Daily Republican., 1885-06-19
Cape May
TN E ExCURsION OF THE sEgON y
BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL
YEsTER
SCENES. AND INCIDENTS.

YEsTERDAY-TAE
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
The excursion of the Second Baptist |
Sunday school, on the steamer Repub-
lie, to the Breakwater and Cape May, |
took place yesterday, and was one of
the most enjoyable Of the season. 1t
was advertised that the boat would !
leave Fourth street wharf at 2 O'Clock 1
sharp, but as the excursiOnists still 1
continued TO come, 1t was 740 before
the last whistle blowed, and she started |
down the Christiana in tow of a tug.
During the winter the Republic has
becn completely overhauled and refur-
nished, giving it the appearance OF an
entirely new boat, and nothing has
been omitted that will contribute to the |
safety or convenience of those who pa
tronizs 1t. There were abot: twelve
hundred and fifty persons kn board.
and as soon as the majestic steamer
reached tho Delaware river the tug wss
menced to revolve. Among the pas.
sengers were the Revs. Messrs. Cook,
Wharton and Heath, of the Baptist
church; Rsvs. Messrs. Murray, Smith,
Dodd and Brown, OF the Methodist
church; Rev. Mr.. Estlin, Of the Reform
ed Episcopal church; Revs, Messrs.
Mallory, Kelly and Walker Of the Pres
byterian church, and q gentleman re-
marked that 1t was strange but pleas
ing sight to see 90 many ministers Of
other denominations going by water,
the same as their Baptist brethren, to
which o we'll known Methodist minis.
ter of this city replied that it required
the fire 10 make them go.
| New Castle on the right, and Penns-
willie on the loft bank OF the river were
soon passed, and in q short time Fort
Delaware loomed up in view. Della
ware City, with its opening 10 the Della
ware and Chesapeake Canal, was the
next point of interest, but it, the same
as the other scenes, soon faded from
sight, and was lost in the distance ~
the boat ploughed the waters toward
her destination.
On the left bank of the river, stand
ing as Is 1t does a M lie or two from the
| Jersey shore, could barely be seen, rs
the mouth of the stream was passed, on
which it is located, Port Penn, with.its
rich country, dotted with small but
com Portable farm houses, was plainly
visible on the right. In n short time
all will be activity and bus 10 around
the landing at that place, for during
the peach season tens of thousands Of
baskets of this luscious fruit grown
in the orchards in the vicinity, are
shipped from this point to Philadelphia
and elsewhere. A little lower down
those who had glasses could plainly see
what is left of ListOn's tree, an old oak
which marks the half way point between
Phi iladelphia and the ocean.
This tree stands near the beach, and
years ago, before the days of range
lights, was used by the pilots of Della.
ware Bay in shaping their course.
In fact, 1t was considered of 30 much
i'm portance that to prevent the possibili
ty of Its being destroyed, they secured
its safety by purchasing it. Collins
Beach, with Bombay Hook Ave miles
further down, both on the right, and
4 Sea Breeze on the left, were passed, aud
in a little time the bay rapidly widened
until the land on each side seemed like
dark lines in the distance. Ship John
Light attracted considerable attention,
Istanding as 1t does in the middle of the
Bay.
! This light takes its name from the
fact that come years ago large ship OF
that name was wrecked on the shoals
on which 1t is built. Another ligh,
house, some 10 or IL miles further down,
was passed, and shortly afterwards the
!, light ship with its two lights and fog
bell. As the Republic passed a salute
| was rung, which was answered by the
stea mer with q series OF shrill whistles
|, All the way down 1t was noticed that
the bay was dotted with buoys of diff
, ferent colors, and upon inquiry of one
t OF the hands on the boat it was learned
a that in going up the river the red
: buoys must be passed on the left, anl
Q and black buoys on the right.
I'll Those with black and white stripe!
are channel buoys, and show deel
water, while those with red and whit
: horizontal rings, denote dangerous.
! Instead of going direct to Cape Ma.
8 Point tho boat was headed for tn
o | Delaware BreaKwater. In frcnt of whicl
1t passed until nearly opposite Cap
o Henlopen light house, when 1t turne'
q and started across the 13 miles of blu
b water between it aud the landing on tn
!. jersey shore. During the passag
9 | across, the boatsrolled some little, an
Il several ladies suffered mild attacI
a of sea sickness. Cape May Point wa
v reached at 13 45 o'cluck, and the rus
e was made for the cars that run to til
d Island.
al About one hour and half was spen
II on the beach. which WAS employed b
n the excusionists i'll various ways. Som
}. Idonned bathing suits and sported in tn
g surf, while others searched the sand fC
|. shells. Ono gentleman was fortunat
% Ienough tn find fisherman who ha
just returned from taking up his net'
" and he secured fine mess of fish. TIL
is season at the Cape will not open fC
y several weeks, but there are already
N fair number of visitors. The hotels ar
o. lall being renovated ami put in firt
ia class erder, in the expectation OF enter
,r tanning a large number Of guests. Th
"a time few too fast, and long ere the ez
n cursion lists had commenced to weary G
in the grand and beautiful scenes, it wa
1r time to take the cars and start for Ii
la boat and home.
q At $40 o'clock the lines were cast of
IA and the Republic headed up the ba
n. Howard the mouth of the Christian;
NJ which was reached about $50 o'clocl
,eI After waiting few minutes tug mad
IN it's appearance and the boat was towe
In to French street wharf, where the OK
icursionists were landed. The First Reg
w linen. Band discoursed excellent must
x. both going and returning, and yer
r. fine ID us.Cal and literary entertainer
nd was given by some young people In II
yo upper saloon.
nj The excursion was one OF the best an
he lmost orderly that ever left this cit,
Iy land all who were on it spent day
tn iunalloyed pleasure. Unlike some
,e, the excursions that have preceded l