New York Herald, November 25, 1892
MR. CLEVELAND'S HUNT DELAYED BY A GALE.
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebird
The Ducks on Broadwater Island Are Given a Respite on Account of the Bad Weather.
SHOOTING SHOULD BE EXCELLENT.
So Says the President Elect as He Notes Flocks of All Sorts of Waterfowl.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.]
EXMORE, Va., Nov. 24, 1892. -- "Why, this seems to be a hunter's paradise," was President-elect Cleveland's remark yesterday morning at eight o'clock. He was looking through the port holes of a trim little steam yacht, which was bearing him rapidly up the ruffled surface of Broadwater Bay.
The three other members of the party heartily agreed with him. They were Joseph L. Ferrell, president of the Broadwater Club, L. Clark Davis, of Philadelphia, and Charles B. Jefferson, son of Joseph Jefferson, the actor.
Wild fowl were flying in flocks in every direction. The swift winged black duck, the more leisurely brant, the esteemed red head and several varieties of other birds were noted by Mr. Cleveland with evident satisfaction.
"The shooting should be excellent," he remarked.
But duck gunning was not to be had yesterday nor to-day. A gale sprung up and whipped the water into white caps of formidable size. Every fresh blast sent showers of spray over the deck and against the port holes.
Captain Marsh, who commands the yacht, the Sunshine by name, gravely shook his head, and after remarking that he had not seen such a wind in months ventured the opinion that shooting was out of the question.
After beating up the bay for two hours the landing on Broadwater Island, locally known as Hog Island, was effected. Carriages were in waiting and they took Mr. Ferrell and his guests to his private cottage, which lies a stone's throw from the club house. There everybody had breakfast.
The history of the President elect's trip after leaving Wilmington is brief. The private car which bore the party from New York was detached at Exmore, a village of several families, several houses and the railroad station.
ACROSS THE BAY.
A vehicle in waiting whirled the party down to Exmore landing, located at the head of the Machipongo Creek and two miles from the railroad. The Sunshine was then boarded and the tempestuous trip across the Bay was begun.
After the party had taken breakfast in the cosey dining room of the cottage and were thoroughly warmed it was decided that the weather was unfit for hunting, so Mr. Cleveland amused himself by strolling about a limited portion of the island.
He had come fully prepared to thin the duck flocks with the latest style of shotgun, unlimited quantities of ammunition and leather cartridge belts.
His sturdy figure was warmly clad. He wore a soft hat and instead of the usual wading boots had on heavy felt shoes, warranted impervious to water.
The island is an attractive spot even with a chill nor'wester blowing. Mr. Cleveland faced the gale and walked briskly to the beach. The sail boats were tugging at their ropes. The picturesque figures of several islanders were seen bending over and working with a number of decoy ducks, their rubber caps fastened firmly about their ears, their oil skin suits glistening with the salt spray.
WALKED THROUGH THE WOODS.
The wind was too biting to permit of a lengthy stay in one spot and Mr. Cleveland took a sharp tramp through the woods and returned to the cottage for lunch. The evening was spent in his rooms. They are comfortable and for a cottage spacious.
He brought no body servant with him. Mr. Ferrell's valet is attending to Mr. Cleveland's personal wants, but they are simple, and providing for them is a sinecure, the valet finds. Before returning last night all arrangements were made for a duck hunting trip early this morning, but as the northwester was still blowing fiercely, to go out to the neighborhood of the blinds constructed all over the bay at irregular intervals would have been no easy matter.
A vote was taken and no hunt was decided upon. Mr. Cleveland spent the day indoors. In the evening he sat down to his Thanksgiving dinner. Messrs. Ferrell, Jefferson and Davis dined with him. The repast has never been excelled on Broadwater Island. The big kitchen attached to the club was turned over to the best island cooks. There were oysters from the shores of the island, terrapin, turkey, roast beef and wild fowl of every variety, prepared in every culinary style. At dessert some preserved figs, raised on the island and the club's special pride, were served.
THE WIND STILL BLOWS.
The wind is still blowing hard and it is doubtful if any duck shooting will be done to-morrow, although full preparations have been made to take the trip. If the weather moderates the party will set out for the blinds.
Mr. Cleveland has now lost two days' shooting owing to the unusual storm and he may remain on Broadwater Island for ten days. Had the sport been good from the start he might have returned North in a week.
Broadwater Island was discovered as a hunting ground ten years ago by Joseph L. Ferrell, of Philadelphia. This gentleman was instrumental in organizing a club which has been highly successful. Most of the island is now owned by the club. It is eight miles long and from three to four miles wide, and lies in the Atlantic Ocean, seven miles off the mainland of the Virginian part of the peninsula, separating Chesapeake Bay from the Atlantic Ocean.
It is covered with forests of pine and cedars, the former reaching the height of eighty to a hundred feet. The club house and Mr. Ferrell's private cottage are pleasantly situated in a wood of the tallest trees.
The beach on the Atlantic's side is ten miles long and as hard as a table. The only means of reaching the island, which is twenty miles from Exmore landing, is by sailboats and the club steam yacht.