The daily gazette., 1879-06-17
FONT DELAWARE
Spending . Pleasant Afternoon ON
Pea Patch Island.

At 130 O'Clock, yesterday afternoon,
. Gamer John A. Warner, which was on
gagged for the day by the congregation of
st. Peters Catlolic Church, made sec
ond rip TO Fort Delaware, to which
place an excursion had been arranged
for tits day. About $50 persons went on
his trip which number, coupled with
the $50 who down IN the morning, made
total of over one thousand persons par
tcipatlng In the excursion.
The boat arri we'd arrived ar the Fort
about 2.j5 O'Clock, anu the exeursionisis
Immediately landed and began examin-
Ing the interesting points of the old for.
tiiica ions. Those who arrived in ths
morning had finished their tour of in-
spection, and were engaged in dancing
ard other amusemeLts.
Fort Delaware aside from ITS array of
guns ami piles of shes and shell presents
anything nut warke appearance
There is no garrison there now, the
place being in he possession of a few
tenants, WHO are retail ned for the pur-
pose of keeping the buildings and
grounds in repair. Most of the guns are
dismouDted, and the gun carriages are
stiff from dust and misuse. As a means
of repeliing an armed invasion Fort
Delaware has long since outlived its use
| fuiness. and 1t Is probable that 1t will
never rise above the position 1t held
during the late war-a receptacle for the
prisoners of Invading armies.
During the day every part of the Fort
and of the entire Island was free to all
the excuIsionists, and they vigorously
improved their opportunity. They ex-
| amiIed every nook AMI corner of the
buildings, and explored all the fertile
rosom c+s of Pea Patch Island. They
peeped into the magazines aud dungeons
cauti ously Inspected the big guns, aud
clambrred upon the numerous battle
ments, to enjoy the splendid view OF the
river and surrounding country that was
| obtai ma BILE from their tops. When tired
of this am usement they retired to the
large dancing hall, or rested IN the pleas
antiy shad d spacious grounds enclosed
by the furtihcations, where base ball
qnoits, croquet, swinging, and othel
pleasant aInnsemeuts were indulged II
during the entire afternoon. The Island
proved most wonderfully attractive, and
those who at first bad been Inclined Il
grumblc aud find fault with it as AN TX
cursion resort, finally concluded tha
For' Delaware was one of the most de
cidedly interesting places they had eve
visited.
At $50 o'clock the steamer started TO
home, with fresh breeze stirring thu
river into a mass Of white-capped bill
lows, and strong flood tide e. a d he
on the way up. Just before III time o
departure, owing t the heavy tide, th
boat bruke her cable, and was carrie'
away from the wharf to the great con
stern tion of "a Dumber Of persons not VI
board who thought they wou surely b.
left. just at this time the steame
Thomas Clyde came dashing past, on ih
return from Collins Beach, and many o
those on the Wdrner, who were unde
the impression that their boat had start
Ell, thought lively race was in progress
They were disappointed,h however, as tn
boat, instead of going oD up the riveI
put back TO the wharf and again mad
fast.
During the homeward trip, as well a
uuiing the ride down, dancing was in
dulged in, while some excellent ,oca
music was fu nished by the Rosslnl an
and Mozart Clucs of st Peters and 81
Mary's churche-, who combined for thi
OCCASION. Among the splendid choruse
rendered were, 'sThe Wolf is ON til
Hill,""Hail us, ye Free" and "Com
VIII. re my Love lies Dreaming" Josepl
Featherstone satg "Good-bye at tn
Door," it excellent style, and spl Ldi
duet, "Larboard Watch was given, b.
Messrs. Walters and Toner. Messr'
Minute Gun at Sea-" in spirited mar
ner. The singing, which was under tn
direction of Mr.. w. ID. Kavanaugh, wa
very much enjoyed, and proved one {
the most successful features OF the el
Cur,ion.
The steamer arrived in Wilmington {
1880 o'clock, everything having passe
off pleasantly and to The satisfaction
al! concerned. II was one of the mo.
.. pleasant and orderly excursions that evt
left this city.