National Republican., 1881-08-23
KITTY ANN'S CRUISE.
THE rNNooENTs OF THE POTOMAC.
Pleasure Trip In n Schooner Down the River
and Into the Dsy-A Squsll and It's Results
How a Few Washingtonians
Enjoyed Themselves.
speclal Corresnondence of TIE RRrrn11cAH.

was in the year 1867 that the Quaker City sailed
from New York with party which that prince Of
humorous writer's, Mark Twain, afterward made
famous as "Thc Innocents Abroad Following
the example of such illustrious predecessors,
number ofgentlemen in 1875 organized club with
the above caption, and have annually with the
exception of last year. made cruise, not so ex-
tonsivc as the 1nnocents Of 1867 but far and long
enough to give some Of them n taste of Mark
Twain's description Of sea sickness. This year
THE FOLLOWING ISNocENrs CJ
made up the party: Charles L. whclpley, commo.
dorc Hanson f. Weaver, lieutenant, and clerk to
the commodore Leonard Stoddard, captain and
sailing-master; William II. Goods, purser; Harry
a. Post, executive officer; Jerry Nngc, J. r. Ran.
dali, win A. Short, Joseph L. Pearson, r. w. Man.
son, J. 2. Pcrlcy, Oliver Thomas Thompson, A. NJ.
Wooster and Midshipman Lincoln stoddard. The
schooner Kitty Ann, OF Alexandria, was chartered
to sail August Q, and an abundant supply Of ice,
lemons, meats, vegetables and the good things of
life In general was slowed in the hold and lockers
" Ne Ancient Mariner" and old whaler-sailing
Master stoddord-had given orders to weigh an
chor at half.past three p M, but owing to limo.
cent Perley having dragged n six.pound howit2cr
through the streets hunting for powder, which he
failed to find, II was fully an hour later before
we got away without the hOwtzcr) on account
ofstrong headwlnd and tide we anchored for the
nlgnt III IhpOWhlnblC OTcek, JuSt DclOW VlhHllCO'
Next morning we len bright and early and had n
fine sail down the Potomac, running into Piney
Point, where we
MET THE EXCELSIOR
with an excursion party and are under obliga-
tions to Mr.. Lawrence Gardner for copies OF all
the Sunday papers, anchored in the mouth Of
the Yeocomico for the night, and next morning
sailed out into the Chesapeake Bay, and just of
Lower Smiths Point the sea being somewhat
rough Innocent Naglc paid tribute to Neptune by
casting up his accounts over the side of the vessel
Middle Stoddard and Uncle Billy Goods were
much inclined the same way, but, although the
ship hcaved, they couldn't. A spanking breeze
down the bay favored us, so that at five p. m Mon
day afternoon we
CAST ANCHOR OFF FORTRESS MONROE
The few days at this place were spent in fishing,
visiting, and receiving visitors. Prominent among
the latter were Major Babbit ordnance officer at
the fort Colonel woodhn and Captain Keys, of
the Soldiers Home at Hampton the Bachelors" F"
Fishing and Yachting Club, of Richmond,
Va, who boarded us about daylight Tues.
day morning to pay their respects before
leaving for CObb's 1sand. Mr.. Phmbus, of the
Hygea Hotel, came over and invited us to come
ashore and breakfast or dine with him;
but fortunately for him, did not accept, as just
about that time we had appetites that would have
Saturday, the 18th, we weighed anchor at nine
a. M, and once more invaded Neptune's domains
in the bay The day was broiling hot, but the
breeze was such that IL took us up beyond York
Spit light and New Point. when we became be.
calmed. The bay was smooth ns glass. The limo.
cents were wishing for breeze, when, as though
in answer TO their wishes,
WE GOT A DREEzE.
squall struck us Just of Wolf Trap Light, and for
nvn ~ hnp aly nj fnp nj
the winds and waves. The foremast cracked with
a noise like pistol shot; the mainmast worked
in the socket the galley was wrenchcd from Its
fastenings; n barrel of water was dashed to
pieces and washed overheard the sea was rolling
over the vessel; the anchor chains slipped
and commenced to pay out, but were
saved by the exertions Of Messrs Weaver
and Thompson who, together with "old
Stod," proved themselves efficient seamen.
