The Washington times., 1902-09-02
EXCURSION POINTS
ATTRACT THOUSANDS
Resorts Down the Potomac
Popular Yesterday.
MANY LABOR DAY PARTIES
River View, Marshall Hall, Glymont,
and Motley Hall Are visited-Traffic
in Oysters, Watermelons, Field and
Other River Shipments.

the river front presented lively ap-
pearance from 10 to ] O'Clock yester-
day. 1t was Labor Day. and the various
organizations spent their outing az re-
sorts down the Potomac. The eXcur-
sion steamers did a thrifty business. 1t
is estimated that the Randall and Sam
uel j. Pentz carried 5000 people to
River View, and the Charles Manchester
took 1000 to Marshall Hail. while the
Jane Moseloy had zoo passengers to
Glymcnt and the River Queen 500 TO
Motley Hall. the latter place being
where the colored people celebrated.
The smacks Mary Ann Rebecca. Cap
tain Edward Hayden, and the Plumber
Smith. Captain Sayier Greene, were the
first TO bring oysters TO the Washing
ton wharf this season. Both arrived
yesterday from Blackston Island, bring
ing about 100 bushels each 1t is not
expected that many of the juicy bivalves
VIII arrive until week or two later,
as the dredging season is yet too young
and the weather too warm. Old river
men say that oysters this season should
be exceptionally toothsome, as there has
been plenty of rain to freshen the salt
water. Too much salt makes the oyster
lean.
The watermelon season is now at its
height and Potomac River boats are do
ing a lively business bringing them 10
this port. 1t is estimated that during
the past three weeks 800. 900 melons have
been unloaded here. Yesterday there
were more ti,an 10000. Two boats brought
a cargo of 1000 each. Nearly all of the
melons are now coming from Somerset,
Dorchester and Wicomico counties. on
the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This
section produces melons that for flavor
cannot be surpassed by any part of the
world.
Shipments of fuel wood to Washing
ton are said to be lighter this season
than for many years past. This is not
because there is less used. but because
the production is much less. However
there has been no material change in
price. Much of the wood brought here
is from the neighborhood of Colonial
Beach. 1t is Of high grade. and finds
ready sale.
1t is sale that the American Ice Com
pany will shortly begin tie rebuilding of
its storehouse on the river front, which
was Quilted by fire.
Dealers at the wharf assert that the
catch of fish this season has been light
er than for several years, though there
has been an adequate supply of all kinds
OF food OF the finny kind popular in this
section. Trout is the most sought after,
and this species, luckily, have come TO
market in great numbers.
Frank p Hall. the popular caterer to
river men, who has summer garden at
Seventh and X Streets southwest has
gone TO Virginia Beach for his annual
outing. During his absence his business
is in the hands of Roy Riley, who has
been with him for years Mr. Hall was
accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs. William
Z. Beagle and Mrs. Rudd, who are his
guests.
Capt. Josh Gibson. known 10 every
river man and who knows every river
man on the Potomac. was disappoint-
ed individual yesterday. He overlooked
the fact that IL was Labor Day. and
because of the need of his presence
about the wharf had TO forego the pleas
ure of reed bird hunt BE says the
birds are thicker on the Washington
Flats than .'skeeters' in Jersey, and
that they are fat and juicy this year