The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-03

run down towards the mouth Of the
river, and a few minutes sufilced to
make everything ready for their pres
ence. Then Captain Sullivan, who evil
IDENTIFY appreciated the situation to
the utmost, pulled the whistle cord,
and rumor says that he hired q nlgger
for the express purpose Of keeping a
tension on II from that time till the
excursion ended Anyway the Potter
didn't fail TO let the unlucl1y thousands
who had to say at home know that
she was out for the day, and she
shrieloed with delight at the slightest
provocation. As she swept down along
the channel, parallel with the wharves,
her decks crowded with guests and her
bright paddles sending her through
the water at railroad pace, she made
as pretty picture of life and motion
as has been seen on the lower river
for many year. The old Potter was
always graceful and shapely, and the
new Potter, thanks TO the efforts OF
brush artists who evidently know their
business, Is considerably more so. The
lower river canneries tonhed ont their
kind regards, and the nigger dn the
wheeIhouse held onto the cord like
grim death in recognition Of the salute
In less time than 1t takes to tell It.
the city gradually faded from sight
and the boat was headed for Sand Is
land, where hundreds OF fishing boats
lay rocking on the swell with all their
nets out, and of course night In the
path of the excursionists, Captain
Sullivan, however, didn't want his ves-
sells maiden trip marred by back talk
and swear words in various languages,
from the hardy fishermen, and he gave
his passengers an exhibition Of steering
that showed In a moment how splen-
didly the boat answered every turn OF
her rudder. For nearly d mile her
course was q series of zlg~zag turns
with several times an entire stoppago
Of her wheels, and she ran the gaunfs
let without so much as tearing a sim
gle mesh of any net that came in her
way. Short stops at Flavel and Tam
sy Point were followed by swift run
to the west end of Sand Island, then q
swift turn down to the jetty again to
give the land lubbers another whiff OF
old ocean, and finally with long cir
cular sweep She headed again for the
city. Captain Sullivan '1et her out"
and low banks changed to trees. trees
to hills, hills to wharves, wharves to
streets, streets to houses, until final
buTSl Drought ncI IdCll6 uULllC " WtF
dock with a streak of churning yellow
foam In her wake that agitated the
small craft for half q mile around,
and made them shake with fear as
their big sister flew by The maiden
trip Of the new Potter was over.
To say bhalt the excursionlsts were
delighted would be putting II very
mildly. The beauty OF the vessel both
inside and out won the admiration Of
everybody, and Mr.. c. f. Overbaugh,
commercial agent of the o. r. and NJ.
In whose charge the excursion was
made, was overwhelmed with thanks
from everybody. A large delegation
from the Chamber of commerce, most
of the members of the city council,
Senators Patterson and Bancroft, and
their families, Fish Commissioner Nc
Gulre, and large number N Astoria's
business men were among the PARTY
And now for details The Potter has
been virtually turned inside out, re-
varnfshed, re-painted, re-gilded and
very nearly re-everything else. Every
stateroom has been entirely refitted
with handsome and costly furniture,
silver drinking apparatus, and side
board decorations. The ladies' saloon
has been turned into plla.ial draw
ing room, and In this part Of the boat
can be seen the elimination OF all the
artistic decoration and lavish expendi-
ture so noticeable In every foot of her
space. All the furniture In this saloon
has been upholstered elegantly in
heavy blue plush and hanglngs Of the
richest kind are everywhere The car
pets are the finest that money could
buy, and everything down to the
smallest detail Is harmonlzed perfectly.
All is gaudy, yet nothing Is gaudy.
It Is all arranged In such excellent
taste that the eye instinctlvely recog-
nizes first comfort, and then beauty
of the most elaborate order,
The electric light plant Is entirely
new, and is the most extensive steam
er plant contained on any craft enter
| ing the Columbia river. A four thous-
and candle-power search hight that
can turn nine-tenths of a circle and
that can be worked from either the
| hurricane deck or the pilot house, Is
one Of the sights Another Is the cap
tain's cabin, a dream Of luxury with
electric bells, call buttons, and all the
paraphernalia of a first class ocean
steamer. The engines have new valves
and two exhaust heaters which, with
the absence of the old copper keel and
enlargement of the wheel houses, give
the Potter her increased speed. The
Warehouses; are colored in q delicate
shade of blue, relieved by rich gliding
| In graceful lines. The officers quar-
tiers are all newly fitted out, and the
| veteran Pat Moran, the best known
steward on the Columbia, has apart
ments that look as II they were fur
nished for a young duchess, barring OF
course, that most necessary adjunct to
a stewards quarters-the nttle medl-
-ine chest and counter with brass rail-
Ing.
The Potter has come back to us
again all and much more than was
| promised us when she went away.