The Evening critic., 1881-09-05
THAT OYSTER ROAST.
Most of the Excursionists Get Their
Stornschs Full, While Others Fail
10 KetcIp On


When the steamer Excelsior left her
wharf yesterday morning there were over
200 passengers on board, and every man
and boy was armed with an oyster knife,
some being also provided with forks, in an
ticipation of monster attack upon roasted
oysters, which was to be the feature of the
days sport, provided for the excursionists
ut Lower Cedar Point, which place was sup
posed to be the steamers destination. The
cosy steamer John w. THOMPSON, with a
large crowd on board, went out on similar
excursion, leaving before the Excelsior.
Before the former reached the Point the Ex-
celsior hove IN sight in her wake and seemed
to be making all possible speed to pass the
Thompson. The latter reached the wharf,
however, and landed her passengers in good
style. Just as they were enjoying their
dinners or doing the graceful thing down
where the oyster roast was going on, the
Excelsior steamed down and came to q stop
about 300 yards from shore. Her appear
ance attracted general attention. People
swarmcd over her decks, resembling from
that distance flies, and she listed alarm
ingly on the port side us her passengers
pressed forward to get u view of the shore.
Those who asked why she had stopped
were Informed that she could not make %
landing because her captain was not suf-
icicntly acquainted with the channel. at
has been arranged, however" an official in
formed "a group of interested inquircrs, " to
bring the Excclsiors passengers ashore in
row-boats.' Such was the fact. A perfect
fleet of skiffs went out to the Excelsior,
and soon boatload after boatload of men,
women and children were landed on the shore.
Those VINO went ashore were In the best
ofspirits, and they, like the majority of the
Thompson's passengers, made move toward
the scene of the oyster roast. Pretty soon
rumor foated down the shore that there
was trouble on board of the Excelsior.
Those who did not 60 ashore were indig-
nant over the fact that they had not been
landed in the proper way. They could
have gone ashore in the skiffs, but rather a
high sea was running and the wind was
strong, and the moro tiiaid did Lot care
to reach terra firina by such methods.
Messrs Adam Koch and Sizcr, managers OF
the Excclsi0r's excursion, were among those
who went ashore, and as soon as they .''eard Oh
the dissatisfaction among their own pa irons
proceeded to take steps to crafty them, for
they had made the oyster roast an induce
ment of the trip, and desired that all
should be landed and take q chance at
the bivalves. They conferred with the
officers &C. tho Thompson, and finally the
captain of the latter jumped ,nto SKIN ana
rowed out to the Excelsior, and offered ("
pilot her into the wharf. This offer, 1t is
stated was refused by the captain of the
Excelsior and as represented by those VIII
claim to have overheard the interview the
refusal was made in Manner indicat-
ing that the offer was rather prcsumptuous.
| When this was reported to those of the
Excelsiors passengers on shore, there was n
general movement 20 get back OH board OF
her. A number succeeded in doing so, but
over 200 die. not, as to their great surprise
the Excelsior suddenly rounded and steamed
of again for Washington. This created the
utmost alarm among those who were left
1t was rumored that the Thompson would
not bring them home for less than fifty cents
a head. 1t was evident that many did not
have money enough to purchase return
ticket and they wandered about the sands
in apparent despair One gentleman was
particularly embarrassed. He was the pilot
of a fleet of five ladies. Standing on the
dancing pavilion mopping his perspiring
face, he gave vent to his discontinue by
exclaiming: "My God how am to get
back? Here I am with myself and five
women to look after and haven't but dol
lar" A good-natured young gentleman
standing near went to his rescue immedi-
ately, saying: "Well, that's all right, pard
if you amt fixed, we will fix 1t for yer.
Here, felIers," he continued, dashing into
a crowd with hat in hand, "chip in and get
this party out Of his scrape" Instantly
there was shower of quarters, dimes,
and niclSles into the hat and il was
not long before an ample sum was
realized. Before it was given over
to the escort of the ladies, hoW.
fever, SOME One representing the
Thompson appeared and announced that IL
had been arranged by Count Mitkiewiec2
and the captain of the Thompson to bring
the Excelsiors people up free There wa!
general rejoicing after that, and the gentle
mon owho had SO generously contributed
for the relief Of the single stranger and hi
bcyy of female friends, mentioned above
called to the collector of their money t,
settle. That youth was very promp
in his action. He proposed that the entir
amount be turned over to the bar-keepe
on board the Thompson, who was, he un
derstood, person deserving Of the utmos
charity. This was agreed to- and consider
able fun and pleasure was the result. Whel
the Thompson started home she was prett,
we'll loaded. The Excclsiors people OF
board devoted themselves to squaring &c
counts with those who had defrauded then
of anticipated pleasures, and with those VIII
had befriended them. A meeting arrange,
by Col. Dick Hinton, of the Sunday Gazette
and others passed resolutions denOuncinl
the conduct of the captain of the ExcelsiO
in leaving his passengers behind. Messrs
j. w. Moulder, j. j. Cassidy, ID. M. Keyes
Capt. Littlefeld and w. S. Cox were ap
pointed to draft resolutions thanking til
officers of the Thompson and Count Mitkie
wiez for their courtesy in bringing the Excel
sior's ill-trcated passengers home Messr'
| Xo,l nd Sizar u I'm among fnAga lnt