The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-07-28
For the Democratic Advocate,
From Westminster to Bay Ridge.
Excursionist.-Beanties OF Bay Ridge. &c

/ Oh nay tNt
| Previous Arrangements having been made By EN-.
| ployes of Western Maryland Railroad, they had
their annual excursion ON saturday. July 2lst ISIS
| IL required four trains 10 convey over the above
railroad all who participated. The rain left West
minister at 6.s3 IN. with quite large crowd aboard
The joyous surroundings of Bay Ridge seemed
uppermost in the minds of all. We proceeded as
far Cranberry Station. when the compiling bar was
broken from one of the cars and il was removed
from the train This caused detention of some Is
minutes The run to Baltimore was quickly made.
Upou arrival ut Baltimore the steamer Columbia
was found to be in waiting at the Gay street wharf
She is one of the steamers owned by the Bay Ridge
Company, and was found to be most complete,
well arranged and well kept boat. She is n side
wheel steamer, well and substantially built and has
q carrying capacity of $500 persons. She has con-
veyed to Bay Ridge upon one occasion 8 7g7 persons
On Saturday last 1900 were aboard of her. She is
commanded by Capt. John Thomas of Baltimore
and he gives satisfactory evidence OF the fact that
and ever solicitous for the comfort of his guests
On the trip alluded to your correspondent was made
a. m and started, we thought direct for Bay
Ridge. The distance is about SO miles from Balti-
more and requires usually two hours and ten
minutes for the Columbia to make the trip We
passed different points of interest trip among
which were Fort McHenry and Fort Carroll military
points guarding the approach to and harbor of Bal
timore. The first was right passing down the
Patapsco, with Fort Carroll on our left Steelton
new and important manufacturing interest was on
our left North Point. rendered historical by the
battle of that name in 1s1214 was the left Toll
chester popular resort, was on our left, off the
trance of the Patapsco into the bay. Bay Ridge was
passed on our right, with Annapolis but short dis
lance from it and in sight Poplar Island on the
left. Sharp's Island on the left and opposite the
mouth of the Choptank river. A story Is told upon
one OF the early occupants of Sharps Island that
being eccentric he conceived the idea that il would
be remunerative to rear cats upon this island and
sell them to the citizens of Baltimore-not only to
catch rats and mice, but for pets. The story goes
that the old gentleman procured quite number of
feines in order to carry out successfully his pet
scheme, put tne cats NOT oelng easily domesticated
to different parts OF the island aud while populatng
1t developed their ferocious instincts to such
tent that he soon realized the fact that the island
was infested with wild cats of whom he became
very much afraid, and found he must abandon the
island or exterminate the cats 1twasn not, however
the work day to carry the latter into effect and
parties near there are suspicious that wild still
exist upon the island. This point is so miles from
on board, began to fear he would have but little
time to spend at Bay Ridge. We were cruising
irusty and entemanly pilot assured US that his
compass was all right, but the committee had
o'clock" Just then the order was given to mot
make Bay Ridge until p m" A short time elapsed
and an order came to mot make Bay Ridge until
1880 p M We repaired to the engineers room and
found that nearly % pounds of steam was being
used for the locomotion of our craft 1t easy to
perceive that we were moving and 1t was easy to
that things generally were moving under the
direction of the committee of the ralFaad empoyes.
We had strong hopes, however, that our objective
gioat 81 eqtpgS aud drinkings on board was running
low This inspired US with hope, and about $50
reached by a causeway some 500 yards from the
wharf We We're then Informed that the boat would
leave at a4a. We hurried to land and found one of
The most beautiful and attractive places it has ever
been our lot to visit. The grounds are nicely ar
ranged in walks flower beds and parks. with grand
driveways, everything showing most exquisite taste
and skill, and interspersed with beautiful ribbon
beds and stars of foaged plants. The bIIldings
he Bay Rdse Hotel Il i magR Mi bpg e5on
Nv Rs TOO much hurried to inspect IT, but was in,
formed that i contains 100 rooms for guests, and Is
eahvenienea, AG-electric light holland cold water,
&c., and q model cafe, where immense orc I'd can
large and like the hotel is an architectural orna
MenI and most substantial and well arranged
building, laundry, llrstelass in all its appoint
hotel. a eommodious dancing pavilion aud band
stand are in close proximity to the other buildings
purposos with model BATH house and iaii supply
Of such paraphernalia as is needed You go at least
O ySFs 70 reach water ih9t : four feet deep The
can feel no fear. There is also a telegraph ofice
and ticket office in the cafe building Meare under
many obligations to the polite and genial operator,
Mr.. Fred. Mckay, for information concerning tho
resort. It's management, &c. The A. w. 6 L. b. Z.
runs to Fay Ridge, ana you esn genrn fSon the
exchange boat Tor rail- soad ticket by paying small
bonus and return 70 Baltimore on either Of the ave
daily trains James H. Brown is the general ticket
and freight agent. and is 2 good man in the right
place. Seekers Of amusement and sport have here
gravity railroad some 800 yards in length serves as
substitute for tob0ggan slide, and is perfectly
safe, They also have a shooting gallery, fly ing
horses, swings. boats, fishing tackle and bait The
fishing is excellent and upon payment of % cents
you are furnished with tackle and bait. Upon re-
turn of tackle when done using you get rebate of
10 cents your days fishing and bait costing yop 10
cents. Goat carriages nice lttle turn out consist
Ing Of small carriage drawn by o paigo we'll
bEoken goats, are furnished the boys or girls for
small sam; The company have fine stables and
furnish ladies and gentlemen with nice horses ready
saddled. A photographer is permanently On the
grounds. Words arc Inadequate to give descrip-
lion Of this PLACE at would enable one 10 realize
itst what tits Hniess visited. Suffice II to say that
we want 70 see more Of Fay Ridge aud regret that
our first visit was 80 hurried. Upon our return to
the hnaT good music was furnished by Baumens
Orchestra. of Baltimore, and dancing was entered
into with awill. Good musicwas discoursed during
the day by the HagerStown. Gettysburg, Williams
port, Chambersburg Union Bridge and Westminster
Bands, the two latter fCrmigs union. The trip I'M
the bay and Patanseo was delightful, The boat
landef at Gay street wharf at . p, ~, and was
soon deserted by exeuTsopsts Ihe larger portion of
WHOM took Ep their line al march for Hien Station,
whore the trains were in waiting TO convey them to
their homes Many will remember the excursion
with pleasure. Al the depot some little confusion
was caused by the eagerness of the crowd TO occupy
their trains. Such large crowds arc little uG-
wieldy to handle. We would suggest that II would
be we'll to have the depot and trains on such oeca-
lions niaparde TINT each person can easily reach
thefr tralh and know they are right. The excursion
is regarded By the managers as e. most complete
success, EScVRsIoNIsT,