The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-21
rrespondence or ihs Kichmond Dispatcb.I
BOSTON. Sentemher Ii. 1880.

RIVER LISE-oTHER FEATURES OF The
| TRIP, &C., &C.
| Correspondence Of The Richmond Dispatcb.l
B0sTON, September Is, 1880.
A Richmonder feels very small In great
city like New York or Boston; but it is
good thing for him TO come here OCCASION
ally-it enlarges his ideas and removes mis-
taken notions. Last Saturday morning a
very happy party OF Richmond folks en-
barked on the steamer Craighil at Rich
mond for Norfolk, where 1t was designed TO
take the Wyanoke for New York. Rev. j.
G. Armstrong, Mr.. II. d. Whtcomb, and
several ladies composed that agreeable little
company. The sky was without a cloud aud
the air cool and bracing. We reached Nor
folk, having made two or three short stop
pages on the river, at $3.50 p. Min about
the same time the City of Richmond makes
the run, including her landings. For in
stance, the two steamers left their wharves-
one at Richmond and the other at Norfolk
about the same hour, and met at 1l:40 A. NJ.
abreast Of Sandy Point, which Is little
more than half way from Richmond to Nor
folk.
FROM NORFOLK TO NEW YORK.
When we came alongside the Old Domin-
ion wharf at Norfolk Captain Couch met
us-met us with that cordial welcome and
hearty shake OF the hand for which this
veteran coaster is so noted. Our rooms
were ready, and the baggage was soon on
board. Ii was within a few minutes OF his
sailing time, and pron pity at O'Clock the
Wyanoke, with about forty cabin and thirty
steerage passengers, steamed down the
river through Hampton Roads past the
CapeS and out TO sea. There was no sea
on, but a gentle swell from the storm few
days before, which was anything but disa-
greeable, and had rather a soothing inf1u-
ence than any unpleasant effect. Light
house after lighthouse was passed and
pointed out. and late at night the company
retired to look out Sunday morning upon
one OF the most beautiful days that have
ever seen. Our course lay about twelve
miles from the beach, and the ship steamed
along through the beautiful green water at
q speed OF about twelve miles an hour so
quietly and steadily that al times we could
scarcely tell that she was going ahead eX-
cent by looking at the sail vessels as we
passed them rapidly one after another.
sERvIcR-THg wYANOKE.
The day passed very rapidly to our
friends, and almost before we were aware
of il the Jersey coast lOomed up with its
many great places OF fashionsble summer
resort. At IL O'Clock Rev. Mr.. Armstrong
read service and delivered brief address
in the upper saloon OF the ship, where
nearly all of the passengers and some OF the
officers OF the vessel were assembled. Ii
was a most interesting occasion. Rev. DR..
Herrick, post-chaplain at Old Point, and
his wife, were among the passengers. DIR.
Herrick, Of whom / have before bad occa-
sion to say something, took part in The SER
vices. 1t is not usual, | am told, TO nave
services On the ships; and hence the reason
why the occasion was one OF so much M
terest Captain Couch was present, OF
course, and was specially attentive ID the
arrangements he made.
In the evening | was standing on the
forward part of the deck enjoying The beau
tiful night and the fresh sea air, after hay-
ing had q firstrate supper, when one OF the
officers came up and we began converse
ltion. "How is it," asked, "that Captain
Couch seems to carry so many passengers
on bis ship?" "Oh," replied our attentive
steward, "he is so popular. Everybody
loves him here. The men will just die for
him. We all pull together, and the crew is
about as good as you can find on any ship"
} /" That's right" I replied, 81 like TO hear
YOU speak we'll OF your captain, though per-
hans be don't deserve it," The gun Oh the
bow OF the ship was Just then pointed at
me. so / went below in hurry. But joking
loDart. That is Just the way Of 1t. Captain
Couch and his fine ship and crew are all so
popular that it is not surprising he goes out
and comes in with full passenger list. Mr.
Mccormick, whom met last year, and who
ia one of the best pursers on the line, besides
being very agreeable gentleman, is now in
charge OF the office on the Wyanoke.
IN Nsw YORK.
AS the sun went down we came in sight
of Coney Island, the Highlands, and other
points on either side the bay. We were
nearing our Journeys end. The thousand
livhts Of the mammoth hotels on Coney
Island sparkled and fickered and made
beautiful sight. Some Of them were elec-
tric lights (now so successfully used in New
| York;. and then there were hundreds OF
ierry.boat lights as the boats were going to
and fro. How we were to get through that
network OF steamers could not see; Dut
the captain managed 1t, and at 500 we were
alongside the dock at the foot OF Beacn
street, where we were welcomed by our
] friends In waiting. The passengers soon
4 went ashore, aud by 10 O'Clock there was
an astonishing stiffness, notwithstanding
the fact that we were so near the great thor
oughfares of this great city. Next morning
our party was divided. Some went to ho-
teIs, others to private houses, and later IN
the day went to Boston. met Chiet-En-
gineer Taylor and Captain Fuqua, OF tue
Richmond Fire Department, who were also
en- route TO Boston TO attend the Nationa'
Convention OF Fire Engineers. Alter In.
specting the fire apparatus In the lower part
OF New York, as well as visiting some oil
the large manufacturing establishments Tor
fire supplies, we bought our tickets by the
Fall. River Line, and started for this place In
the afternoon on the grand steamer Bris-
tol--the like OF which had neither seen nor
imagined.
CuRsORY VIEW OF THE BRISTOL.
: Az we went on board q splendid band
was discoursing sweet music on the upper
deck. That was treat had not anticipa-
tied. The Bristol cost q million and a
: quarter. She is 373 feet long, SO feet wide,
and her tonnage Is 1900 tons. There were
l3l officers and men Of the crew OF this i'm.
: mense floating palace, and our passenger.list
! footed up more than five hundred souls
/ men, women, and children. As passed the
gangway | came into the Social Hail." the
flooring OF whicE Is black walnut aud yel
How pine laid in narrow strips. saw
heavy rosewood doors to the ladieS sa-
,, looms, rich and beautiful gas-ieis OF the
lpost elaborate pattern; the ceiling and PAN
: ellIpg. done In the highest style OF The dec
!, 0ralive art, combined The dainttest colors,
: and produced an astonishing effect. The
: three double doors which open into thS
ladies' saloon were Of the heaviest French