National Republican., 1875-07-14
jus. arrived hsr and son Of the house Of sartoris
This as 0 p. 8.
Down the River and Bay to cobb's Island.
IFrom an Occasional Correspondent.1
on BOARD TEE STEAMER JANE MosELEY, !

Il
| Cobb's Island, that celebrated summer watering
place situated about thirty miles north OF the
| Capes OF Virginia. We found about seventy five
ladies and gentlemen on board, all bound on the
same errand, but we had no difhculty In obtaining
| q comfortable state-room from
Mr.. PAIRBRoTHER, THE COURTEOUS PURsBR.
We had delightful run down the river, q little
| warm for an hour or two, but as We drew near
salt water the day was well advanced, and to live
| in such an atmosphere was Q luxury. wstouched
| at the usual landings, where we distributed q
| number Of way passengers, who had come down
| to spend Sunday. At Piney Point there was Q
| large party on the wharf, band Of music was
playing on the piazza, and all seemed to be hsv.
| ing Q happy time. A short time afterward we
touched at Point Lockout, our last stopping place
| until we should reach Fortress Monroe. On
showing out from the wharf we steamed into the
broad and beautiful Chesapeake, which presented
| o charming sight in the moonlight. number
| Of parks, brigs and schooners were discerned
sea, willie some ten Or fifteen miles ahead we
could perceive the smoke Of q steamer, which the
| quick eye Of Captain Baldwin had also discov-
cred, and who announced It as the Adelaide, of
| the Baltimore and Norfolk line, and remarked
that "If she didn't get up and dust we would be 1t
| We concluded to turn in, which we did, and en-
| joyed delightful rest until about four o'clock
| when We were awakened by the shrill whistle Of
and found ourselves at Fortress Monroe and the
steamer
| ADELAIDE MILE OR TWO BRHIND2
The grim old fortress presented q sleepy appear
ance In the early dawn, and but few persons were
visible at the new,Hygeia hotel which is situated
just on the waters edge, save the usual porters
and hackmen. A few Of our party stopped over
way. shortly after we touched At SeWaiIs Point,
place made famous BY the late war, and where
very handsome hotel has been erected on high
bluff, once the site Of Confederate battery. We
found our old friend W. T. Howell in charge, and
q number Of his friends stopped over, to enjoy a
Ss very S@ Tas
Elisabeth rivers which It affords We remained
here but short time, when we again pushed on
to Norfolk, passing Craney island, which has re-
Gently been purchased by the Government as the
port navy.yard. A little farther on a can-6uoy
was pointed out to us as marking the spot where
the celebrated
CONFEDERATE RAN aRRRIMAC
lies imbedded In the mud.
We arrived in Norfolk brig ht and early, and the
party dispersed in various directions some to the
hotels some to visit friends, and others to see the
Norfolk has improved very much in the last
three years. 1t has two very fine hotels-the
ATLANTIC, in charge Of Mr. Dodson, formerly Of
the old Fountain. Of Baltimore, aud the National
besides several smaller ones. She has tine Gus.
tomhouse and post office, three four banks, and
four daily papers, two morning and two evening.
Her trade at this season is principally confined to
the shipping of truck-potstoes, beets, cucum-
bers, onions, beans, Sc-to the Northern markets,
and the amount N that s sent North By the various
Washington-is something wonderful. One Of
her prominent business men informed US that
cotton Two large congresses have been erected,
one in Norfolk and one In Portsmouth and 1t is
no unusual thing to see
FIFTEEN AND TWENTY LARGE VESSELS
loading there at one time SO that the future looks
Portsmouth does not seem to be quite so lively
as Norfolk, but does considerable business, It
is the terminus Of the Seaboard and Roanoke
railroad, which brings down vast quantities Of
freight and cotton from the CarOlinas. About
three-quarters of mile below is the Gosport
navy-yard, the largest and most accessible at all
seasons in the United States. At present there is
not much being done at this yard but 1t is thought
Galena on the stocks repairing and are doing
some work on the new sloop-of-war Huron,
launched last spring, and Just of the yard the
as receiving ship. In beautiful grove of pines,
just opposite Norfolk, is the Naval hospital, an
Ofce.
OFF FOR coBB's ISLAND.
