National Republican., 1880-10-27
BOOMING 4 NEW BOAE
Trial Trip of the Steamer Excelsior to Quar-
tIco Yestorday


Yesterday morning had been set apart for |
o trial trip to Quantico of the now steamer
Excelsior Of the Potomac Steamboat com.
pany's line, which Is to bo used in transfer |
ring southern.bound passengers TO tho Rich. |
mond, Frederckburg & Potomac railroad con-
noction at that point At $50 o'clock, the
hour announced for starting, pleasant party |
had congrcgatcd, consisting principally Of
leading business men Of the District and their |
families Among them were w. $. Rqose aud
wife, w. b. Reed and ladies, l.. Kurtz Johnson
aud wife, J. Harrison johnson and wife, A.
II. Stephenson J. W. Botelor, Frank Hume,
James X. Clcary, j. w. Mcknight, w. ii.
Clagett Thomas t. Hume T. q. Wheeler,
Henry Knight, wife aud daugh ters; John Van
Riswick, j. X. Siarp Of the Baltimore & PO.
tonne Railroad company, E. Droop, l.. q.
Hine, General p. +. Bacon, Benjamin f.
Lloyd, Thomas Young, J. 4. Dyer, John II.
Major and wife, G. w. Mattingly and ladies,
james a. McDcvitt and wife, A. II. VHss and
wife, Henry Polkinhom aud George Wheat.
ley. After u short delay the order to cast Of
was given, and tho Excelsior was soon under
u full head of steam for Alexandria. Her pas
scngcrs scattered about the boat on an in
Spcctng tour, and were loud in their praise Of
the admirable manner in which size was fitted
up. A pretty strong wind was blowing up
the riyor and the secluson a cabin grants was
availed Of, aud time passed pleasantly In di.
crtl euchro games In the gcutlemcH's smUlS-
ing-room. A representative of The NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN made q tour Of the new steamer
with her popular commander, Captain Joseph
White, and learned that shc was 237 feet long
and 81 beam, had two 40.iuch cylinders of
ten feet stroke, pair Of boilers with doublc-
rivcted shells, aud licensed 10 carry fny.fvo
pounds Of steam. Leading of lIom the main
saloon on the upper deck were eight double
and single rooms ladies' toilet and bath
rooms, aud gcuilumeu's smoking, bath
aud toilet rooms On the lower deck was
q limo Of rails, the ends Of which fitted
into the dock when landing was made, cApa-
bic Of holding four cars, u chair, postal, bag
gage and express. In making the transfer
from this city TO Qltutico, the cars are run
on board and the passengers have two hours
| relief from smoke and ciudcrs in the pleasant
saloon overhead The boat connects ut Guam
tico with the r. L. & p. railroad, this bring
| ing 1t under the cgutrol Of the managers OF
| the road. The trip down yesterday was all
| that could be desired the air being not too
chilly, but Of tracing character, which
whcttcd the appetites OF those aboard, and
mado the rcpasl provided for lhen seem twice
as good as meal ashore. Upon arriving at
| Quuutico, aud just before going into the slip,
| the boat struck Il sandbar, the paddlc.whecls
| stirring up muddy solution, but not making
any headway. 1t seemed for few minutes
| to tho uuinitia,ed that an Irksome delay was
| about to occur, but this was sUOm dissipated
| by few revolutions Of the powerful engines
Of the Excelsior aud landing was quickly
effected. Nearly all the passengers dscm-
bark I'd in search Of souvenirs vi the trip, and
| persimmon tree standing II few feet from the
dock was Doubardcd for its fruit, after cat
ing which = majority Of the pleasure
seekers exhibited painful symptoms ola desire
to whistle. Others Of the party strOlled up the
track toward Potomac city In search of refresh
ments, but learning that only poor article Of
"iar" was available, they concluded to forego
the luxury and drink more water A special
train from Fredericksburg, containing a large
party of ladies and gentlemen, was discovered
up the railroad ~ little piece" and iu u short
time they wero among their friends from
Washington, exchanging greetings and
making new uCquaiutauces. The stay at
Quantco was not prolonged over half au Lour,
aud the summons to get aboard was Obsyed
with alacriiy. The first business transacted
after starting hcmeward was to allay the
appettcs, which had been sharpened by the
trip, and the long tables IN the saloon were
quickly surrounded aud depleted of ediblcR.
After completing this task meeting
was organized aft, which was call ed
to order by Mr.. W. II. Clagctt, who nominate d
Mr. l.. G.. Hine for chairman aud Mr.. Henry
A. Jones secretary. The meeting ratified this
motion unanimously, and Mr.. Hine being
called upon for u speech responded in q few
well-timed remarks. The following commit
tee on resolutions was lbeu appointed: Messrs
w. b. Reed, James K. Cloary, J, W. Bote!er
L. X. Johnson, Wright Rivcs, j. q. Mason
John Tayloe and DR.. Lee. The committee
retired to prepare resolutions, and during
their absence short speeches were made by ex
Governor Marye vi Virginia, J. q. Mason
Judge J. Il. DoolriGh of Fredericksburg ant
others. An the conclusion of the speech
making the committee reported the following
, preamble and resolutions, which were unani
mously adopted:
MHEREAs Recognizing the enterprise IN pro.
luCing new aud available connection between
Washington and the SOUTH via the Potomac
, river be II
Re'Ortd, That the merchants and travel.
ing community are indebted 10 Captain Josepl
White and the management the Potomac steam
} boat company for inuuguratins and successfully
carrying out the project so much needed by th
construction Of the new and elegant steamer TX
Cesiou; and be IL further
Il Resolved, That the citizens Of Washington, Alex
andrR, Fredericksburg and Richmond will eve
recognize Captain White for his capacity and
energy.
Ere the meeting adjourned the steamer wa
nearing the arsenal wharf, and action wa
necessarily precipitated. The boat landed .
her wharf about o'clock p. m. with tirel
bu. as gratilcd y crowd Of passengers as eve
: went down the Potomac river DlcHsuriug.