Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-04
AWAY FROM THE CITY
A BIG EXODUS BY EVERY MEANS
OF EXIT.
Crowds Went by Steam and Electric
Cars and by Boat to Spend
the Day.

expressed by several Thousand "aShhseoh
residents this morning. when. with large
lunch baskets. amply filed with appetfzing
picnic materials-brcad like mother used
to make. spring chicken done to brown.
etc.-they haunted the street corners, wait
ing for the coming of the cars that were
to convey them to the outlying districts.
where they might enjoy the GOODNESS ana
shade OF the sylvan retreats. Fathers and
mothers. with the little folks toddling
along by their side. clinging to various
pieces of explosives. and numerous couples
OF young men and fair maidens. made UP
the large army of excursionists to the
country places The start was made early.
in order to escape the burning heat re-
dected from the city pavements. and the
crowds were in merry mood in anticipation
of a days outing In the woods.
All the resorts near Washington reached
by the electric cars received their quota
Of pleasure-seekers from the national capt.
tai today The woods surrounding Chevy
Chase were filed with numerous small par
ties Of picnickers. who swung their nam
mocks between the trees and enjoyed the
cool breexes. or stretched themselves upon
the grass in the shade. and gave them
selves over to the pleasures OF the outing.
At the Resorts.
There were also many picnic parties in
the vicinity Of Cabin John Bridge. and the
attractions at that resort were literally pa
tronized by the excursionists. Many Wash
ingtonians journeyed to Great Falls. and
still others took advantage of the oppor-
tunity to battle in the waters of the bay
Off Chesapeake Beach. where numerous
other attractions proved enjoyable features
of the holiday to the excursionists. In ad-
dition to the crowds at the resorts. many
small parties made trips to various private
groves and springs within easy reach Of
Washington.
During the day a large number OF people
from the city assembled in the parks at
Congress Heights where separate cele-
bration of the Fourth was INDUCED in by
the Patriotic Sons of Liberty. Several Sum
day schools also assembled there for the
day. and the cars running to the Heights
were crowded all day with the excursion
lists.
The rain. which came up about l O'Clock.
interfered to a slight extent with the en-
joyment Of the members Of the picnic
parties but the shower was not sufficiently
heavy to mar the pleasure of the excur-
sionists to any considerable degree. So far
as the youngsters were concerned they re-
garded the slight rainfall as a pleasant
incident Of the outing.
The excursions on the railroads to vari-
GUS backgrounds and historic scenes were
literally participated in by residents of the
national capital and the special trains were
crowded to their full capacity.
Excursions Dy Water
Water trips proved an atttrction to many.
and thousands left the city on the steam
boats last night and this morning on trips
to points on the Potomac and on Chesa-
peake bay
The Norfolk and Washington Line steam
er On her regular trip last night had nearly
400 passengers for Old Point and Norfolk.
and this morning the steamer Newport
News of the same line made a special day
light trip down the river and bay with a
full complement of passengers.
Colonial Beach also drew large throngs.
The steamer ArrOwsmith last night car
ried large throng to the Beach. and on
her trip this morning the steamer Harry
Randall had to be called into service to
aid in carrying the crowd. Nearly all who
have gone on these trips will return home
tomorrow night or early Monday morning.
Large throngs have also taken advantage
Of the holiday to visit Mount Vernon and
Marshall Hall on the steamer Charles Mac
alester. On the morning and afternoon
trips the boat was well filled.
River View has also been the objective
point OF many hundreds. and the steamer
Pentz has been kept busy transporting
them. The special attractions for the day
at the resort have proven a strong drawing
card.
The crowds which spent the holiday on
the water were largely augmented by those
who made trips in the small pleasure craft
All the steam and power launches and the
sailing craft of various kinds were pressed
into service. and left last night or this
morning with many parties aboard for
pleasant outings to river points as far down
as Colonial Beach or Blackistone's Island
In honor Of the day the United States
cruisers Prairie and Topeka and the d. Z.
N. G. naval battalion ship Fern were deco
rated with bunting from their topmast
heads to bow and stern, and presented a
beautiful appearance.