The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-13
THE oUEEREsr or EXCURSIONS.
The Newsboys Merrymakips on the Bay, the
Kills. and the Ksritap.

"Hurry up, Snifterl the fellers is all
agoin'," and the bare feet sped across the mud
dy streets. and In another minute their ragged
owner and "Snifter" had Joined the uproarious
multitude Of nondescripts that swept, whooping
ana bowling, down Liberty street early yesterday
morning, bound for the Newsboys' Picnic, given
by Commodore John n. Starin. For about ten
minutes the street was wholly given up TO the
gamins. surging against the gates Of the pier,
they were admitted as fast as they nshcd from
the mysterious depths OF their ragged apparel
tho complimentary invitation tickets that had
been given them In their lodging houses.
Swarmne aboard the barGes VIM. Vanderbilt
and Gen. Arthur, which were waiting, they
made an onset upon the immense pile Of pro-
visions stored on the lower deck OF the first
named barge, and, having been supplied with
sandwiches and bread and butter, they gradual
" filed IN to the upper dock, where numbers ,
who had In t-eir hungry rush provided taem-
selves with whole loayes Of bread, perched on
the guards, and passed tue next few minutes In
plaifully pctlng all subsequent comers with
large hunks of their stolen spoi,s.
At length all was ready tto lines were cast
OF, the nag hedcckcd tug st aimed at the great
hiwsers, Meyers's band struck up " Hold the
Fort" aud 5000 neHsboys, humping out the
time on each others bodies and 0n tue decks,
hsia sni the ;et tor l'se a coming
-r.vc tue dishes from the table,
ncyl what aye say ?"
md the iicnlc was fairly under wrv. Passing
out between the piers. tue crowds ihat had been
attracted to them by the unusual uproar were
merciles5ly pcliCd with bread, ana forced to
beat an ignominious retreat b.hiud sheitcring
sheds anu boxes. When several police officers.
WHO Ncrc among the spect tor, were also
forced 20 hy from the storm oi missiles directed
particularly al them, the furious Joy Of thet! as.
ssilants knew no bOunus.
Once out IA the stream tie uarccs were headed
Doodle aud the real fun ~ the day was begun.
Unique c pers we're cut, aud such quai { con-
ceil- carried out. Ihey ceear dc,criDiion. At
nt-t The correct thing seemed to he fnr every
boy T. knocN "a hi- neigh IOr's hat, and II Il
went overbu rd so much the be'tOr ana In a
few minutes tho fOaming wake OF tie vessels
was dc ted with hats, ahj the remains Of d T..
OF ali sizes. Shapes aud AK g. hon boys dinced.
snd nOwled ana wrestled, and fought; ana long
chains OF boys. with blg ones ~ their he dis to
act as bat ering ms, dashed about the decks
Ike erfatic comets, scattering the masses Of
their companions TO tbs right and left In their
mletuOus charges. 40 We all rose such babel
OF mingled sntieks. whistles, CT Gals, laughter
aud yelis that convgr. .ttnu and thuugut were
alke impossible. suddenly the scene changed (;
tie band struck " "Ibe fisher's nornpipr,"
and within duz second as many expert
danccis. 10 'hO centre II admirnE cigsics, " ere
footing clogs and Jigs with yigor.
Down lust the iOrts aud islands and into Rar-
e M oS Sew staten snd Pgr s 1ems
OF the boys "stumped" JOhrny Mccarthy To
jump overheard. ana In anoth : second Johnny
IN the water, -triking out for iOw b, at
which he had spieu Ia .hlrg ito way tVvard
shore. lie was soon picked ~ and returned 20
the barge. Tho txcursionists were taken up the
Karitan about ten miles.
At dinner Oh ihe lower deck l000l sandw iches.
four cart 10 ids OF hre "a. tuns OF butter. boxes
OF hcrrings, barrels OF ginger snaps aud cake.
tubs of lem onacc, aud hogshesds Of milk were
charsed upon. Aftcr that cnarge, compared
with which all historical charsvs are dwarfed
into insigui1caucc, The empiN ,eptacles ana a
few fragments were left. but npthiug more.
Every boy. after niling himself fuil, stuffed his
pockets, aud went N apparently not able to dis
pose Of another nouthful; hut within hve
minutes he wac Dack again for more. ami look
tns AS innt Gently hungry ~ though lie al eaten
nothing Tor days.
At hai-pa-t 1--WE o'clock the irrepressble null
titudv were landed In safety, and joined other
thousands - their kIud. who had n Jt accom-
panied the excursion. but Who mad also partHke ken
OF Commodore Starln's bounty In the shape II
n Grand cracker aud cheese banque: on the pier.