Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-18
WO-WEEKS' CRUISE.
OLD DOMINION FISHING CLUB
LEAVE Foa An OUTING.
with a wcn-Eauiprcd Vessel They
L~avc for Their Annual saii--fhc
history of the club and Its Menu
bcrs.

AZ happy as schooI-boys when vaca-
ton has Just begun seemed the eieven
members Of the Ola Dominion Fishing
Club. who yesterday afternoon, at
O'Clock. weighed anchor and vent float
ing down the river in as spick and span
a little two-masted schooner IS ever sail
cd on the waters OF the James In every
day life these gentlemen are business
men, whose thoughts arc occupied with
matters OF finance and commerce, but
yesterday they were boys once more,
free from care and the troubles Of the
world.
Those who were aboard the little craft
when In the wake OF one Of the big
Old Dominion steamers she LETT her
wharf and made her way towards the
sea. were: Captain John f. Mayer, COM
modore; +. b. Taylor. James T. Vaughan.
w. II. Williams =. T. Conrad. S. MEG.
Fisher, ID. c. Richardson, Waller Scott, =.
d. Hotchkiss. James Addison, and Maui
rice Claggett. Besides these gentlemen
there were on board the captain OF the
vessel, Il. II. Payne, and crew Of -four
men.
EVERYTHING N SHIPSHAPE.
Everything was in "shipshape" before
the vessel moved from her moorings.
The decks were as neat as pin. every
rope was In It's place, and every inch OF
the little craft was as Clean as newly
swept floor. Sleeping hunks had been ar
ranged In the hold. and widths Of carpet
laid on the floor. giving this portion or
the vessel more inviting appearance
than one generally expects TO see below
cap. and they all looked very seaman
like az they lounged around on the deck,
laughing and chatting with each other.
Many Of their friends visited them befof e.
the time Of departure. and wished them
a most successful trip.
Tn schooner will be towed down the
river by the old Dominion steamer as
far as Hampton Roads. The sails Will
then be opened TO the wind, and their
vessel will put out TO sea. 1t will anchor
In some harbor of the coast Of Cobb's
Island, where the fshing-grounds Of the
party will probably be. For two weeks
they VIII breathe the salt air Of the
ocean. and when they return their faces
will be bronzed, and their imaglnations
when speaking Of the fish they caught
viii be something wonderful
SKETCH OF THE CLUB.
For eighteen years the club has made
an annual fishing expedition. None Of
them could, il justice. be called super
s.itious for every year they have started
cut on Friday. and have never tsiied tc
return exactly two weeks later, without
having hal mishap or accident Of any
Kind. Three Of tire party, who left yes
tardav have been on every trip, they
being Captain John F. Mayer, Mr.. ;
MEG. Fisher, and Mr.. Maurice Claggett
the latter now OF Washington, but fol
thirty years a resident of this city.
Ghe craft which is TO bear them this
time on their cruise Is the largest M
club has ever secured for any or ~
trims. She Is the schooner James =
Keese" with a burthen OF 6S tons. Fo
two wears she has been sailing between
this city and landings on James river
The craft has often ridden the waves o
the ocean. however. and Is most sea
worthy little vessel.