls and boys were safe
from harm and sure OF day iull of enjoyment.
Two or three hundred who came TO the dock to go
aboard we're rejected by Colonel Williams as being
too old to claim places in the category OF children
for whose benefit the contributors to the fund H.
tended 10 PROVIDE.
THE START.
At a quarter to nine, when all were on board
the fine band under the leadership OF Emil Stgler
played "Hai Columbia" The moorlngs were cast
Oh, q shrill steam whistle sounded from the pro.
peller William Watt which was to tow the
harm vUf vvNln or
works, the shouts Of 1000 young voices
on board and the echoing hurrahs OF hundreds on
the pier, the happy party Of children were on their
way for one day OF relief from the hot and
their close crowded homes. As they were hoated
slowly up the East River the band played lively
ars to which the merry young feet triDped lightly
in tune, whirllng gayly in the crclng waltz. Gid
ing in the schottische marching about the deck.
Scores OF craft meeting the barge cheered her at
chiefs as tbe legend Unrens Free Any Eucnrstnu
borne In large letters on each side OF the barge.
was read: "a IN Nature IT. Eva was propitious, giving the
the beneht Of SKY partially overcast without
rain.
REFRESHMENTS
Soon after starting eacn boy and girl received
cup OF milk, with q fresh buttered roll. On reach
ing Oriental Grove. Queens county, on the north
shore OF Long Island, twenty-five miles from the
CITY, each received a large ration OF bread, with
ham or tongue This was taken by each child on
leaving the boat In five minutes the fine beach
to the right from the landing was covered with
Fourth iSs n,e.T ward boys painting or bath IN
Luc CiedI WdtcT. MOI Much idtef tne girls
followed suit little further away to the
LETT, al dlsporung' In the invigorating
BRINE. like troops OF mermaids and mermen
When they had become tired Of this 1un they
found in the large pavilion under the hickory
trees Punch and Judy show, and other enter
talnmenis, which with strOllipg in the grove
filled their hours with nnalloyed pleasure. Colonel
Williams was everywhere, looking out that all
should have their share OF this innocent happiness
Order was maintained on the boat and at the
grove by sergeant Thompson and ten policemen
from the Fourth precinct, with five picked men Of
the City Hail squad, Messrs. Hunt Sheldon Hitch
cock, Clark and Manniere, specially detailed by
Captain Leary, 10y authority IRON the Comms-
sioners, to act under QOloqel Williams orders at
all these chlldrens excursions
HOME AGAIN.
At three p. NJ all had been taken on board again.
and as they crossed the gang plank each received
sandwiches and lemonade. As the barge's head
turned hOmeward the band set the dancers
motion again. Ihen followed ice cream and cake,
bOuntIul supply Of the last for each child. Then
more music, more cheering, as steamer and sail
ing craft were met. All the while were heard
merry peals OF happy y0ices and the time beat Of
light feet keeping step to the lively music. So,
alter long and happy day, almost 1000
kindly charity which organized the fund
to give ths heaithfu pleasure. and
often cheering Colonel Williams to the echo
for his thoughtful care in organizing and conduct
ing the excursion. Not the slightest accident oc-
Cured to mar the JOY OF the occasion. At six
O'Clock the tired but happy children were landed,
and dispersed to their homes TO tell for many
be seen by the detailed account OF expenses
below, only cost forty cents ior each child.
The following Is a list of the expenses incurred
during the day