Public Ledger, November 29, 1892
NO UNWELCOME VISITOR
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : BirdTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Lodges
HAS REACHED MR. CLEVELAND ON BROADWATER ISLAND.
GETTING THE QUIET AND REST DESIRED
PLENTY OF QUAIL, PHEASANTS AND RABBITS TO BE FOUND.
THE PRESIDENT-ELECT A CRACK SHOT
HIS VISIT THE EVENT OF A LIFETIME FOR THE ISLANDERS.
[SPECIAL TO THE PUBLIC LEDGER.]
NEW YORK, Nov. 28. -- Charles B. Jefferson, who, with L. Clarke Davis, of the Philadelphia PUBLIC LEDGER, accompanied President-elect Grover Cleveland on his trip to the South, returned to New York to-day on imperative business. Mr. Jefferson said that Mr. Cleveland declared he had never had so much fun in all his life as he had enjoyed since leaving the city last week, and no small part of his enjoyment has been due to the fact that since he reached Chesapeake Bay he has not been bothered by a single unwelcome visitor.
"You see," said Mr. Jefferson, "Broadwater Island is several miles from the Virginia coast. A man who has something to ask of the President, unless he had lost all common sense, must be satisfied that, if he attempted to press his case so far as Broadwater, he could expect only a rebuke or an assurance that nothing could be done for him. Mr. Cleveland, since his arrival at Broadwater, has been absolutely alone, except for Mr. Clarke Davis, myself, the servants and the dogs, and a most delightful time he has had. He never looked in better health, and has lost flesh tramping about after game."
Mr. Jefferson told one of his friends that Mr. Cleveland had lost seven pounds in weight since leaving New York. Mr. Cleveland and Mr. Davis, except for the servants, are now the sole occupants of the pretty club house set aside for their use. It is surrounded by underbrush and small stretches of wood. For nine months no one had been permitted to shoot a bird of any description on the island, so when Mr. Cleveland arrived he found the place full of quail, pheasants and rabbits. Mr. Cleveland retires early, and is out of bed almost with the sun.
Every day but one since his arrival has found him, after the morning meal, shouldering a rifle or shot gun and on his way to the spots where game is most plentiful. Mr. Cleveland passes his evenings around the log fire, smoking and swapping stories. He has permitted Secretary O'Brien to send him very few letters, and he writes to his wife and private secretary only. Unless Mr. Cleveland decides to remain South longer than he intended, he will probably leave there Monday or Tuesday of next week.
A DULL DAY.
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesTransportation -- Water - WrecksInfrastructure -- Public - Government : Life-saving serviceTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - GuidesMoral -- Alcohol
[BY ASSOCIATED PRESS.]
EXMORE, Va., Nov. 28. -- President-elect Cleveland put in the day around the Broadwater Club House reading, listening to and telling stories, and in general whiling away the time as would any gentleman seeking recreation in a quiet out-of-the-way place who found the weather outdoors not to his taste. He did no shooting to-day. Mr. Cleveland seems to be enjoying his stay greatly and the quiet and rest are what he wanted.
He is almost completely cut off from the outside world, his only knowledge of events being derived from the mails and despatches which once a day a small sail boat brings over form the main land. The steamer Sunshine is tied up at the wharf on Hog Island and has not been to the main land for several days. Mr. Cleveland's physical comfort is looked after almost as well as if he were at his own home in New York. Hog Island and its vicinity abounds in the finest game and oysters. A competent chef is employed at the club house and the Philadelphia markets are drawn on for any needed supplies.
It rained last night and the weather to-day was damp and disagreeable. Isolated largely from the life and bustle of the world, many of the people here have strongly marked traits, and Mr. Cleveland to-day listened with pleasure to several of the interesting characters of the island. Among his callers this morning was the Rev. Joseph R. Sturgis, Pastor of the church on the island.
The President-elect seemed specially interested in him and engaged his attention for some time. Mr. Sturgis is called an all-around minister by the islanders. He can preach a good sermon, write an article for the papers, take charge of a surf-boat if any unfortunates need assistance, or man a sail boat. He talks well, and Mr. Cleveland listened attentively to his description of the wreck of the Spanish steamer San Albano, which stranded on the shores of Hog Island last winter.
