Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-09-29
CRUISE OF THE RUNA WAY

Captain Hall, left the Battery pier yes
terday at noon, having on board a
small and in some few cases distinguish
ed party, whose intent it was to see by
invitation the celebrated vineyard,
wine cellar and wine press of Mr.. Al
fred Speer, of Passaic, N. j. Senator
of New Jersey, Mr. Eras-
tus Brooks and State Senator White,
of New York, were of the party. Sen
ator Herman, of New York, came very |
near going, but switched off and took
an adjoining steamer for Governors |
Island. The Runaway, Captain Hall,
then steamed across the harbor through |
the Kill Won Kull past the kerosene
covered plains of Communipaw, thence
past Bergen Point, rounding into New
ark Bay, and thence into the Passalc
River. Senator Mcpherson was the
geographer of the occasion and pointed
out all the prominent characteristics OF
New Jersey, including Snake Hill, that
wonderful outbreak of clear graplte
from a sunken meadow.
On entering the Passaic the Run
away made it lively for the bridge
tenders, there being some twenty ODD
bridges to draw The different species
of draws afforded the distinguished
party much interest and at times amuse-
ment. Newark was passed through
to the great delight of many of its peo-
ple. The conversation on board seem
ed influenced by the character of the
surroundings. Through Newark Bay
it turned on oysters, clans, crabs and
fish. In the Passaic it drifted towards
internal improvements in river and bar
Dor navigation and the supply of drink
ing water for the neighboring Jersey
cities. On arriving within about one
and half miles of Passaic the Runa-
way came in contact with the bed OF
the river. As the bed of the river
could not be got out of the way the
distinguished party did get out of the
vessel. and were rowed on shore in
several Democratic skiffs. At this
iuncture, which had all the pleasure
and excitement of shipwreck without
any of IT'S risks or pains, Senator Nc
Pherson refused to avail himself of the
gilded and betasselled yawl of the Run
away, but insisted on taking an hum
BILE scow belonging to his native State,
on whose bottom was deposit of Jer-
sey mud and aquatic planks.. Mr.. Speer
here met the party and hauled them in
several carriages to his vineyard. Mr.
Speer's vineyard covers many acres,
and is yearly enlarging and improving.
The carriages drove much of the way
unde. vine-covered arbors. Mr.. Speer
is a successful cultivator of the genu-
inc Oporto grape The Oporto resem-
bles somewhat our native fox grape in
size and cluster. 1t is not a table grape
being disposed to the vinegary in taste.
At halfpast five p. NJ, the company
having viewed all the vineyard there
was to see anG eaten all the grapes
they could conveniently, hold, were rid
den to Mr.. Speer's grape depot and be-
slowed to an upper room, v here col
lation was set for them. This, after
the fatigues of the day, and fast vary
ing in cases from eighteen to fourteen
hours, was doubly appreciated Mr..
Speer's wine, port and Burgundy,
punctuated the table at regular distan-
ces. The Marie of Passa c, a very
good looking young man, presided at
one end of the table and Mr.. Erastus
Brooks at the other The last picked
oyster being washed down with Speer's
Burgundy and the bologna with Speer's
port, the Marie arose and propounded
the health of Mr. Erastus Brooks. Mr.
Brooks responded in an able and effec-
tive speech, which, in good order, wan
dered from the wine groves of Passaic
to the remotest corners of "Our Glori.
GUS Unior," and embraced this Fam
ily of States" distinct like the waves
OF The sea but one as the ocean. Sena-
tor Mcpherson being next called upon
remarked that he had little, very little,
to say, and then, as usual in all these
cases, went on and said great deal,
saying it well, too, and with Senatorial
force and ability, and when be bad al
last finished at hint from Mr.. Specr
who sat opposite, he said also that the
cases of Mr.. Speer's wine received by
him in Washington, and distributed by
him to various Senators, were pro
nounced by them superior to anything
in Europe.
Several other speeches were made o
excellent order and quality, as any
speech must be when inspired by
Speer's wine, and then the party broke
up, each guest receiving as a mementt
two full bottles wrapped together. The
United States steg mer Runaway being
still fast to the bottom of the Passaic
the distinguished party came home by
train. Mr.. Speer has done great ser
vice to New Jersey. His has been th'
perseverance of years, his ambition t.
make pure and palatable American
wine, and his brands will yet be fount
in the wine tins of kings.-New Yorl
Graphic, Sept. I.
Mamma" said little girl, "a.
people get old does their hair grow
uuarrelsome ?n "Why. no. my child