The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-13
SEA PERlLS
 ELITE CLUB .6ut Not Very Much, for John Sylvester Grounds in
 Harbor Mud 800 SLEEP HOURS
 ON TIPPED DECKS Others Pay Fancy Prices to Be Brought Ashore in
 Small Boats


 Small Boats
 Weary Crowd of Excursion
 ists Welcomed This Morn
 ing By Alarmed Friends
 Over 500 people who went on the
 moonlight sail of the Elite Club aboard ihe steamer John Sylvester" last night slept on the decks of the vessel. sn chairs and in beds made of the life preserv.rs from 2 o'clock until after o'clock this morning for the. vessel ran aground in the outer harbor at l2:45 o'clock last night and Capt Georxe H. Rowland was obliged to could make the harbor There were between 800 and 300 people who went on the moonlight but about 200 were kaken off in launches.
 Those who were not fortunate enough to get ashore in a small boat were a sad looking crowd of excur- eionists as they landed at the city dock at 6:20 o'clock this morning. All had knock for the captain for run hing aground, but Seafaring men state that the captain was not running aground purposely and that he un- doubtedly knew he was not in danger at any time.
 The cause of the trouble was the at tempt of two steamers to pass in Bridgeport's 300 it. channel when it was half way between high and low water. The outgoing steamer was the f"Stamford" which is substituting for khe .Seaboard'' of the Merchants line while the regular boat is being repair ed because of the loss of her rudder b few days ago. The place where the f.Sylvester' was perched is known as Stony bar on the east side of the channel half way between the inner and outer lights. One paddle wheel and her stern were out of the water and 1t looked for time as if she was aground to stay for awhile. The force jpf the compact caused the gold eagle Ion the forward part of the boat to come off it's perch but outside of that ipo injury was done to the craft. The run down to Roton Point was smade with a. stiff east wind blowing and rough sea and the passengers rvho were not good sailors felt sea- sick But after an hour at the point Hhe return run was made and the tweather was delightful. Everyone en- ashore except for a couple of fights. One individual who undoubtedly went aboard with bottle of liquor on his hip tried to take a chair away from h young man named James Noonan twho was accompanied by his best girl saud was miuldinR his own business hdr. Noonan promptly bested the opstre- porous person but not until four or five women became hysterica1 by the crowd lrushing on one side of the boat to see khe fight. They tainted but were soon Fesuscftated-
 There was more excitement on the return trip when the engineer left the lengine room and went up into the L. Ing for not ballasting the boat in the way that he believed would get the best results from the engine. Whether &he craft ran any better after the mate was trimmed was not noticed by the crowd but the engineer seemed better eatisfied with the result.
 A statement could not be secured From the crew of the steamer as she made only a short stop in this city after leaving her passengers at 6:2o o'clock. She wasA due in New York ,lthis morning at o'clock to take out another excursion party. The mate was seen on the streets after the ves- ee1 left.
 ,as to the identity of the mate and en- igineer failed to disclose who they were except that steamboat men were of the opinion that they were not residents of khis city.
 Anxious members of the families of young people who were on the boat began to show up on the city wharf hftcr o'clock and although they re- cefved the intelligence that the party aboard the craft were safe there were several brothers and fathers of young girls who waited until the boat came in and it was long after o'clock be- fore they left the wharf. The news of the safety of the passengers was brought by men who came ashore in one of the "Sylvester's" life boats,
 The Elite Club, composed of Walter Schneider, the we'll known newsletter Richard Kerr and four other young .men had planned the excursion for several nights previous but it was postponed until last night. No liquor was sold aboard the vessel and care was. taken not to allow any persons who were believed to be objectiona ble to come aboard. a.
 Chairman Schneider told a reporter of the Farmer this morning: "As soon as we knew we were aground I waited upon Captain Rowland and asked him to blow the whistle for assistance This he refused to do and said he wanted it understood that he was the captain of the boat. Far be it from me to discuss that point with. him Then there was a crowd continually waiting upon me to ask the captain to send boat ashore. Finally I ex- plained to the captain that there were a number of mail clerks and carriers aboard who had to be at their work III eiie Huoi..uS lo say Hotnins or dozen newSdealers who had to meet the 3:30 train from New York Finally he consented to let a few of us go ashore in one of the life boats We telephoned for launches. The first one to come out with a launch was George Schrader who took off 12 newsdealers. It was then long after o'clock. I thought if the captain had blown his whistle that. Harbormaster Morris and others would surely have got busy and got more people ashore so that they could have gone to work this morning That is the only criticism I have to make No more moonlight excursions for mine.
 Joseph Tichy Of 101 Newfield ave- nue. went out in his launch and brought all Of the letter carriers and poe<-odlee employea ofx the boat with