The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-09
a "Reminiscences by the Deck Watch
man.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEWS:
SIR ON the 3lst day of August last,
'as Old Sol'' meandered his way downthe
"old rut' and disappeared in the west,
then and there stood the deck watchman
on the deck of that staunch and speedy
steamer. the Haven of the Sound) City
of Boston, to observe the crowd and pay
TO the 300 all the courtesy due them,
ana see that none went ashore dissatis-
fled. This was the last of a series of sue
cessful excursions managed by Dau T..
Sullivan, who, Notwithstanding the jeal-
ousy of the carping critics (vho, by the
way, we should consi gn TO Bob Inger-
SOILS Dowhere), who stood on the street
corners button -holing the excursionists
as they wended their way TO the boat,
saying unkind things OF the steamer,
her officers and the manager, is the most
popular and enterprlsing "hustlern in
this line, that the city OF Providence
affords. On the above date, at 8 p. m,
we steamed away from Hale's wharf and
down the Providence River, doubling
Point Judith at 10 p. M, shaped our
course for the "Race,' the entrance to
Long Island Sound, passing Race Rock
Lighthouse on the starboard hand at about
1880 p. M, thence up the Sound, pas
sing Gull Island and Plum Island lights
on the port hand and Bsrtlett's reef
lightship, Cornfeld lightship, Faulkner's
Island, Stratfords Shoals to the star
board, Eaton's Neck, Huntington and
Sands Point to port, Executioner's light
on the starboard hand; thence through
He'll Gate down the East River to the
Battery, up the North River, arriving at
Pier 40 of the famous Norwich Line at
about a. M, September /. thence
the party were treated To a fine sail up he
North River, including view of the most
picturesque and romantic scenery, to-
gether with the GOODNESS and comfort of
I. IL. e. Dgs,
day morning, touching at Pier 40; from
thence the same route, through Long
Island and Fishers Island sounds. by
Watch Hill, Point "Judep and up the
river, arriving at Providence at IL 80
a. m., the I'd of September Time and the
valuable space in your paper will not per-
nit me to go into details, but suffice it
to say that the usual incidents that char
acterize these excursions were prolonged
until this happy and joyous crowd reached
Providence, to wit: The refrain of the
orchestra, and the tap of the heel and
toe is heard on the promenade deck, the
froicsome youth dance a break down on
companions pat "iuba' for them. In
fact, all hands had pleasant and airy
trip, returning to their homes refreshed
beyond the comprehension OF those who
have not yet availed themselves of the
opportunity afforded by the enterprisnig
word or two in reference to the man
ager, officers and the steamers OF the pop
ular Norwich Line. First, q. W. Brady.
the manager, is a gentleman OF marked
ability peculiar to this line of business.
While his motto is economy, dollars are
not spared for competent officers, staunch
steamers and the accommodation and
safety of the travelling public. Captain
Richard X. Miner, who commands the
City of Boston, In second TO no other
chief officer in everything that qualities a
man f)r such position. He Is always
courteous and cordial and always ready
for duty. The pilot captain, Walter Penn,
is an officer of long experience as a navi-
gator, and man OF ability, always at
his post.
The chief engineer, +. A. Biewell. an
officer of about 40 years experience is
careful and competent, and the safety of
officers, passengers and crew while he is
i'm charge is a well-esta blshed fact Mar
shall X. Fitch. the second engineer, has
all the qualifications and Knows Just how
to adjust himself on all occasions, and
make everything agreeable and pleasant.
He has a ready answer TO the more than
n thousand questions propounded to him
by those who are not used to the varied
scenes and sights on the raging, briny
sea. Quartermaster Orrin Grey is fully
up TO the standard as TO qualifications:
i'm fact, the selection OF officers (bnrring
the deck watchman) show the superior
judgment of Superintendent Brady. We
had almost forgotten worthy steward
John H. Wood. The meals served on this
steamer. coupled with the excellent SER
vice. the variety and quality of the food.
combining all that one could obtain at
the most famous resort, is a luxury i'm
itself The superiority OF a 325-foot
steamer, constructed OF such material q a
livs oak keel. satin wood keelsons, red
wood floor timbcrs, lignum vitm fut-
tocks. birds-eye maple top timbers, and
teak wood stanchions, together with the
symmetry of her model her cabins, com
modious, lofty, spacious and elegant,
over those Of the scow.boat pattern. con-