The Washington union., 1857-06-04
THE GREAT RAIIRoAD EXCURSION. THE BAL
TIMoRE AND OHIO RAILROAD

correspondence Of the unon.l
GRAFIoN June L. 1851
Here safely housed at Grafton, just two hun
dred and seyentynine miles from Camden station,
Joyous party of excursioniss the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company could desire to bring together.
The first stop that made of more than u few min
utes was at Cumberland the old Fort Cumberland of
Braddock day. And what change since that unfortu-
general in his head strong pride and naughty British
confidence paraded his disciplined veterans at the morn
ing review With what dsdain he spurned the wise sug-
gestions of the young Virginia chief With what naughty
coldnes he drove from him few sagacious Indian allies
who proered their services scouts and their advice as
woodsmen, to guide him in his perilous and as II.
proved his fatal march How cornfully he refused the
services offered by that wonderful man, Captain
Jack, called the Black Rifle and his little band oi
brave woodsmen who would have guided him safely from
all ambuscades But with all the force, discipline and
power of a regular army, he just month in ma
king his way from his encampment at old Fort Cumber
land to the vicinity of Fort Duquesne the of his
disastrous defeat which we, by the power of steam aided
by modern and Skill and the irresistible energies
of capital and enterprise literally fly in few hours
Around abrupt pecces and deep gorges where that army
had to let down and haul up their artillery with ropes
and in instance only made four miles in two
road is plane, and pass the distance
in few minutes. Where they toed over precpices
scaling mountains under them with the speed OF
the wind. What change has only century and two
years made The proud naughty Briton, who refused
the advice of younger but wiser man. fell bayely but
ingloriously in his blind sefcon6dence whilst the man
whose counsel he spuned has filled the earth with fame
which will live forever.
But how the column of history has been pushed for
ward since the 10th day of june 1885, the day which
Braddock set forth on his weary march from old Fort
Cumberland to the bloody field of disaster and defeat
The then feeble colonies have become mighty empire
The thirteen dependent provinces have become thirty
sovereign and independent States and eight embryo
States which we call Territories And on, and on our
country goes at railroad speed increasing and multiply
ing, and expanding in power, population, and wealth,
and in all the elements of prosperity and happiness and
if wise thus may expand and advance nation
ally till fill up the history of centuries of centu-
ries
The excursion train proper left the Baltimore depot
six o'clock this morning. with about two hundred and
fifty passengers, which number further increased
three hundred every of whom seemed pleased with
himself with railroad companies in general, and the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad Company in particular The
train consisted of six fine large passenger cars roomy
and handsomely fitted up with all the modern improve
ments in the manufacture of railroad cars.
The company was composed of large number of dis
tinguished gentlemen from all sections of the country,
among whom the venerable Lewis Cass Secretary of State
the observed of all Observers. General Cass
informed frequently made the trip horseback,
when young practising law, from Washington to
st Louis, through this section Of country nearly half
century ago. and this is the first time he has travelled the
route in railroad In describing the country he
states that then barren Wilderness inhabited
principally by Indians and the early pioneers and human
habtations few and far between but now, oil
Sides luxury and all the modern improvements
lavished with unsparing hand and it has been made
to "bloom and blossom the rose He expresses him
self highly delighted with the excursion and speaks of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad Of the wonders of
the age.
Count Sartigcs the French minister made his first trip
to ST. Louis this popular road this occasion He
accompanied by his SUITE He seemed at times when
passing through tunnel or deep cut to be perfectly
amazed and heard to excaim on than one oc-
casion, ssIhs is gralde countrie! =
Mayor Swami, of Baltimore, added life and spirit to
the occasion by his truthful details of the business opera
tions of the company and by his admirable description Of
the scenery of the surrounding country.
The press, not only of your city, but of Boston, New
York. Philadelphia, and Baltimore, largely repre-
sented.
Harper's Ferry was reached at five minutes past ten
o'clock, and here large accession was made to our
party the majority of whom were ladies, which made it
necessary to attach another car.
At Marnsburg the people ready to receive u.s.
and the reached the landing saued
with the discharge Of cannon, succeeded by music from
the Baltimore Brass Band The making brief stop
got out to rest myself little The first person met
Mr.. Faulkner who has been trumphantly re-
elected to Congress In reply to my remark that
glad to hear such good from his district he told me
that had not heard the best, the democratic ma
ority larger than it had at first been reported to be
Mr. Faulkner was kept from joining the excursion in
sequence of the meeting Of court in his district
The next stopping place was Cumberland, where din
served to hungry party. In order that the
reader may form proper idea of the muncent scale in
that not only free tickets given to the invited
guests but dinner supper, and breakfast tickets
given to them and they treated in every respect as
II they were the guests of private gentleman, Too
much praise cannot be accorded To Mr. William Prescott
Smith, assistant master of transportation for the adma
BILE arrangements made for securing the comfort and
pleasure of the large company and il should be
bered that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company have
not only been liberal in the expenditure of money for the
construction of their road but also in everything pertain
ing to this excursion
At Piedmont, in company with eight ten members
of the press, rode the Aleghanes the ocomo-
tive and must confess that highly pleased with
my perch the iron horse, whose motion seemed to
quite like that of astpacing horse From Pied
mont to Aamont, fifteen miles, the ascent towards the
clouds rapid At amont the traveller enters upon the