Year: 1860




A correspondent of the New York Herald saws
that the bad management on board of the Great
Eastern on her trip to Cape May is not to be laid at
the door of the Directors, but to man by the name
of Cox, who by contract with the company retain
ed the privilege of ''feeding all persons board
the ship, from Director to visiter, at certain
prices" The writer adds: 81 was informed that
two three others also engaged with him in
the speculation, and between them all they have
succeeded in leeching the public to an extent they
will never enjoy again. They have neither the
ability to plan nor the tact to execute, and far
as regards providing for the wants of two thou
sand people in the rough and tumble manner they
have set about, it would have been quite wise to
have made miscellaneous mixture of all that was
to be eaten and drank in one big pot, divided a
spoon among the multituds, and told them to go at


From the regular report of the Tribune, we take
the following account of the return trip to New
York:


The steamer was announced to leave the Cape at
o'clock. At the pier was crowded with the
panied pleasurers; no boat was there to transport
them to the steamer. With more or less difficulty
with one person over board-with a lot f-hapless
adventurers who only wanted to see, not sail to
New York the Great Eastern, the ship got un
der way about sunset. Moonlight and the splendid
motion for the first hours of the night assuaged
the pains of the peasurers. There was positive hi
laritv toward the stern. Dodworth's band PLAYED
for dancing. singing circle formed and sung.
After midnight, the careless animals fain to
sleep. and the deck was covered with their forms.
The cool winds blew them; cinders, which
showered plentfully from thepipes, were their dra-
perry. In a majority of cases they probably took
cold. Every inch of desirable floor below was ia
ken. score of ladies piled in together in one of
the cabins.


Early in the morning collision with schooner
was like to be added to the incidents of the excur
sion The vessel narrowly escaped the tremendous
blow. The watchers, four in number, did not per-
ceive her, but by dint of shouting and shifting the
little thing got off. The brilliant morning cheered
the company, and by strain upon their
reeuperative faculty, several persons were enabled
to observe that life still their and sweet
ever, and that the whole they did not utterly
detest themselves for having gone on the excursion.
The luxury of little something to eat enjoyed by
several other persons, filled them with Joy and
pride, and the sight of the city attended with
a sort of mad gladness


Explosions on all sides and on the ship gave glad
tidngs to the dear of the excursionists at
home. Several steamboats,, With colors flying,
kept along up with the Great Eastern. Their pas
sengers cheered-happy soulsl And the passengers
of the Great Eastern cheered! While Dodworth's
Band played God Save the Queen, the Wedding
March, and other airs, the boats at shore ran out
their flags, and guns blazed from steamers. But
that was the proudest and happest moment of all
when the boats came alongside, off Hammond street,
and the summer birds of pleasure were restored to
their tame domestic nests. The anchor was dropped
at ten minutes before ten o'clock, and after the
proper delay, the barge Poughkeepsie and the
steamer Island Belle ran alongside, and took off
majority of the people. The behavior of the Great
Eastern throughout these awful scenes was gener-
ally commendable. Her machinery worked well,
and she attained at highest speed the rate of seven
teen knots an hour.


Notwithstanding the many drawbacks to the
comfort many on the trip, the excursion, as far
as regards opportunity of inspecting the work
ings of the ship, was pleasant and satisfactory.
little rougher weather would have given better
chance for observation, but still enough was seen
to Judge of her general character as a sea-worthy
vessel and all united in praising her performance.
She rolled somewhat more than was expected, but
not enough to sea-sickness in more than
three four instances. 1t was due probably to
her being more than usual out of water; but still
the motion was greater in calm, under the in6u-
ence of the mere swell of the ocean, than any one
had anticipated. With this exception everything
worked admirably. She seemed to answer imme-
diately to the merest touch of the helm. The en-
gines did their duty almost silently, and their ex-
istence could not be appreciated by any jar COM
municated to the vessel.