At p. m. the party had all returned and we
were again gliding over the waters in our own
the southwest, which was most refreshing after
the intense heat Of the city. We touched at
sswalis Point and M. the Fort, taking on those Of
place We waited half an hour for the steamer
John Sylvester, from Richmond, which brought
some twenty or twenty-five additional passengers
At O'Clock we left the Fort behind, and steamed
e hs pssing
towards Smiths Island. This was formerly the
property Of General r. E. Lee, and has one Of the
tG1 af the sef
very little sea on, SO that there were few Of the
By o'clock Oobb's Island was in sight, and Hog
Island to the north, and the boat was headed for
the land. The channel Is a very intricate one,
in without accident, and were soon on terra frma
that is, six or seven miles out In the Atlantic.
What glorious cool and refreshing breeze blows
over that vast stretch OF water, and how the
breakers roll in from old ocean!
THE MAIN HOTEL AT CoBB's
is long two-story frame dwelling, running east
ard west, and is capable of accommodating
hundred visitors there, and our party about allied
up the house for the time. They set very hne
table, with an abundance Of fish and game, and
pin alleys, sc. The island is in the form Of
semLcircle, and embraces several hundred acres.
stesmep with WSieb thew com%qpicate with the
main-lsnd three or four times week. The party
spent very pleasant day bathing, reading,
Indeed, 1t was one Of the most delightful trips
we have ever enjoyed, and we were very loath to
leave when the hour Of departure arrived. The
as it was known an early start would be made.
At q. m. we left the island, and at a. m, after
u SmOOln dAu plehedLI Voyage, We l1uuoQ ~ OII
Monroe, where we concluded with others to spend
the day, and Join the steamer on her return.
WE FOUND THE HYsEIA HOTEL
capable Of taking care Of about two hundred peo-
pie, and, from appearances, there must have been
got room on the first floor, lfrom the roof) and
q very good breakfast and dinner, with Italian
harp accompaniments. After satisfying the inner
man we walked into the fort. where we found
guard mount in progress, and fine military band,
composed Of some twenty -hye or thirty pieces,
good style. The tort for the past i've six years
has been used as an artillery school, in charge Of
BREvET MAJ. GEN. wN. F. BARRY,
an accomplished artillery officer, and who insists
that discipline must be maintained.n There are
five companies on duty at the post one frorn each
of the fTe artillery regiments in the service, and
the oficers-or at least the irst and second lfeu-
May. The course Of study pursued here Is much naa
the same as that at West Point, only the effcsrs
have but one year for the course instead Of four,
and some Of them complain Of the hard study they
school for the noncoumissioned officers and
library and @ reading Toom' which is titsed up with
chess, checquers, &C., for their amusement. This
room is located in Carroll Hall, now famous as
ment here some years ago. There Is also avery
pretty little Episcopal chapel In the for, IN
charge Of Captain & Oscar Z; Asrrick, United United
in charge Of Rev. p. J. Hasty.
The fort has some very fine ordnance mounted |
On INC dmpdlte, COuelsHnB OI olBuL anu Jou-luCu
Rodman and Parrot guns, and ten-inch seige |
mortars. There are some eight or ten fifteen |
inch guns mounted on patent carriages, with air |
cylinders to check the recoil. These guns weigh |
twenty five tons, and throw q ID
SHOT WEIGHING -FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY |
H. POUNDS
distance Of i've miles, the charge Of powder |
being one hundred pounds. On the beach Just |
north Of the fort lie q 2inch gun, Weighing fifty
seven tons, and cast at Pittsburg in 1865 Owing,
as / am told, to q want Of appropriation no car
riage has yet been made for 1t. 1t now lies on |
the beach curiosity to visitors, and Of about as
much use Q hollow log. The ordnance depart
ment have 0 large machine shop, which during
the war employed nearly thousand hands, but
It is closed now for want Of appropriation. The
superintendent, George Wright, formerly an old
employee Of the Washington arsenal, and known
as Truthful George" resides here with his fam
lily, and made one OF our party to Cobbs. But
fear have already trcspassed on your space, and
will close. We left al p. m. on our return, and
after pleasant run, devoid OF accident, reached
home, refreshed and inyigorated for the balance
Of the heated term. . s.
Press Excursion.
There VIII be another journalistic gala day on
Friday. The proprietors Of Fairhaven, the bean
tfsl resort on the Chesapeake, have issued iny.-
tstions to the members Of the press in Washing
ton to loaf for day on the beach Of the bay, and
Friday they will start out early In the morning.