Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

~ eOuleWueTe VI uO
something to keep in the swim,' the question
comes up az to how it can be accomplished with
the least outlay of money. The man of means,
as he calls together his retinue of servants, gives
orders for the packing of trunks and with his
family hies to the mountains or some fashion
able resort. comparatively speaking, has no
better time than does the one who, in less
pretentious manner, depends upon the beauti-
1ul Potomac for his outing and recreation, and
one gets an excellent idea of the opportunities
offered In this direction by taking trip on one
OF the numerous boats that ply up and down
the river between the city and the Chesapeake.
=, 1t was sharp $50 by the pilot house clock of
the steamer Arrowsmith last Saturday evening
when Capt. Entwisle pulled the throttle wide
open, and amid the screeching of whistles,
ringing of bells and adieus of friends left be-
bind, jolly big crowd of people, mostly gov
eminent clerks and their families started on q
cruise to the lower Potomac and Chesapeake
bay.
ONE GRAND PANORAMIC SCENE.
To one accustomed to such trips the Incl
dental scenes are matters Of record but to the
uninitiated they are source Of perpetual and
unequaled pleasure, for from the time the
steamer leaves her wharf in Washington to the
final landing there is nothing less than one
grand panoramic scene. The '''Smith,' as she
Is dubbed, is one of the fastest. stanchest and
most commodious freight and passenger boats
that stir the mud on the upper river or pillow
through the salt water white caps 100 miles be-
low. She stops at nothing and lands where she
will. the good captain having record that en-
ables him to push into the most difficult and
narrowest Of channels, and it is even said he
can run his boat into muskrat hole turn her
around and come out laden with freight.
But, however that may be, he is certainly "a
dandy" and the people for miles skirting the
river bank high on him, and when steamer
day" comes they are all at the different
wharfs to grasp his hand, exchange news
items and wish the boat q safe Journey
Leaving Washington the boat soon passes the
familiar points between the city and Marshall
Hall, and the decks fore and aft are thronged
with happy, good-natured and congenial
crowd, that soon begin to feel the exhilarating
influence Of fresh air and salt water, and the
imagination carries them to well-provisioned
hampers, while not a few await impatiently the
sounding of the gong and chance to satisfy
the Inner man." Below select parties are play
ing cards, another crowd have the doughty
captain cOrnered and he is telling them some
salty anecdotes, carefully compiled and graphic
ally illustrated for just such occasions as this
Here are some musically inclined passengers
and there the fellow and his best girl all intent
on having good time, and they are having it.
THE FIRST STOP.
Suddenly there is a commotion and three
ohoi WAiisucs oiAHS cNcI sDOuN W Tue bIaTDOdrO
side as the boat pulls up at Colonial Beach to
discharge some freight and number of passen-
gers. She fingers but a few moments and then
steams across the Potomac for Colton's, near
Blaklstons Island, where another crowd awaits
the boat and gives 1t a royal reception as she
brings to the summer boarder some dear friend
or perhaps pater familias to spend Sunday
From Colton's it is q short run to Piney Point
and here, too, the passenger list is drawn on to
large extent as many step from the boat to
have a day at this charming place, and not a
few take canoes in waiting for st. Georges
Island. Rounding the island the steamer crosses
ST. Mary's river and enters Smiths creek. By
this time it is in the wee small hours of the
night Few of the remaining passengers are
stirring. Shortly anchor is dropped and all
hands are sleeping the sleep of sleeps.
THE OK CART AND ITS DRIVER.
Bright and early the crew are astir and in o
few minutes the steamer is making for Miller's
wharf, where the natives have congregated in
force, some to ship and claim freight, others to
meet friends and boarders, for here it is that a
goodly number of Washingtonians find comfort
with the Raleighs, Dunbars, Vests, Pembrooks
and other willing martyrs. Here one sees the
OK carts and hears the gee-haw-bucks as the
native in his bare feet and trousers rolled to his
knees, big straw hat and the proverbial lone
gallus" brings up with resoundant crack of his
long whip and good-natured grin. The carts
are ponderous institutions and, as a general
rule, the oxen rather diminutiye but, in the
language Of the small boy, ''they get there"
From here the "'Smith" goes to Point Lookout
by special permission Of the light house board,
for the accommodation Of the people who make
this their annual camping ground during the
most picturesque and happiest crowd imag-
Unable take the ropes and fairly lift the boat
ashore.
AT POINT LOOKOUT
The wharf is the largest and best on the river,
standing some twelve feet above the water and
extending far out into the Potomac. From it
some Of the finest fishing is done and the camp
ers have great sport with sheephead, rock trout,
tailOrs, spot and other fish, while of crabs there
is no end. The river here is some ten miles
wide and just off from the light house mixes its
rounds the point. The point itself is. perhaps.
one Of the most interesting places on the Poto-
mac. as during the war it was converted into an
immense stockade and thousands Of confederate
prisoners were corralled there from time to
time. Afterward it became popular as a resort
and some hundreds Of houses were erected, to-
gether with numerous hotels, but for one rea-
son and another they disappeared, and today
only two or three dilapidated houses remain
1t is an ideal camping place and the many tents
dotted along the bay shore attest its popularity.
The outlook on the bay is charming and inter-
esting, boats innumerable and of every kind,
from the light Nancy to four masters and ocean
steamers are blowing through the white caps,
porpoises are disforting themselves, fish jump
ing in every direction and the surf comes in
with swish that is decidedly inviting. The
beach is one of the best. with nice sandy bot
tom, no shells and no undertow.
THE GOVERNMENT LIGHT HOUSE.
On the extreme point is situated the govern
ment light house, which carries lens of the
fourth power, discernible for distance of
fifteen miles. The keeper Mr. VIM. Yeatman,
is one Of the most trusty men in the service and
rarely leaves his post, which he has held through
several administrations. Two large barn-like
sheds near the wharf are filed with can and pole
buoys, which when placed mean to the mariner
more than is realized by the pleasure seeker as
he sails up and down the river. The surround
ing country is famous for its melons and fruits,
the people generous beyond comparison and the
fish-well they are of almost every variety,
from the inflated toad to that king Of fishes,
the striped bass or rock fish. which runs from
one to seventy pounds, and when hooked gives
the angler work and sport enough; but, fisher
men, let me implore you not to bring your
fancy rod and reel here unless you come pre-
pared for the good-natured jeers Of the native
fisherman. who, two to one, will land with his
hand line several times more fish than you.
THE TRIP BACK.
Leaving Lookout the next objective point il
on the VIRGINIA aide NJ the river ana n. <ho