National Republican., 1881-09-06
"ExcELsIoRn NOT TO BLAME.
Tho sunday oyster Roast Excursion Il
ptnfned-who Are 60 BIame

Tho Sunday oyster Roast Excursion Ex-
pinined-wbo Are 60 blame.
To the Editor ofTHE REpunLIcAN.
In your issue of Monday is an article
headed "A Lively Sunday Trip" describing an
excursion on boord Of tho steamer Excelsior, be.
longing to the Potomac Steamboat Company, to
Lower Cedar Point, which demands some notice
on the part of the Potomac Steamboat Company.
There Is no exaggeraion in the statements con-
tained in the article, but for the disappointment,
Inconvenience, and suffering cntailed ON the re-
spectacle portion OF the excurslonsts by the fail
ure to land them at the Point, rs well as by the
consequent disorder and blackguardly conduct of
some persons on board, the blame and discredt
should be laid where they belong and that not on
the shoulders Of the Potomac Steamboat Company
nor any OF its offcers'
FROM AN EXCITED CROWD.
containing number of rowdiey, not 10 say ruff
fanly individuals, justice Ia not TO be looked for
but the statement of the following .acts will con,
vince any reminded person that neither the Po.
tomac Steamboat Company nor any OF its officers
were in fault I'M this matter The Excelsior Twas
chartered by Messrs. Koch and Sizer to make an
excursion yesterday to Lower Cedar Point
The parties chartering were told that
owing to her draft of water she could
not come up TO the wharf at that place
In answer they said that they had made arrange.
mcnts with Count MitKiewicz and Mr.. Martinetz
who control the hotel and landing at the Point to
land the oxcursiorists atten cents head by means
of the steamer John W. Thompson, which had
been chartered by Count Mitkiewlcz and Mr. Mar
tinetz to run regularly to Lower Cedar Point A
rumor having got about that this steamer would
not do this, on Saturday evening last Mr.. sizer
made inquiry Of Count Mltkiewcz rs TO 1t, and
was answered that II was true, that he had done
all he could TO procure the use of the
JOHN W. THOMPSON FoR THAT PURPOSE,
offering TO pay well for II, but was refused Count
Mitkiewicz said he would have forty or flfty small
boats ready to take the passengers ashore from the
Excelsior. On Sunday morning the officers of the
Potomac Steamboat Company. who also had heard
the rumor, spoke to Messrs. Koch and Szer about
it, warning them of the great inconvenience that
might result IL It were true. and urging them to
inform the excursionists at of the uncertainty
as to landing that they night have their choice 10
go or not, under the circumstances. The reply was
that such an announcement would break up the
excursion, and that Count Mitkcwicz and Mr.
Martinetz would provide the means of landing
On reaching Lower Cedar Point only about six Of
the forty or fifty small boats promised were ready
The captain of the John W. Thompson,
TO WHOM APPLICATION WAS MADE To LAND
the excursionists, was offered s0o for this service
replied that he had received orders from his COM
pany not to do so. A similar request made to the
captain of the steamer Mattano, then lying at the
wharf, was refused. Aner this, at the demand OF
q number of the passengers, Captain Beacham re-
turned TO Washington. This statement Of how and
why number OF persons were put to much dis
appointment and suffering will enable the suffer.
ers and the general public to decide who is to
blame In the light of the above facts repeat that
ttwas not the fault of the Potomac Steamboat Com.
pany nor any of its officers.
GEORGE MATTINGLY, Superintendent.
Capl r