Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-05-23
A BIG SPREE.

HOsC the COn0ressnsen and Their Err lends
Did the Yorktown Trip.
Washington Special Cincinnati Commercial. ]
It is reported that mine of dynamite has
been discovered, which bids fair to cast the
somewhat mysterious Cleveland excursion
bills in the shade for explosive power when 1t
is Investigated. 1t is an item Of $23, 900 to
make up deficiency for the Yorktown cele.
bration. Certain members of the appropria-
ton committee have been making inquiries,
and say that the commission, under direction
OF Senator Johnston, had steamer on which
a large number of senators and members OF
congress lived during the trip. 1t is
said that they invited all their
friends to live on the steamer at government
expense for the three days and four nights
they were there. The result was that they
boarded some 500 people in the most extrava-
CANT style possible. A frst-class caterer had
carte blanche to make it as expensive az
possible, and he fed 400 to 500 people three
times day with the choicest Injuries of the
season. This was the smallest part of the
matter, aud would probably be passed over as
one of those things cor gressmen indulge in and
say nothing about, not eupposing that the
people who pay the bills will ever hear of it.
1t has leaked out, however, that the bills
show several thousand dollars for liquors
and cigars ci An !, inquiry into the
cIeaiea urv Of uuea asRossd
the managers Of the affair, who were trying
TO get the bill through quietly. 1t is said
that on the lower deck forward free bar was
run, and every one got what he called for
without money and without price. Nothing
was too good for the several hundred men who
made their headquarters on board the steamer.
The best brandies, WHISTLES and wines flowed
night and day like water; imported cham.
paigne was scarcely fit for the crowd to drink
SO fastidious were they about their beverages
when Uncle Sam was footing the bills.
The most inordinate scenes were enacted, 1t
is said, on the lower deck, unrestralned by
the presence of the ladies who occupied the
grand saloon above. 1t was reported that the
thing was kept up until 1t terminated in what
threatened to be horror.
The boat started back at O'Clock, and long
after dark, when steaming up the bay, the
vessel rang with horrible screams OF "Murder
-murder!'' The cries were those OF a man
In mortal terror or agony, and came from the
foot OF the broad staircase leading up to the
ladies' saloon. There was moments hesita.
ton on the part of the crowd who throDged
the main stateroom, and then, to make con
fusion worse COMPOUNDED, two ladies
fell in dead faint. There was 6
pause in the revelry. 1t was found the
cries of "murder" came from a colored man
who was being kicked and beaten by white
man. It was an hour before quiet was re
stored among the excited and frightened
people, and word was passed around that the
fun was over, for Senator Johnston had or
dered the free bar closed.
1t Is this sort OF thing that swells the de.
ficiency to $23, 5000. 1t is reported that abou,
half of this amount is for free whisky, wine
cigars, and other luxurIes in the commission
boat. The French and German visitors ani
the cabinet and president were on other boats
The sensation Of the season is promised wheI
the bills are called for in the house.