The Evening critic., 1881-09-06
"ExcELsroRu NOT TO BLAME.
The sunday Oyster Roast Excur.
sion latncd-WhoA Arc 20 Blame.

SION ExphntneU-WnO Arc 10 Binmc.
To the Editor Of The Republican:
In your issue of Monday is an article
headed " A Lively Sunday Trip" describing
IN excursion on board of the steamer Ex-
celsior, belonging to the Potomac Steamboat
Company, to Lower Cedar Point, which de-
mands some notice on the part of the Poto-
mac Steamboat Company. There is
no exaggeration in the statements con.
tanned in the article, but for the disapp0int-
ment, inconvenience, and suffering entailed
on the respectable portion of the excursion
lists by the failure to land them at the
Point, as well as by the consequent disordec
and blackguardly conduct of some persons
on board, the blame and discredit should be
laid where they belong, and that Is not on
the shoulders Of the POtomoc Steamboat
Company nor any Of its officers.
From an excited crowd, containing num-
Der Of rowdies not to say rufianly individ-
uals, justice is not to be looked for; but the
statement Of the following facts will con-
vince any fair-minded person that neither
the Potomac Steamboat Company nor any of
its officers were in fault in this matter. The
Excelsior was chartered by Messrs. Koch
and Sizer to make an excursion yesterday to
Lower Cedar Point Theparties chartering
were told that, owing to her draft Of
water, she could not come up to
Unc WHIT NJ UndU pldCc LII All
swer they said that they had made arrange
ments with Count Mitkiewicz and Mr.. Mar
tinetz, who control the hotel and landing
at the Point, to land the excursonists at
ten cents a head by means of the steamer
John w. Thompson, which had been char
tered by Count Mitkiewicz and Mr. Mar
tinetz to run regularly to Lower Cedar
Point A rumor having got about that this
steamer would not do this, on Satur-
day evening last Mr.. Sizer made
inquiry of Count Mitkiewicz as to
it, and was answered that it was
true, that he had done all he
could to procure the use of the
John w. Thompson for that purpose, Offer
ing to pay well for it, but was refused.
Count Mitkiewicz said he would have forty
or fifty small boats ready to take the pas
sengers ashore from the Excelsior. On
Sunday morning the officers Of the Poto-
mac Steamboat Company, who also had
heard the rumor, spoke to Messrs. Koch and
Sizer about it, warning them of the great
Inconvenience that might result If it
were true, and urging them to inform
the excursionists at once of the uncertainty
as to landing, that they might have their
choice to 60 or not, under the circumstances.
The reply was that such an announce
ment would break up the excursion, and
that Count Mitkiewicz 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 cap
tain of the John w. Thompson,
to whom application was made to land the
excursionists, was offered 500 for this SER
vice. He replied that he had received orders
from his company not to do SO. A similar
request made to the captain of the steamer
Mattano, then lying at the wharf, was re-
fused. After this, at the demand of number
of the passengers, Capt. 'Beacham returned
to Washington. This statement of how and
why a number of persons were put to much
Disappointment and suffering will enable
the sufferers and the general public to de-
eide who is to blame. In the light of the
above facts l repeat that 1t was not the fault
of the Potomac Steamboat Company nor any
of its officers. .
GEORGE MATTINGLY,
Superintendent.
Sentemher X 1881