"a life on the ocean wave
home on the rolling Deep
may do very well TO sing about, but when II comes
to the reality, as 1t was in our case at this time
our Innocent crew would very much prefer to roll
home in the morning on terra frmd. But as all
things must have an end, SO did this squall, and
not any too soon for us, especially for our Jerry
who stuck to the cabin, sick that he did not
what became Of either he or the ship. He said II
was the rolling and pitching Of the vessel and not
the Storm that worried him. 1t Is, however, but
justice to the Innocents to say that, notwithsand
ing the anxiety that prevailed, all were perfectly
CALM AND COLLECTED
and evidently prepared for any emergency that
might occur The squall spoiled our pleasure for
the balance of the day as we'll as lost us our din.
ner, We anchored in the Rnppahannock that
night, where we remained Sunday and Monday,
storm bound Tuesday morning we again started,
bound upward, and finally reached Coan River.
Here we found intelligent citizens, who took the
papers, and for the first time since the Friday pre-.
viOus received news as TO the critical condition OF
the President. Coming into the mouth of the Po.
tomac one of the lnnocents thought to try trolling
for blue fish or mackcrcl. His attention being di.
verted from the line for few moments, some Of
the crew innocently fastened piece of wood tC
the line, which, skipping over the water the limo
cent troller jumped from his dinner and com.
menced
HAULING IN WITH A VENGEANCE,
and much to the amusement of the balance, die
not discover the wooden fish until he had 1t oI
board. Thursday, after tacking backward and for
ward across the Potomac, we hauled into st
Georges River and cast anchor OF Adams abou
twelve III. Here at Marshalls we awaited tn,
mail, which brought us letters from
FOUR TO SIX DAYS OLD
containing news and information all of which W,
had received at Fortress Monroe one week pre-
vious. This is a specimen of the reforms in thI
mail service instituted by Postmaster Genera
James. Here are three noted summer-resorts
patronized mostly by Washngonans-an intelli
gent and reading community-with every facility
for daily mail service, per the river steamers
and yet these people must await the arrival of thI
| mule three times week with the mail which ha
| been carried all around Robin Hoods barn t
reach its objective point The indignation of thu
summer sojourners here was loud and deep, ant
| could Messrs James, Gibson, Woodward, et al
| hear the comments passed upon them they woulC
not feel much complmunted, Thursday even
| ingwe .
| HAD ROYAL WELCOME
and entertainment at Marshalrs in the shape o
dancing, recitations, and singing, This was ar
| ranged and managed by Mcssrs. George Scott Johi
A. Ellinger, Sam Kinsley, and J. G. McGinn, who, to
gether with their estimabe wives, did everything
| possible to make our visit agreeable. When read
to embark for the yacht we found the ladies In tn
summer. house on the landing singing "Wer
| Waiting for the Innocents" to the tune of "Pu
| John on the Island" / almost forgot to mention
the fat and jolly Harry Rapley and Charley Laird
| who contributed their share to the evenings en-
terainment According to the memory of the old
est innocent, this was the most pleasant episod
of any Of their cruises. From this point we gradu
ally worked our way
UP THE POTOMAC
until this morning, when no wind and much ad
verse tide compelled us to anchor of Fort FootC
from whence we took the yawland pulled to Alex
andria where we took the ferry and reachc
home at noon, having been Just fifteen days out
Weaver and Pearson were dubbed the champio
fishermen except rs to sheephead, and this homo
was cheerfully accorded to Uncle Billy Good
Short was set down as the most grabbed limo
cent, having caught almost hundred cml
I'm one afternoon. Randall early In the cruise WI
cassed the best eater, but before 1t was over III
remainder Of the crew were logged by the skippC
as his equals IN that line. For rainy night fish
| erman however Post is the most reliable No ma