West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-07-15
DOWN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

distance Of about twenty FIVE miles
from Baltimore.
On Tuesday, June 10Th, our
party of eight started at 2:3O in the
afternoon, the day being "a beauti-
full one. We went on board about
1:l5, having about three quarters
Of an hour to wait before we start
ed, during which time we selected
our places, only to have to change
as the sun began to come on our
side. by the time we got settled
comfortably the boat was ready to
leave. Then the tug pulled us out
OF the hlrbor and away we started.
The boat is magnificent in every
detail. Having been condemned
last year, her owners rebuilt her
throughout. Though she is not rs
large as the other excursion boats,
1T affords plenty Of room for 1000
or 5000 people. 1t is brilliantly
lighted throughout with electricity,
the Don't carrying small dynamo
which they run as night for that
purpose. The beam IS lighted with
row OF incandescent lights stretch
ed across the top, and when seen in
the distance present a truly beauti.
ful object, moving first up then
down. Besides this, it has huge
electric searchlight which it can
throw a bright light on objects a
long ways Off.
On the lower deck a good orches-
ira furnished music for those who
wished to dance. On the other
two decks people were mostly set
ting down and watching the bay or
viewing the machinery.
We arrived at ToIchester about
. o'clock and went Immediately to
the ground and had supper, after
which we started out to take in, or
get "taken in" with the different
sights and amusemsnts the place
afforded.
First we visited the "'Pikes Peak
Route or Bust" an internal ma.
chine Of some kind, which would
prove a hard test for the strongest
nerves. The thing consists of a
huge round, elevated trestle from
hfty to sixty feet in height; blue
car resembling double seated top
OF a wooden sleigh, being pulled up
so the top by an endless cable and
then down it starts taking down
shoot of about twenty feet and then
around IN "a circle till directly under
the former shoot, when it takes an.
other. and around it goes again till
1T fairly sings, then drops again
into tunnel, which is darker than
railroad tunnel, and then out
into the open air again till it runs
to It's starting place. This is fun
for some, but many are afraid to
risk it. Then we visited the merry
go'round, or "carousal." as it is
called here, which is about the
same as any other, only it is built
in a house and run by belt around
the center-p pole which moves along
with the rest Of the machine.
Leaving here we passed fakir's
shop, who wanted everybody to get
rich for few cents, doing more
talking than crowd of BOYS over a
base ball game, and selling u good
deal Of stuff to unwary buyers. Oar
attention was then attracted by q
negro dressed in some kind Of
ancient costume, inviting as to- en-
ter the establishment aud watch
woman Of stone turn to q living
woman. We passed on TO the
"Roller Coaster" which is built ON
a good deal the same plan as the
Pixies Peak, it being on the ground
instead Of being in the air.
We then visited the race track
whore you could hire horse or
bicycle for the small sum Of ten
cents, instructions being given on
the latter. The children were made
happy by being allowed to ride
around the track in the goat carts.
We then started back to the beach.
where a crowd was awaiting The ar
rival Of the boat, it having returned
10 the city with a load Of returning
excursionists About bali past
eight she was seen coming toward
us, but she passed about a bali
mile and then turned the search
light ON tho shore, she mado for
land, looking like huge ball Of
FIRE, gradually becoming larger until
we could gee aboard Landing she
gave short toot OF The whistle
O.. q