New York Times, November 24, 1892
MR. CLEVELAND'S RETREAT.
Tourists and sportsmen -- Field sports - Lodges
BELIEVED TO BE INACCESSIBLE TO POLITICIANS.
BROADWATER ISLAND WHERE HE WILL SPEND MOST OF HIS TIME -- A BARREN BIT OF GROUND, BUT ABOUNDING IN GAME -- GEN. FITZHUGH LEE NOT SEEKING PLACE.
Exmore, Va., Nov. 23. -- The train bearing President-elect Cleveland and party arrived here at 5:11 o'clock this morning, and Mr. Cleveland, who had traveled in the private car of General Superintendent Kenney of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Branch of the Pennsylvania railroad, started, with his companions, on the journey to Hog Island, his destination being the Broadwater Club house.
Shortly after the train left Wilmington, between 12 and 1 o'clock this morning, a midnight lunch was served for the party. People who gathered around the car at Wilmington station saw the President-elect seated at the table awaiting his meal. When the train reached Harrington, Del., a party of enthusiastic Democrats, returning from a jollification at Milford, attempted to board the car, but were not permitted to do so. At Laurel a band, which had but shortly before arrived at the station from the Milford celebration, serenaded the party, but Mr. Cleveland did not show himself. As the train approached Seaford the party retired to rest. The train reached Delmar, where the Philadelphia, New York and Norfolk Road begins, at 2:57 A. M., and the run of seventy-two miles to this place was made without incident in a little over two hours.
An overland trip of ten miles is necessary to reach the coast, and then will come a ten-mile trip by water to Hog Island, or Broadwater Island, as its new owners have named it. Here the President-elect will be about as completely cut off from the outside world as though he were in Africa. The island is the property of the Broadwater Club, an organization composed of about fifty wealthy Philadelphians, and no boats can land unless by the permission of the club. The clubhouse is a very comfortable structure, although the island itself is bleak and barren. There is any quantity of game on it, however. In fact, it is a perfect hunter's paradise, and Mr. Cleveland, during his two weeks' stay, will probably burn great quantities of powder.
RICHMOND, Va., Nov. 22. -- Exmore is almost inaccessible to interviewers. The island of Broadwater, where Mr. Cleveland will spend his time, is eight miles long and can only be reached by a private boat. So without the connivance of the friends of the President-elect visitors will find it impossible to break in upon him. Despite all of these obstacles a Virginia official has already announced his purpose to call upon Mr. Cleveland. He will state in advance, this gentleman says, that he is not an office seeker, nor has he come to give advice about the affairs of the Nation to the distinguished gentleman.
The statement that Mr. Cleveland looks with favor upon the idea of giving Virginia a Cabinet place is, of course, pleasing to the people of this State. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, who has been mentioned in connection with the position of Secretary of War, says he has no idea of securing it.
"Are you making any efforts in that direction?" Gen. Lee was asked.
"None, whatever," he replied. He does not, he says, want to go abroad in any official capacity. "I have not the slightest idea," the General says, "of becoming a candidate for Governor next Fall." The next question to the General was a poser. "Will you be a candidate before the Legislature for the United States Senatorship?"
"I will see you later," laughingly rejoined Virginia's ex-Governor.
To-morrow night at 8:30 o'clock a "Cleveland" pudding weighing 268 pounds, which represents the number of Electoral votes received by the President-elect, will be served at Corcoran Hall, under the auspices of the Union Democratic Club. United States Senator John W. Daniel will preside and cut the pudding. A twelve-pound slice will be sent to Mrs. Cleveland.
LAKEWOOD, N. J., Nov. 23. -- Mrs. Cleveland received only a very few callers to-day. She was out riding almost the entire day, coming home only for lunch. She said that the change was benefitting both her and Baby Ruth.
Mrs. Cleveland said that she did not know when the President-elect would visit Lakewood.