The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-09
A PLEASANT TRIP.
Points of Interest Along Boat Line
from Warrington to Norfolk.

Editor of Press and Banner:
Within the past few days 1 had the pleasure
of going from Washington 10 Norfolk, by
boat, en- route for Aobeville. There are 80
mauy points OF interest along this route that
a brief account of the trip might Do interest
ing.
The boat on which I took passage belonged
to the Norfolk u Washington Steam boal
Company, and was one OF the largest and pest
furnished boats 10 the service. II lett tne
wharf at Washa ngton al $50 O'Clock, sailing
out on the placid Potomac, as the SOIL caress-
ing shadows OF the evening deepened lnto
night. The setting sun brought out In bold
relief Arlington, in all its colonial splendor,
browning u perfect mountain OF green that
sloped gradually down to the rivers banks;
This property, contiscated by the Federal
Government, was converted lnto q cemetery.
More thar sixteen thousand Federal soldiers
now sleep about the home OF the South's
great hero.
Scarcely does Arlington fade from view
when Alexandria Is pointed out " the trav-
eler, This IL the secoud oldest existing city
IN the United states, and IL IL SAID that lts
appearance has not materially Changed since
tue days when Washington made one OF tue
busy crowd that walked It's streets. The
hotel at which Washington stopped, Is BILL
standing and is used Tor the same purpose.
The cnurch IN which he worshipped 1s there,
and is in appearance not unlike the churches
In Towns OF this size today. There too may
be seen The Braddock House In which Brad
dock was entertained the night before ne
started on his il.-fated march for Fort Du'
quesne.
By the time the boat has reached Mt. YER
non, night has settled down ON the waters
and only the adm outlines OF the boat landing
can be distinguished by the pale moonlight
Mt. Vernon has all the appearance OF sucn
most prosperous in the early days OF Inc Ne
public, but In point OF beauty and magnlh-
cence, as compared with Arlington, there J.
Just that difference that the march OF time
uOnld eyOlye.
After a ride OF about five hours, at Point
Lookout, the steamer leaves the Potomac anc
most beautiful sheets OF water IN the world
Sir Walter Raleigh sailed over this sam,
channel for the first time In 1856.
The next point OF interest and near Inc enc
OF the journey Is Old Point ana Fort Monroe
located there. About two hundred yards
from the boat landing at Old Point, Is tht
ChamberIln aoteI; perhaps the largest, q,
we'll as one OF the most splendid hotels In the
2N0 square feet OF floor space. e1Uends gu
over the waters Of the bay. A dance pavilion
under the same roof Is entirely out In the
bay. The parIors, which are In three apart
about DO feet by IF y feet. The entire build
Ing Is In keeping with the magnitude OF such
parts as are mentioned. A large piece o
ground, some five acres on the side OF the
hotel, IL fenced In with what appears al some
little distance TO be q splendid iron picket
fence. Closer inspection reveals the fac
, | that every picket Is an old musket barrel
Vita payonet fixed on the barrel above the
upper rail. The posts are all old cannon,
The gun barrels were gathered from the battle
de DIS Of late war.
From the hotel, Fort Monroe is an easy
walk. It's irowning guns and elevated banks
of sand catch the eye Of the approaching
traveller far out at sea. 1t was here tina
President Davis was confined and subjected
to those unnecessary humtliations that called
down the everlasting enmlty OF the southern
/ na<,nla on ITO nQrnatrQfnrQ Enrt MOnrNR is
the largest tort in America, covering as II doel
some eighty acres of land and fronting thu
water on Two sides. II is the shape OF an ir
port, is surrounded on the land side by 6
moat about one hundred feet wide.
Old Point Ia about fifteen miles from Nor
folk. To see the intervening country TO besl
advantage, one should for a time quit thu
boat here and take q trolly car, going through
the owns of Phoebus, Newport News anc
others. Newport News has the largest dock
yards in the country, In which are employed
over 70O0 workers.
Two new Government battleships. thu
North Carolina and the Missouri are being
consLructed there now; while several large
are in the large dry docks undergoing re-
pairs. The entire crew OF typical Germans
are Quartered there while this vessel 10 I'M
Idergoing repairs. The trolley line from New
Norfolk, near the mouth OF the James River
runs through a most beautiful trucking
region; and the same is true of the stretch Of
country from the opposite side OF the James
10 Norfolk. There are miles and miles Of
beans, cabbage, and other vegetables.
Norfolk Is q city Of about 70.0O0 inhabitants
and II natural advantages count for anything
1t snoulds some day be one OF the largest cities
in the United States.
Just opposite Norfolk is Portsmouth, q city
OF about 70, 900 inhabitants. The Government
navy yards are located here, In which several
thousands are employed. Anchored out q,
Sea here, as well as at Fort Monroe, are som
of the gov rnments largest battle ships thai
we'll looked the part OF defenders of the
Nstiou." the battle ship Olympia, Admiral
Dewey's flag ship at Manila, Is in the dry
dock at Portsmouth undergoing an overhaul
ing. There are several slight dents in her
armor, made by the toy guns OF the
tSpaniaIds. There Ia the bridge on which the
Admiral stood when directing the battle.
Norfolk and Portsmouth are connected by
a line Of ferry boats running every twelve
minutes.
Ifthere is any objection to the trip from
Washington to Norfolk by boat, II Ia the fact
hat much OF the way is made in the night,
The section OF country passed during the
night, however, Is least interesting OF all that
Is passed.
And then there are always two OF
three young married couples, and parties OF
young people. To such. IN the glow and ardor
OF - uthful love, where would be tn pl asure
Of q boat ride, robbed OF the soft IIght
that coaxes TO the quiet undisturbed chat on
deck. In Difference TO these, we OF course
yeield our prosaic Idea OF travelling on y In
I The day time Snbacribpr