Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-06-20
Return of the St. Johns Academy Cadets.


The 500 through train on Saturday after
noon brought special car containing most
Of the Cadet Corps Of st. Johns Academy /;
number of the cadets, however, residing
in Baltimore or Washington, or having rela-
tivcs in those cities stopped over until Sun,
day night or Monday morning The boys
are greatly sunburnt, but look well and re-
port that except Il return Of ague and fever
to the Color Sergeant, and some slight burns
and scalds received in cooking, there was
nothing to mar the pleasure of the trip.
They reached Baltimore at So on Mon
day, and were met by Mr. ]. Albert Arnold,
former cadet, representing Mr.. Joshua
Thomas, who with his other employees tool;
| charge Of the transportation of the baggage
| through that city, and they were thus ut
liberty to march ut once to Pier Ii, Light
street, where they were welcomed by Capt
W. Z. Eliason, manager of the COLCHESTER
Excursion Company. Arms were stacked
and guard placed over them, and from IL
to the boys walked around Baltimore
visiting various objects of interest, especially
the armory of the Fifth MARYLAND, where
they were cordially received
| Lunch was taken on the boat and large
number of old students, and Alcxandrians
visited the corps, among them Messrs
Norval +. Ford, of the SIN, and G.. Edwin
Entwisle of the News the latter accom-
panied the boys to Colchester and pointed
out to them everything Of interest in the
harbor
The two hours ride down the river and
across the bay was delightful, and Mt 4:3O
the Nellie White, which is fine, three
deckcd, excursion boat, reached the wharf
ut Colchester. Here Webbcr's Band, led BY
MIR. Lewis Mares, formerly of Alexandria
was i'll readiness, and the corps marched
through the grounds, about Il quarter Of a
mile, to the place selected for the camp, a
| level field just beyond grove The bows
were very tired, but some of the younger
ones started Oft to see the various attrac
tons OF the place, 50 it was eight O'Clock
before the camp was pitched and supper
taken
At il. m. rcveillc sounded; at ! break.
fast was served up to the different squads
and 1T guard was regularly mounted, tho
scntinels Of the preceding night having been
the too eager inspectors of the grounds.
Then the boys sought the bay, and found
u beautiful bathing beach. The water is
only brackish, but the bottom is of hard
sand and gravel and the descent, though
rapid, is even and perfectly safe, whilst there
is, usually, considerable surf, without the
undertow which accompanies it ut the sell
side.
AT lO:l5 the boat arrived bringing excur
sionists, and. all the morning, the cadets
were engaged in showing ladies, young and
old, through the camp. Dinner was at y
and after dinner, again, ladies thronged the
camp inspecting everything, and the boys
were invited to lunch in the park, or cake
ice cream, Nc, was sent to them in camp.
At i:30 the second boat arrived, and at {
drill and dress parade took place at the
upper end Of the park, and was witnessed
by crowd varying from three to fifteen
hundred people. At $50 the cadets filled
the balcony on the pier, to exchange fare
wells with their friends of day, as the
steamer left. They then returned to camp
took supper, went down to the bay fOl
another bath; and finished the day by play
ing and singing for the ladies, at the recep.
ton room of the hotel At 9:45 tattoo
sounded, and at 10 taps. Then the lights
went out in the tents, and the camp subsidized
into silence broken by the sentinel only.
thus passed the four days Of an extended
picnic.
Every day, parties Of the relatives and
friends of the boys from Baltimore, and even
some from Alexandria, came over, and there
were Sunday schools and literary societies,
two and three at time.
Colchester Beach has fine hotel for sum-
mer boarders on high bluff; behind it is a
large park, in which arc swings flying
horses, very fine camera, Il shooting gai.
lery, several pavillons for dancers, plenty
OF tables for eating, and all the usual
accessories ola picnic ground except a bar,
which is very properly omitted There is a
riding course where horses can be had and
are ridden numerically, by inexperienced
riders, good rink, where little children
can get goat carriages for drive, and
line base ball ground. At the beach there
is large dining hall, a bowling saloon, bath
houses, &c. Altogether, COLCHESTER is an
admirable place, for few, if any, rowdies 20
there, because no lqnor is to be had and
there is plenty of shade and plenty of good
water well distributed.
Mr.. Massey at Harrisonburg.
a low