The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-10-09
LETTER raoM e. n. MATTHEW'S,


Below we publish letter from Thomas H.
Matthews, formerly of New Hope) now of
the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. The
letter is descriptive of a cruise about complet-
ed, and we invite his friends to it's perusal
"Our Summer cruise is about finished, and
l don't know whether I am glad or. sorry. l
have had a very pleasant time during The two
months cruisage, and yet l am very much
pleased to see the old Academy once more. |
suppose shall wish myself back on board the
ship when take up my studies again. 1t
seems but yesterday that we started from
Annapolis for New Bedford, beginning the
trip which we are now completing. We left
the wharf at the Academy, at 4.3o, A. NJ,
Monday, July Goth, and, ON account of tide
and head winds, were two days and half in
reaching the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
We were towed down to the Capes by the U.
S. Tug f" Fortune" but cast adrift from her
as soon as we had got out into the Atlantic
Fortunately, on leaving the Bay, we struck a
south east wind which sent us up the coast at
eight knots an hour. We were soon out of
sight of land-and then began the seasckness
A great many of the. cadets were sick the first
afternoon, and some of them were'not Sick at
all, but most of our number succumbed before
long. The second night out we encountered
storm which lasted about two hours, and
was very violent for some time The ship be-
haved beautifully, and there was not the least
damage done to her. ,'139 sag
On Saturday morning, Aug. Sd, we came
within sight of New Bedford, and at noon
anchored in Buzzard's Bay, about five miles
from the city. On Monday, we were allowed
to go ashore to see the city. 1t is quite a
large place, containing about thirty thousand
inhabitants, and sharing the usual thrift of a
New England city The streets are wide,
well paved, and have shade trees on both sides,
making quite contrast with the streets we
usually see in cities. We remained at anchor
until Tuesday morning, and then went farth-
or out In the Bay where we remained, the
senior class working ship for practice, until
Friday, when we again ran into New Bedford
This was to be our routine for the Summer-
spending Saturday and Sunday near the city,
and the rest of the week cruising about the
Bay.
On Aug. 18th, we sailed down to "Oak
Bluffs, a pretty little watering place at Mar
tha's Vineyard. 1t has quite a surf, and is
fast becoming one of the e Newportsp of
the North.q We remained at the Vineyard
for three days, and then went back near New
Bedford. About a week afterward we sailed
for Newport and anchored in sight of the
city, the next day. We staid there for week,
and were allowed to go to shore every day ;
but, unfortunately, it raned most of the time
which had tendency to give a dismal look
to everything You remember reading Long
fellows "SkeIeton in Armor" in which he
mentions the old tower at Newport This
tower is cylindrical in form, being supported
by eight stone pillars. 1t is built OF stones,
of all colors, shapes aud kinds. aud the NOR
tar looks like mixture of powdered sea
shells and water, dried in the sun. 1t is sit
uated in the heart of the city, and is sur
rounded by an iron fence, SO that curiosity
hunters cannot get at it. The surf at New
Port is beyond description. When there is
not ripple on the bay, the waves come roll
ing In on the beach with force enough to car
ry persons, unaccustomed to them, off their
feet. The beach is OF the finest sand, and
when the sun shines upon it, the minute,par
tcles sparkle Ike diamonds From 2o'clock
until G clock, the surf is filled with bashers,
some of them going far beyond the limits i'm
posed by the proprietors Of the houses. The
ship left Newport at the end of week and
again returned to New Bedford. few days
afterward, quite an excitement was occasions
cd by the rumor that we were soon going
South. We were kept in fever Of anxiety