San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-19
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
RocKPoRT, May Is, 1882.

Inc eXcursionlsts OF the Press as
ISOLATION, which left San Antonio q
2 p. M. Saturday, were most enthusi
astic In their expressions of deligh
over the things they had seen in the
old Alamo city, and were hungry for s
more protracted stay. The genera
impression among them was that they
would like to spend week in this
historic city, and take in the rapid
changes by which it is being trans
muted from an old historic center to
the Iivest business community in the
southwest. This disposition will bear
fruit next year and the old city will
be alive with the mem ers of the
Texas Press association, for none will
be wanting when roll call is made in
1892.
The arrangements of the s. A. P.
tor the convenience and comfort OF
the excursion were simply perfect.
The chair car was placed at the dis
posal of the ladies of the party, and
nothing was wanting to make the
trip as delightful as possible.
The run was made without accident
and on time, as usual. The ever
changing scenery was continuously
commented upon; the vocalists of the
party were all in voice, and the hum
of conversation grew with the expec
tations of the gang" as night drew
all her kindly curtains round the
scene, and the smell of the salt water
was waited to our olfactories. Some,
not many, had lunched at Kennedy,
and it was hungry crowd that came
out on the platform at Rockport when
the cars came to a stand at p. m. The
little city was all alive to welcome
the pencil showers, the band was in at
tendance, the electric lights were
casting their radiance over land and
bay, and the lights of the Arkansas
hotel loomed up invitingly close by.
Ample preparation had been made
for supper, and mine host Hoskins had
laid himself out to do the very best
possible for the eXcursionists And
right here let it be said that this no
tel, under its present management,
has redeemed itself from the disre.
pute under which it labored as the
outcome of former incompetent man.
and is really very desira-
bic seaside resting place. Not the least
ofits attractions is the excellent string
band which discourses music in the
corridors during meal times and the
evening hours. This band is com.
posed of the best elements OF the
Mexican string band that was at the
Dallas state fair last year.
Supper over adjournment was made
to the pavilion, where speeches,
music and dancing whiled away the
hours until midnight. AS to the
address of welcome and response,
this letter cannot speak, for under
standing that Major Wheadon, for.
merly of the Maverick, of San
had just pitched his tent at
the She'll hotel, two miles up the
Arkansas bay beach from Rackport,
hack was taken for his summer re.
sort, and a cordial welcome was that
received. Between She'll Beach hotel
and Arkansas hotel this section of the
gulfco is admirably supplied with
accommodations, and some so HOus-
tonians are preparing to spend some
weeks of this summer at the Shell.
AT ten o'clock Sunday morning the
OohOhOb5 "CI0 lou uOWu W
the dock, setJees from the Arkansas
hotel piazza were put on board the
schooner yacht, and party of sixty
as delighted eXcursiOnists as ever
drank in the wine of the sea, settled
themselves for a sail down to Arkansas
Pass. The wind was light and dead
ahead and it was not until almost
three o'clock that the landing was
made at the "life saving station - Not
a moment of the time, however, hung
heavily on hand. Music by the
string band from the hotel, kindly
sent by landlord Hoskins, enlivened
the hours. Singing, conversation
and Rotations filled the intervals,
and every one was happy, nor cared
how long the voyage might last. To
the majority of the excursionists it was
their first visit to the coast, and the
day was one OF pure enjoyment.
Lunch was served at three o'clock,
after which stroll of two and half
hours was taken on the beach. A few
OF the party took advantage of the
presence of the mail boat to run out
through the pass and into the Gulf.
The LIGHT was among the num- Der of
the fortunates, and records thanks
for the pleasure thus extended. With
carelessness hardly excusable the
LIGHT neglected to record the names
of the captain and pilot to whose
courtesy so much pleasure was due,
and their names have passed from
memory. The return trip was made
in very smooth water in one hour and
fifty minutes, the wind being dead
astern. and the hotel was reached at
Just 1870. Supper was waiting, and
"Barkis" was willing. During the
supper hour some beautiful floral tri-
butes were placed upon the supper
tables with the compliments of the