The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-05-30
Editorial Excursion over the Ba1ti-
more and Ohio r. r.

Editorial Excursion over the Balti-
more and Ohio r. R.
One of the most delightful excursions it has
ever been our good fortune to enjoy, was that
recently given by the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road Compay, to the Editors of the Great
West and South West, from Wheeling, Va,
to Baltimore, Washington City and Mount
Vernon. The B. & O.. r. r., in a spirit of
liberality that disproves the assertion that
"corporations have no SOUL" sent out compli-
mentary cards to some twenty-five hundred
Editors and their ladies, embracing every pub
cation, whether daily, weekly or monthly, in
that immense territory extending to the gulf
of Mexico on the South, the Great Lakes on
| the North, and the Rocky Mountains in the
Far West,-a region of country whose Rail-
ways all form feeders to the stupendous work
which terminates at the Monumental City and
the National Capitol. Although this grand
excursion was projected and chiefly conducted
by the b. & O. R. r., some thirty-three other
Railroads, forming its Western connections,
readily Joined in the invitation. The tickets
were good from the 18th of April till the 18th
of June, yet it was desired that all who could
conveniently go, should meet in, and start
from, Wheeling, Va on Friday, May 4th.
THE ORGANIZATION.
On Thursday evening, May Sd, the Editors
thensin<Wheehng, met in the Dining Room of
the Mcclure House, and organized themselves,
by choosing the Editor of this paper as Presi-
dent of the Excursion, and appointing a num-
Der of secretaries and committees on business.
After listening TO an interesting statement
from VIM. PRESCOTT SMITH Esq, the efficient
and ge~ntlemanly Master of Transportation of
the B. o. r. R., relative to the programme of
the excursion, and transacting some other
business the meeting adjourned.
THE STARTING.
On Friday morning May 4th, at 8 o'clock,
the excursionists started from the depot in
Wheeling. The beautiful and elegant new
cars specially designed for The occasion, includ-
ing three of Knights unrivaleJ sleeping cars,
were pretty well filed with as happy a party
of "Knights of the quill" as ever mel togeth-
er on Gods green earth. The large and mag
niicent locomotive that preceded the train,
was splendidly decorated with flags, flowers
gracefully through valleys green and DER
high and rugged, as though all the
of the earth were coming Gin her
train" The first point of interest, that at
tracted our notice, after starting was
MoUNDsvILLE,
about II miles below Wheeling. A great
mound here is seen, which is one of the Curl
o~sities of the New World, constructed by the
red men of the forest, hundreds of years ago,
before siron horses were dreamed of. Here
rest the remains Of many chief, warrior and
brave.
@They sleep their last sleep, they have fought
their last battle,
No sound can awake them to glory again"
ALONG THE ROAD,
at nearly every stopping place, crowds CT men,
women and children, were collected together,
from the n~eighboring country, to "see the cara
van;' for really it was considered a rare curl
osity to behold such an immense army of
"dead eds" all "aliUe and kicking!" To add
intensity to public curiosity the story was wide
ly circulated along the route, that we were the
green 'uns of course believe it!
AT CAMERON,
a station % miles from Wheeling, the widest
enthusiasm prevailed amongst the people in
honor of the excursionists. Flags were flying,
the cannon doomed, the men huzzaed, the boys
shouted, and the ladies waved their 'kerchiefsI
"Fourth of July" had come to town.
Soon after reaching the mountain region,
our train was stopped at a place called
GOLD HUNDRED"
Where dwell, in rural simplicity, a venerable
couple of o~etagenerians, HENRY CHURCH and
his wife, aged respectively 100 and 10Y years,
and with them their blushing maiden daughter
Miss Nancy, aged 80 yearsl Our friend SMITH,
Hu03 OcSluSS DClnS d IAlHS dHIOuS hdlIrOdu
men, is a capital talker, introduced our entire
party to the old man of the Mountains, and
related some of the important events in the
old soldiers history. 1t appears that he was
in the English army under Lord Corn
wallis, and came over to fight the Americans;
soon after reaching eur shores, the old
love of liberty outweighed his devotion
to his native land, and so he deserted the
English standard, enrolled himself under our
flag and fought by the side of our be-
loved Washington in that memorable war that
in the Declaration of Independence
After the close of the war the old gentleman
took up his abode in the mountains, (where
the Spirit of Liberty loves to dwell,) and has
here continued to reside to the present time.
THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS.
We were now in the midst of the beautiful
Appalachian mountains, whose blue SUBMITS
rose on every side, kissing and welcoming the
morning sum-. It was a sublime spectacle to
,ehold our long train majestically and defiant
y whirling up the steep grades and curves,
With flags gaily streaming in the wind The
cenery that now presented itself on every
ide was wild and gorgeous, and filled the be- {
lolder with admiration and awe. a14+ 3 la