The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-05-03
Tho Knights Of the Quill.

AT ~ CLOCK yesterday morning, ooout Twelve
or fifteen members Of the State Press Associa-
tion assembled at South Atlantic WV arf, with q
number Of lady friends, and embark ed on the
United States Revenue Cutter Mocc nsin, theuse
of which had been kindly tendere d by the Col
lector of the Port, Mr.. c. II, Baldwin. Collec-
guests, and tho officers Of the cutter, Capt. T..
A. Freeman. Lieutenauts II. 7. Blake, Eugene
Bionda and JS F. Wild, rugged out in full uni
form, were ready to receive the Editors and
their lady friends. few minutes after 10
o'clock tho lines were cast off, the ladies made
comfortable in the wheel house, and the Mecca
sin steamed up Ashley River in the wake of the
NJ. S. Allison, which was on her way to Magno.
liza Gardens, with large crowd on board. The
Knights of the Quill who not used to the
"sat sea waves Of the briny blue deep" rs
Toodaes hath il, were Mt first trife sQuemisb.
The day was fine however, the sun shone bright
ly, the bright waves glistened tn ey rippled by
the PROV of the steamer, and the invigorating
atmosphere, together with sundry splicings
of the main brace; soon restored them to health
and good humor.
In something less than On hour tho wharf of
THE ATLANTIC PHOSPHATE COMPANY
was reached. The wcll-trained mariners lowl
cred the boats from the davits, the boatswain's 5
| whistle piped out oil hands deok, ihe gang
plank was run out with marine precision, and
the entire party landed. Colonel Sloan and Mr..
Albert NJ. Rhett. the Superintendent, were pres
the party. Major Hemphill, tho handsome
young editor of the Abbeville Medium, being
agriculturally inclined, boted for the splendid
experimental fields of wheat, rye, barley, oats
| and vetch, which waved and nestled in the glo-
| rious breeze. He was followed by most of the
rural editors, and in n few moments they were
| wandering in amnzement aud wonder in tho
| fertile fields. When they returned Colonel
Hoyt wore upen his hat wreath of vetch; Col.
Bradley had bouquet of wheat and oats in his
one hand, and the others, after the fashion of
| Changers, had hay secd in theirs. The repre-
sentative of the Journal Of Commerce made
straightway for the strawberry beds, and MS n
compliment TO n gentleman and lady, who were
spooning it on the railrod track, presented them
with bouquet composed of two berries, with
but single thought two berries which beat rs
one. After n pleasant stroll through the works,
and the fields adjacent, the party returned on
board, ana hauling out in the stream, the Moe
casin steamed down the river in the direction Of
FORT SUMTER.
The trip down the harbor was rs delightful
as strawberries and cream and things, courtcoa
and attentive hosts and n bracing breeze can
make trip. About o'clock the Moccasin was
within 100 yards Of Fort Sumter. The boats
wains whistle again pipes oil hands on deck
in three minutes the anchor is overheard, and
almost before it touches the bottom the gig and
cutter are lowered from the davits, the stair
gangway lowered and the ladies lput aboard the
the cutter, and in another three minutes the en-
tire party are on tho parapets Of the historic
Sumter When the ladies have wandered amid
the mazy turns Of tho casemates and rnt holes
and have explored the two huge l5-inch guns,
mounted en- barbette, and have examined the pla-
ces of interest in the parade ground signal from
the Mocc3si9 summons them to return All this
SoeGs,s DGss0n w9t IF tfs nasa haze
shells and sakeir hats with bricks. Hemphins
mi IN nf h.so I. -
probably unload as soon rs he gets back to his
sanctum. Despite the load Of bricks and shell,
the boats reached the Moccasin, the anchor was
shove" and stenming past Sullivans Island
and Mount Pleasant, returned to tho city,
BRAVE FEMALE cASNoNEKR.
On tho way homo several of the ladies cx-
pressed desire to see the sailors work the six
pound carrsnade, which constitutes the arma-
ment Of the Moccasin. To express wish on
board the Moccasin, is to have it gratifed.-
The Quart ermaster was at once ordered TO turn
cut his division, the port hole was opened and
hve s.alwart gunnersi under the command of
Lieut.. Bionda, stood ready for action. After
going through the drill, couple of cartridges
were brought out, one Of the ladies was given
the lanyard and actually fred the piece without
screaming or even shrinking. This was repeat,
ed, as the steamer reached Castle Pinkney, an,
other lady acting as gunner. -
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THANKS
| "ioAo ieoSh'nB tho per- the association,
which on the previous day had adjourned, sub
ject to the call Of the President, held q meeting
in the saloon, Captain F. W. Dawson in the
chair.
Colonel James A. Hoyt, of the Columbia Peo-.
lister, Offered the following resolution, which was
unanimously adopted:
RESOLVED, That the especial thanks of the Press
Association are hereby rendered TO the Honora-
Ole e. III. Baldwin, Collector Of the Porte, for
his great kindness and generosity in placing the
United States Revenue steamer Moccasin at she
dispesatof the members on this occasion, and
that werecognze in him q courteous and gen
tiemanly official, whose presence in our midst,
as the representative of the general government,
is gratifying and highly satisfactory.
Captain II. L. Farley offered o resolution n
pressing the qualification sfethe meiabsrs at
the sight Of the thriving fields of cereals that
they had been permittedtoexaIhine. = adopted.
Mr.. L. B. Murray, of the Anderson Journal.
| offered resolution of thanks to Captain Free.
man and his brother officers of the Cutter. for
their unfagging kindness, and the many ntten.
tions they had extended to the members of the
| Association. Adopted
On motion, it was ordered that the Secretary
| be instructed to transmit TO Collector Balwin.
Capt. Freemcn and his brother officers, a copy
OF the resolutions, under the sedfo Of the Associ-
alton. The President then, in brief and elo-