Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-07-23
Our Trip to Grand Haven.


tense excitement, where monotony is not known
Therefore, We suggested to oarsclf the propri-
ETY. of accompanying one for whom we cherish
a holy and brothcrly regard, portion of the
weary journey to the old homestead-"away
down east" We took vote to see whether
or no our idea should become a tangible real-
ty, and was not surprised to find an over
whelming majority in the affirmative
Accordingly on Monday, the 9th ultimo-a1
sultry Monday, when the earth seemed parch-
ed and the atmosphere akin to a heated fur
Hace-we took our departure with friend Tim
uel Bacon, behind as noble a team of four
mules as ever trod terra trina, and arrived at
the picturesque and meandering Wolf River
in early season to take the tidy steamer Berlin
City for Oshkosh. We were and ar. indebted
to the kindness of Capt. Doud, the obliging
and enterprfsing forwarding merchant at ellis
Lending, for ''Pass," which insured us free
ride to the beautiful city of Oshkosh, when
speedy transfer to the cars soon found us trun-
ding over the broad prairies and cultivated
acres of the Badger State, towards the CITY
OF Bricks, arriving there at early bedtime
Took a bus for the Newhall, where we rested
as only weary traveller can rest after jour
neyIng by wagon, steamboat and railroad
about two hundred miles The next dav P.
NJ. VIC took the gorgeous ocean steamer De-
troA, Capt. McBride-one of the superb steam
crs connected with the Detroit & Milwaukee
"a Irly vi hot
! Grand Haven, Mich. This route is unques-
ticnably tie route of all others, to take for an
eastern town. 1t combines pleasure, cheap
ness, safety and. speed; and the officers of the
Detroit, from the Sentlemanly Captain down
to the most humble in command, we can rec
ommend to the travelling public as gentlemen
| determined to minister to the wants of passen-
gers, and use every cndeavor to make the trip
one of pleasure and delight. Capt Mcbride
is true IIibernian gentleman, who loves a
Joke, and who, in the hour of peril, will never
be found wanting Walter Cooper, purser,
bears the unmistakable type of gentleman,
as thousands can testify who pass annually
over the route The mates, John Morse and
james O'Brien, we found to be O. K in every
particular. John Stark and James Burns, 1st
and End engineers, are men in whose hands
the lives of the travelling public can be trust
ed with undoubted security. Ever at their
posts, they are prompt in the discharge of
their duties, and, under their supervision, the
mirrorlike engines, seething and kissing, are
tanned leviathans Of strength. Every we'll
regulated steamer has bar but not always a
acell-Tegulated bar keeper. Martin Tansy mixes
up the beverages on board the Detroit, and we
noticed that whenever he imbibed, which was
seldom, Ia,szcy was his favorite Tansy keeps
good hotel con board" The steward, David
Wilcox-well the public never said anything
bad of him and never will. Reader when you
go east, or come west try the Detroit & Mil
waukee r. R., and we will guarantee that you
will youch for the statements made above.
At 101 p M. we reached Grand Haven,
where we deposited our precious package of
dry goods on board the cars; and after peer
ing through the darkness at the vanishing
train, betook ourself to our state-room, and
slept at about thirteen knots an hour. Upon
| awaking, we found ourself out of sight of land.
Therefore, started to see Tansy and ascertain
if possible, where we were. He demonstrated
to US our whereabouts by directing us to look
into a small bar tumbler. We obeyed, and
soon saw bottom, but no land
1t was our pleasure to make the acquain-
lance of Mr.. John L. Patterson, purchasing
agent for the l. c. r. R.-a thorough business
man, genial, and ever ready to appreciate a
good thing-onc of those men it does ones
soul good 10 know. On tour of business
and pleasure, accompanying him were the
Misses Towcrlcc and Hayes, his neices, both
accomplished performers on the piano-forte
and highly cultivated vocalists. In their
charming company we passed pleasant hours,
participating in and listening to music that
carried our heart home to the old fresde.-I
May we meet again
Before arriving at Milwaukee, we made the
acquaintance cf Matthew Monaghan, P. NJ. of
the boat, and Edwin r. Able, mail agent
gentlemen of course, as all Post,nasters are
We were not aware before that SO extensive
Postofice could be supported on board a
boat and when we inquired elf there might
be anything for US" was disappointed to learn
that we had nothing.
We arrived at Milwaukee at II A. H., and
after sojourning brief day in this city of
60, 900 souls, that can support but one-horse,
fourth rate negro minstrel troupe-whcre mer
chants who love recreation in the evening, are
obliged to take an early train for Chicago to
attend theatre-bid adicu to the city, blind
to its own interests in various ways, and
reached nome safe, sound, and satisfied. No
sanitarics molested us, and no police inter
fered with our inalienablc rights, and if they
had Of done so, we had habeas corpus in our
r-bn TIL to Qlir tut