The life-savers did good work on that occasion, and show with pride the medals awarded them by both the Government of the United States and the Spanish Government for their bravery in rescuing the survivors of the wreck. The story told with life, zest and local coloring impressed the President and he expressed a desire to see the medals, which request will be complied with very willingly by the owners of the medals.
Such a thing as entertaining a President of the United States was a thing that until now no dweller on Hog Island ever expected would fall to his lot, and the presence of Mr. Cleveland at any unexpected time so flustrates the natives that their attempts to keep unconcernedly at work while he is around is oftentimes comical. To-day the President-elect came upon Ned Bird, one of Mr. Ferrell's men, while he was attempting to gather a lot of feathers he had spilled. Mr. Cleveland's presence was too much for Bird, and in his confusion he threw the feathers to the windward. They blew back on him, and his struggles with them were amusing.
Nothing is talked about on the island save Mr. Cleveland, and everything he says or does is treasured with delight to be retold many times during the long days and nights of winter and spring. "Well," say they, "I never 'spected to see old Hog Island honored by a President's visit." His gunning is watched by them, and George Doughty and "Tom," two veteran guides, go so far as to declare that in all their lives they have never seen better shooting than Mr. Cleveland does.
Over on the mainland, the people are as ready to praise everything with the Cleveland brand as are the islanders. One party, which visited the island a few days ago, brought back a little whisky from a groggery on the island. It was poor stuff, which the groggery retails for 80 cents a pint. It was passed around "as Cleveland whisky," and those persons who tasted it, many of whom consider themselves good judges of liquor, pronounced it the best they had ever tasted.
MR. CLEVELAND HURTS HIS THUMB.
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - LodgesTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Waterfowl and shorebirdTourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Hunting : Bird
[BY UNITED PRESS.]
EXMORE, Va., Nov. 28. -- The sky was darkened by heavy clouds throughout the entire day, although there was no actual fall of rain. Owing to the prospects of continued disagreeable weather it was decided not to attempt any duck shooting to-day.
This forenoon Mr. Cleveland went out on the beach for the purpose of hunting snipe, but met with an accident which necessitated his return to the cottage. In attempting to lock his gun the President-elect hurt his thumb. The wound was not in the least serious, but quite painful. Mr. Ferrell, President of the Broadwater Club, who is by profession a surgeon, dressed the injured thumb and somewhat alleviated the pain.
Shortly after noon Mr. Cleveland took a stroll on the beach and afterward remained indoors, devoting his attention to reading and writing.
Extensive preparations for gunning have been made for to-morrow. A scow, with broad ends, has been fitted up as a floating blind. Sedge and eel grass have been nailed around the entire top. Everything in the boat has been arranged with a view to Mr. Cleveland's comfort. The scow will be towed to Peter's Channel, five miles from the island, where it is expected to spend the entire day ducking.
Mr. Cleveland did not desire to try shooting again in a small boat. He said he was not afraid of capsizing the boat, but feared that the boat might capsize him.
The future plans of Mr. Cleveland are still matters of uncertainty and conjecture. He is expected to spend a day at Squire Upshur's, partridge shooting, but the exact time has not been definitely fixed.
It is also said that he may be a guest of the Accomac Club, at Belle Haven, two miles east of this place, on the Atlantic coast, where a preserve of 900 acres is reserved for members of the club. The Old Dominion Club also expects him to partake of their hospitality. This club has a thousand-acre preserve, 18 miles north of Belle Haven, at a place which is locally called Drumhead, but is officially known as Wachapreague. It is, however, considered improbable that Mr. Cleveland will accept either of these invitations.
It is stated to-night that Charles B. Jefferson will return to Exmore to-morrow morning and rejoin the President-elect on Broadwater Island. He is said to be bringing with him a plentiful supply of ammunition. This is held to be an indication that Mr. Cleveland will remain for 8 or 10 days yet, extending his visit into next week.
A number of strangers from the Eastern Shore called upon Mr. Cleveland this afternoon, among them being Rev. J. R. Sturgis, the island minister. They were cordially received, but the conversation was confined to local topics, none of which were of a political character.
Mr. Cleveland to-day received a telegram from Mrs. Cleveland, denying that she had been injured by a runaway while out driving. The despatch came at the time he was reading an account of the alleged accident, and he was at once relieved from all apprehension regarding his wife's safety.
Mr. Cleveland's mail is rapidly increasing in volume, and to-day more than 20 letters were received for the President-elect.