The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-26
Tho rnuocents Abroad.

on THE f1sHiNG.LiSa-AHsSi ~ ~. = 8. = =
SICKNESS 7Hk PAIlESfIs
sIa,s FOR SMOOTH wATER-1SclpENIS---
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Sc, &c.
correspondence OF the Richmond DsspatchJ
OK BOARD SCHOONER g INDEPENDENCE
IN JAMES RIVER, August "a. 1873.
AS we lay at anchor yesterday evening
near Hampton Roads, our stauncn, last
LITTLE schooner rocking gently under tue
;nfuence of the swell from the ocean, anu
= cool. pleasant breeze blowing from tine
Northeast, ] could net help thinking how
many OF our friends there were IN Rich-,
n,ond who would give months wages to
NE similarly situated. would not exchange
the trip for any have ever taken during
INV summer vacations. But as only few
of the personal friends OF our parry Know
anyfhing of this fishing cruise, l will briefly
tell che others aboutit. 81 49, f., ~. -
TIE cRu1sE-rHE CLUE. p,l,..
Sometime during the early spring 8 num-
bcr Of conference.-the. John r. Mayer and
Cap,sin F. A. Drew, OF the Old Dominion
Steamship Company Messrs. Ira w. Blunt,
Morris Ciacget, S. VEG. Fisher, James IL.
Capers. Z. K. Murray, c. A. West, and the
yriter--aSreed 60 charter vessel and spend
= week or ten days fishing and sailing
oronpd Cobbs Island, Mobjack bay, Back
r,ver. &c, during the month OF August.
Time passed. and finally. after much talk,
the schooner independence, Captain smith,
was chartered and fitted up as comfortably
~ one could desire. I need not enter
into a detailed account OF our preparations,
or saw how anxiously we waited for the DAY
and hour 10 come when We were to sail.
The time finally arrived, and amid the
waving OF hanGkerchieis, cheers, and good
wishes of our friends, we1eIt the wharf at
Rockets in tow Of the steamship Wyanoke.
at City Point we dropped our toW-iine and
set sail. Until Saturday midday we had no
breeze. but about that time the wind sprang
IN and we were soon far on our way and
almost in sight OF the white caps OF OLD
ocean. It was most glorious SAIL our
vessel is fast sailer, and made eXceiient
time. I don't suppose more congenlai
company OF gentlemen ever went on on
similar trip, and consequently the time
passed rapidly and agreeably. ]. Sir
INCIDENTS, ETC. % -.
I might relate many pleasant incidents OF
cur trip, but it is not necessary. l can't
help mentioning an amusing scene at the
wharf just before we left Richmond. Cap
Tain Drew. the venerable member OF our
party, an experienced seaman and an aSre. :
BILE companion, was met on the wharf by
two friends and escorted on board. One
friend seized him by one arm and another
by the other, while third put the captains
satche on huge truck. and away they hur-
ried to the schooner. No sooner was the
captain on board and the vessel under way
than an old shoe was thrown across the
bows OF the schooner, while some one else
fired salute. The steamers, too, at Rich
mond gave us a parting salute. So we went
of in high spirits. At City Point we parted
with the Wyanoke, and proceeded on our
way.
Saturday evening found us in deep water,
and Saturday night, near Mulberry island,
we anchored and commenced fishing,
taking before midnight upwards OF two
hundred fish and crabs. On Sunday at II
o'clock we were at Hampton, and several OF
our party went to church. At night we had
service on board. Monday we set sail fol
Back river. When I awoke, to my aston.
ishment, l found our vessel in Chesapeake
bay. A few of the party, at least, never
dreamed OF leaving Hampton before Tues
day, and our surprise can very well be ap.
preciated. The fishing at Back river was
very tine, and we caught many hundred
fish without difficulty--some OF them very
fine. I never saw as many fish taken with
hook and line in all my life.
Observation-Disclosures
Every man on hoard was anxious to be
sea-sick. That was one of the objects OF
the trip. We believed it would be the best
medicine that could be taken after twelve
months OF hard work. At Back river we
had the first case on board, and that worthy
young gentleman hardly raised his head ur-
Ill we reached Old Point on the return trip.
Many funny things might be written OF his
case, as we'll rs that Of another handsome
gentleman, who actually threw up his front
teeth on Thursday while we were at Ocean
View. The sea was very high and fresh
breeze blowing from the northeast, which
made the sail a pleasant but wet one; nearly
every one in our boat was as wet as il he
had been dipped overheard. l never had
such sail in all my life, and how pleasant it
will be to our party hereafter to recall and
discuss the incidents of our trip. There
were several other members OF our party
who were sick-very sick-and they now
declare that they would not take fifty dollars
for the trip.
There is one disagreeable feature con.
nocted with the trip that / have not yet
Back river. They came Oft from the shore
not by millions, but in schools, and by the
peck full. AS to sleeping, that was not pos.
sible. We walked the deck, smoked, fought
the mosquitoes without cessation from
O'Clock until we got under way Wednesday
morning, and with very thankful heart we
sailed out into Chesapeake bay. But even
there we had them, for hundreds had
slowed themselves away in the hold. We
were all we'll peppered by them, and some
OF us would scarcely be recognized by our
most intimate friends.
AToLD POINT.
The weather at Old Point was delightfully."-
cool on board, but ashore very warm. We
sailed and tished, enjoyed the music,
watched the dancing, listened to Captain
Drew's interesting stories, and had good
time generally. witnessed some very in
teresting target-practicing one evening
while sailing. The Artillery School fire
sixteen shotsavery evening at 5 o'clock at
q target in the bay about two miles from the
Point. think Whitworth gun was used.
/ saw two shells fired, and both struck the
target, which was buoy, and sent it rolling
around for several minutes. 1t was very
interesting sight.
al Old Polnt, as we'll as everywhere else,
we caught an abundance OF fish. We met
Captain ellis, OF the United States receiv-
ing-ship Franklin, q brother OF Mr.. 3. w.
ellis, of Richmond, and found him n most
companionaDIe gentleman. He was out in
his United States launch on fishing cruise.
Our first meeting was at Back river, and on
Thursday we met again at Old Point. Fri
day, when we came away he dipped his
colors in honor OF our party. / am told it
is very high honor for a United States war
vessel to dip her colors 10 merchantmen,
and so We felt much complimented.