Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-11-19
Major Ben. Perley Poore and His Apples il
Boston.

The telegraph, yesterday, announced that Ma
ior Ben Perey Poore had arrived in Boston,
with the wheelbarrow of appes which he had
rolled 36 miles, in payment OF bet won by Col.
Burbank The Boston Traveller describes his
arrival:
Major Poore, with his wheelbarrow and bar
rel of apples, started this morning from Maiden
at half past eight o'clock, aulid the good wishes
of people of all sexes and parties.
lie proceeded along ut a good pace and by
easy stages until he arrived, at II o'clock, at the
toll house at the further end OF Maiden bridge,
when Messrs. Cutting & Turner, daguerreoty-
pists, 10 fremont Row, accosted him and re-
quested permission to take his likeness, en- COS
tune, as also the counterparts OF his wheelbar-
row and his barrel of apples. This request was
politely complied with and fine picture was
secured.
The Major then persevered in his journey-a
democratic friend having paid his toll fare, in
consideration probably, of the advantage derived
by hiseandidate from the Fillmore party organ
ization. The Major, with only one halt, arrived
at the weighing machine oe tie centre OF the
bridge, when the weighing master insisted on
his subjecting himself to the balance. We are
sorry to say that the Major was found wanting
here Barrow, barrel and all, the weight was
three hundred and sixty-fve pounds. The Ma
jor weighed alone one hundred and eighty-fve
pounds-twelve pounds less than when he start
ed from home. His heart, however, had not
lost fraction of his size, as was asserted by ma
ny present, and every one thought it time He
was considerably fatigued-his hands much bis
tered-and his shoulders, where the strap bear
ing the barrow crossed them, are black as ink |;
yet his courage was untalned, and he propelled
| a1onr with unf1ap0inO sDirits
At the Canal Brewery at the Someryille and
Maiden Bridge, about hundred friends met the
Major. One of whom carried banner bearing
the words:
"Ben Perley Poore: may his faithfulness to
his pledges be initiated by the next Admlnistra-
tion."
Forming in q somewhat irregular procession,
the party preceded the Major to the Main street.
Charestown, where another crowd was assem-
bled, and received him with three cheers. The
congratulations he received at this point were
gratifying to him, as they were honest and heart
felt on the part of the gvers.
At the City Hotel there was another halt,
greater accession of people, and more cheers
which were repeated at Joel Wright's, where
the Major stopped TO obtain glass of water
From this point to the Fillmore Head Quarters
on Charlestown square, his progress was more
like that of conquering hero, than wheelbar-
row man with load of POore apples.
The Charlestown Fillmore Club had here pro-
vided refreshments. and large company were
assembled to do Major Poore honor, among
whom we saw men of all political parties partic-
ipating.
The health of Major Poore was given and
loudly responded to. in turn he gave the health
of the next President Of the United States, whom
all were bound to honor. Sundry friendly toasts
were given, after which the crowd outside de-
manded sight of the wheelbarrow man. He
went out and spoke briefly to the people assem-
bled-saying that his grandfather had travelled
from Newbury to Bunker Hill in one day; and
it would be singular that he himself should fail
| to wheel his barrow in fulilment of an honora-
BILE wager, the same distance in three days.
Further proceedings took place of little impor-
tance. when the Major took up his barrow again,
| amid three cheers "for the next Governor Of
Massachusetts," and was proceeding on his way,
when halt was called, as an escort was looked
for from Boston in a few minutes. The wheel
barrow was dropped at this intimation, and the
crowd busted themselves in complimenting the
Major on his pluck. The Charlestown men fell
in, two and two, and went forth to meet the
Bostonians on the other side of the draw, in
few minutes afterwards There was at least
1900 of the former, and the number fast increas-
ing.
Before the party had proceeded the breadth
of the square, courier arrived from Boston with
the information that an escort was on the way
TO meet Major Poore at the line between that
city and Charlestown.
| The escort consisting of the Boston Fusileers,
Capt Snow, and delegation of Fillmore men,
headed by the Boston Cornet Band, arrived in
the square at half past one. In fifteen minutes
the escort, Major Poore and wheelbarrow, start
ed for Boston.
The procession had not advanced twenty rods
before the rush of the curious crowd rendered 1t
necessary to draw rope Of protection about the
redoubtable hero of the day and his barrow, when
they proceeded without further difficulty.
On Charlestown bridge the procession made
brief halt; it shortly after entered Boston and
proceeded up Charlestown street amid the cheers
of immense crowds on the sidewalks. The Ma
ior continued to trunde his barrow with sturdi-
ness and vigor, and, like true military man, as
he is, kept perfect step to the music Of the band.
Of course he was the observed of all observers,
and every step of his progress was hailed with
rounds of applause from the spectators.
Before entering Haymarket Square, the pro-
cession again halted for moment, after which
it passed into Blackstone street, where it again
halted for q brief time, during which hundreds
crowded about the Major and his wheelbarrow.
After this again started amid rapturous cheers,
coming from the ranks of the procession, the
sidewalks, windows and carriages in the street.
A large crowd appeared in front of Faneuil Hall,
and on the steps of the custom house, who testi-
fled their delight by noisy applause. Just before
entering State street there was another halt the
time of which was principally occupied by cheers
for sour next Governor" Fillmore and Ben Per-
ley Poore.
When the procession turned into State street,
the scene was strongly suggestive of some OF the
most marked personal oSations in the history OF
Boston. So dense was the crowd in and on eth
er side of the street, that the procession advanced
with difficulty; and the rush OF spectators from
either hand, almost completely broke up the Or
der of the ranks. The Major himself would have
been sadly hustled but for the energetic protec-
ton of the guard of honor. Almost every WIN
dow and balcony, and even the tops OF buildings
were crowded with spectators, all apparently
advinp with laughter" and the figure cut by the
humorous Major. The applause was loud and
continuous and not few white handkerchiefs
waved in honor of him of the wheelbarrow, who
nlodded and trundled steadily on till he had ar
rived onnoste the Journal Office, where he a
gain rested and received new applause.
Resuming bis journey, he passed up Court
street to fremont Row, amid fresh cheers, clap
ping of hands and waving OF handkerchlefs.-
After brief tarry at this point, the procession
again started, and did not again matt I'LL the tne
wheelbarrow and apples had reached the front
of the fremont House, when the conditions OF
the wager had been fully fulfilled 'and the pledge
| &c AZ Mo;or radpemed.
The crowd in front OF tne nolel was
much incommoded by the numerous carriages
e'r onJ corts which were drawn up in the streets,