The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1865-06-14
The Excursion.

We arc indebted to esteemed friends, "ou
special artists on the spot" for the following
condensed account of the late McGregor Elk
cursion to st. Paul, ST. Anthony, Minneapolis
Minnehaha and return. The "artists" hav,
our thanks. Wish we "had been there t.
see.'
"Left Mc;regor wharf Saturday p. NJ,
June Sd, per steamer Key City, "Bill. +" Laugh
ton, Captain; Charlie Mather. Clerk; Sam.
Young, Mate; Henry Fitzpatrick and Ed. West,
Pilots; Will. McCraney. Engineer; Bob. Arm
strong, Mail Agent, and Jesse johnson, Com
missary. The party from McGrcgor numbered
Fifty seven, registered as follows:
q. L. Bass, vito and daughter; Mayor Lei.
ingwell and wife; l.. Benton, wife, servt. and
child; T. NJ. Hopkins, wife, servt and child;
". Salisbury and wife; Frank Salisbury and
wife {of Beloit, Wis.,; E. P. Clarke aud wife
L. L. Woodcock and wife (of Waukou); D,
w. Adams and wife (of Waukon); Isaac
Mathews and wife; J. NJ. Hoisington and wife;
D. S. Cook, wife and son; Geo. Dickey and
wife; Mrs. w. A. Benton and son; Geo. Harlow
and wife; d. d. Fraser and Miss Lizzie Smith
c. w. Walker and Miss Maggie Carey; o.
Burdick and Miss Hayt; Geo. Church and Mrs.
J. Gibbons; Mat. McKinnie and Miss St.
John; s. Met. Lampsop and Miss Mollie
Hatch; Mr.. Powell. Of Pr. du Chen; Mrs. H.
B. George, of McGregor; Harry Powers and
Miss Brown; Wallace W. Stow; w. Damon;
Ed. Conklin and Charley Budde. -.s~..
The Key City left our homo among the
bluffs with colors flying. festooned with ever.
greens and alive with happiness, while the Nc.
Gregor Cornet Band played gentle goodbye"
to friends on shore. At Winona "Diamond
Joe," J. Culver, and Miss Maggie I've thank
this lady for kind remembrances-ED)j joined
US. The first night out Saturday the dance
was kept up till l2 NJ. The Sabbath was de-.
voted to reading poetry and the usual Steam.
boat devotional exercises. In the evening
some sparkling was done-that is, the gentle.
men were principally engaged in keeping the
sparks Of the steamers pipes from burning the
dresses of their fair companions. At IL M.
dancing was resumed and no intermissiou was
known in Tcrpsichorean devotion, except for
refreshments, until we made St. Paul, at 10 A.
NJ, Monday, June 5th. At Ninninger, Lamp
son. Walker and Fraser went ashore prospect.
ing for Peter Oleum They ''struck" him in
Lager Saloon: the excitement Of the discovery
caused some delay, and Mr.. Laughton took bis
boat from the shore! A piteous appeal from
the trio, backed by the imporations Of the
dear ones on board, brought "Bill." to terms,
and friendly plank was extended to the oil.
seekers and they were again on deck. 1t
should be mentioned that Walker sprang from
the deck at Lake City, as the boat landed, and
secured prize in the shape of an immense
agate. Lake Pepin is famous for these beau.
ties.) Charlie says he has seen them BY the
bu'h'l in his native country, but none so large
and finely colored as this one! At st. Paul
the ,chips boarded the Key City, and arrange.
ments were soon made for carriages to Fort
Smelling. Minnehaha, Minneapolis and St.
Anthony. beautiful road, splendid scenery
and good company made this one of the grand
features of the trip. We cannot particularze
without writing a volume. FRASER found
petroleum at Minneapolis, but failed to bring
away a sample! Walker bathed his Lake City
"gate in the mist under the falls of Laughing
Water At ST. Paul Ola arrival the City Band
welcomed our party; the Fort Smelling military
band tiscoursed the music at the Falls. Mai
Rice, the commandant, gave US cordial vel.
come. We returned to ST. Paul at $50 P. M
and enjoyed rides, strolls, trout supper, &c,
DC, DC, DC, &C., until A. M. of Tuesday
The bell of Capt. Laushton's splendid steamer
told rs to come on board and we "come'-
Arrived home on Wednesday at l2 NJ. Take
it all in all, we had the gayest. most social and
agreeable party that ever left the city of Nc.
Gregor: every turn Of the wheel turned up
pleasure. "E. r." says only one thing occur.
ed to mar the pleasure. He was obliged, in
his official capacity, to have the barber dis
charged for curling Bass hair and refusing the
favor to others JESSE tthe Sutlcr) was, as
usual, one Of the most refreshing" men on
board. On return trip 'Joe" Reynolds invited
the party to call at Fountain City to visit the
Diamond" Brewery Hop and Walker, with
the acumen for which they are distinguished,
discovered that the Lager was ground throue
coffee-mill at one end Of tie hall, and there.
upon they proceeded to furnish the company
with sparkling music-whether the air was
mix cum arouse" "Gentle ANNIE" or
"Windy Morning." we do not Ihow. Marshal
Bass tthe irrepressibls Georse) marched the
whole corps into, through and around the
village. We had just running aground suGi-
cient to interest US. The obedience to our
Captains orders was so cheerful that we heard
'd-n it" only once on the trip. To a stranger
this may seem queer, but the acquaintances Of
Capt. "Bill." will not be surprised at this state.
ment! Our esteemed feilow.citizen, Mr.. Hus.
BARD. of the Music and Jewulry store, placed
Piano On board, and the ladies Of the party
made US happy in its use To the Cornet Band
we are under peculiar obligations. We are
indebted to Mr.. Hubbard, and we owe him ali
apology for neglecting to deliver his piano in
proper time: each one of the party will make
II. an individual visit to thank him for his kind
ness and express their regrets at the neglect
which the hurry Of landing occasioned.-
"Wash." played drum solo for barge dancing,
for which we shall ever be grateful. A little
deposit of grecnbacks was made by -, but
the presumption is that the banker is sound and
will deliver some time or other. AS the
steamer neared the port Of MaGregor, "order"
| was called in the cabin: General Bass was
made Chairmau--sC Clarke says his "front name'
is George)-Walker and Fraser Secretaries
A committee on resolutions reported as fol-
lows: