The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-06-06
Union Pacific railway E.cursIon.
ST.. LOUIS, June 8, 1867.

Union Pacific Railway ExeursiOn.
ST. LOUIS, June 8, 1867.
Editors Intelligencer
As have nothing better Tor worse) to
do this morning, I have taken notion
to act on an old hint OF yours, and con-
stitute myself your special" with the
4 Union Pacific Railway excursion to
Fort Hooker Kansas, the point to which
the Union Pacific Railroad Is now COM
plete. This is the party consisting OF
capitalists and congressman, notables,
political and military men, "the work
ers" on railroads and newspapers, Ia
dies and loafers-one of the last OF
which the undersigned is happy to be
whom. The excursion started from
philadelphia, Friday, May 81, at noon,
receiving acceSsions all along its route.
came through Harrisburg, Pittsburgh
Steubenville, Columbus, indianapolis.
to st. Louis, where we arrived yester.
day at noon. A careful census of the
West Yirginians with the crowd would
introduce to your readers, Hons. B, NJ.
Kitchen and c. D. Hubbard of your
Congressional delegation, and Col. u,
L. Schley, of Jefferson county, whom
our legislative friends of last winter
viii remember. was happy to revive
with the Colonel the pleasant memo
ries ofe eIdmpis UitlLS.
&3When we get out on the plains we
propose to institute lodge of
that celestial order which shall put to
shame the lodges of the Kaws and
kiowas, and we only regret that the
light ofthe cOuntenance of the majestic
Grand Lama cannot shine upon the
novitiates, nor his eloquent "Chinese
admit the Governors" and other wor-
thies, who shall "see themselves as
| others see 'em.n We have been NM.
zled what to do for a mystic scroll but
came TO the conclusion that one of the
numerous mule teams of the plains
might supply the lack. But to return
to the things OF earth. Our hosts of
the Union Pacific Railroad deserve and
receive all praise and thanks for the
pains they have taken TO entertain
their guests. Nothing could be pleas
anter than the way in which the party
OF seventy-hve persone have enjoyed
| themselves. The ice of formalitY was
soon broken by Mr.. Schley, of Fred
erick City, Nd, by whose tact, courtesy
and enterprise our fellow travellers,
most of them total strangers be-
fore, were soon made Rcquaintances
and friends. Those citizens Of the
world, the reporters and correspondents
of the metropolitan press, who are
with us in good force, add not a little
to the fun and frolic. One of them,
Mr.. Wells, OF the Philadelphia BuI'
tetin-has taken especial pains to see
that everybody who has given us a
good meal, should receive a vote of
thanks. AT Indianapolis, after a de-
lightful supper, this was overlooked
until we were out of the supper room,
and to give us chance to mend this
breach in our manners, Mr.. Wells took
the rear platform of car and called
the meeting TO order in the depot.
Finding him self in Andy JOhnsOn's
usual speech making position while on
the swing, our orator proceeded to as
sure his fellow citizens that he had not
/ been an alderman and didn't want to
be, and that he had not even been
Governor of his native State, at which
an irreverent bystander suggested that
that was bully for his native
State. Wells turned with
truly presidential air and as
sured the offending Congressman
that he was not TO be overawed aby any
member OF the "body that was hang
ing on the verge of the Government"
As our mock Johnson proceeded to say
that we couldn't leave our stars at
indianapolis and must take our consti-
| tuition along with us for the benefit of
the Indians, he was interrupted by loud
calls for "Grant, Grant" The Presi-
dent whirled round to the open car
door behind him and told an imaginary
Grant that he was not brought along TO
speak but might show himself in a
minute or two, and then slammed the
door with an air that effectually dis
posed OF Ulysses. The take off was
irresistibly ridiculous, even to our
Democratic friends, and great applause
followed the fifteen minute speech, of
which have given you but one or two
OF the hundred good things.
The next day one OF the party
having lost his hat, was led
through the train by Wells who, with
many funny plea and comic speech,
collected two dollars and five cents to
re-roof the sufferer, and then coolly de-
Quoted two dollars for his commissions
and gave the five cents 10 another Bo-
hemian for writing a song in honor of
the hat. This being a clear case of en-
beZZlement, Mr.. Wells was forthwith
arrested, conveyed before Simon Cam
eron, judge of criminal court whose
jurisdiction extends from Philadelphia
to Fort Hooker, prosecuted by Hon.
John L. Thomas, Jr., of Baltimore, and
only saved from close confinement in
the refreshment car by our arrival at
our next dining place. Many another
bit of fun and fancy enlivened our rap
Id journey hitherward, and a merrier
party than this never reached Its des-
tination after two days in a railroad
car. ma
1 must not omit to mention the
courtesy of all the officials in
whose charge we are. Mr..
Moon, of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road, who is in immediate command of
our expedition, and Conductor Ford,
have made us as comfortable in our
railroad homes as men and women
could be. Every arrangement that
could make our trip pleasant has been
made. Gen. Palmer, OF the Union Pa
citic Railroad, who met us at Column
bus, and Col. Lamborn of the same
road here, have proved themselves as
efficient inrunninR railroads and rail-
road excursions, as in running rebels
during the war, and with possibly more
courtesy than their Anderson cavalry
then displayed, though one cannot i'm
agine that either OF them could be un-
gentlemanly even toward grey back,
Possibly the strangest of the novel
sights we "Montani" have seen, was
when yesterday morning at P'na,
where we crossed the Illinois Central
Railroad our eyes opened on the infinite
OF a prairie. For the first time we
seemed to be on level with all the rest
OF the world. If we mountaineers are
all always free, these prairie men
are always equal, and one does not
wonder that Illinois, as we'll as West
| Virginia majorities seem attached to
the old principalities, we have so lately
reduced to practice by way Of liberty,
equality (shall say fraternity y .=fs
But an old friend, whom but little
while since we left in Boston, but who
now sojourns in this "Pniladelphia OF
the West" has called, andwe will post
pone our political discussion until some
election day, and our letter writing un-
til some more convenient season.
II our inclination to write, and your
inclination to read hold out, we will
tell you OF our hospitable reception
here, and of the hereafter of our little
picnic. Yours, FATHoM.
Gone,