The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-08-04
The Excursion
Special correspondence or tho COURIER.

The editorial excursion party
which left Ottumwa with such pless
ant rccollections on tho morning ol
July 9th, reached st. Louis at 113C
on the evening of tho same day. =
The trip was made without remarks.
BILE incident by the-way, and has thus
far, barring. the. heat, been the most
pleasant one imaginable. The peo.
pie at all the principal towns greeted
the excursionists with a warmth, Of
feeling which could not have been
counterfeit, and extended to them
uniform courtesy and consideration.
At many places refreshments were
served with unsparing liberality, and
addresses Of welcome presented,
which could not but make the party
feel that they were welcome to tho
soil Of old Missouri 'State.5od aa' 1s
The North Missouri Railroad Com
pany has been most lavish Of fits hos.
pitality. A sumptuous repast had
been provided for over three hundred
persons at Macon City, which place
the train reached at about 1890 p. M,
and tho party enjoyed one hour Of
such wining and dining as one only
sees once or twice in a life time.
The Company seemed to have
spared no expense toward entertain
ing its guests regally. Asmall army
of walters had been brought from St.
Louis especially for the occasion, and
tho tables were spread with all tho
delicacies afforded by tho markets of
this city. As we left our dining place
the officers OF the road caused to be
placed on board a dozen baskets of
tho choicest wines-California and
Heidsick vintages-which the party
unanimously voted to be about the
most refreshing part Of the entertain
ment. l don't know whore the tenn
perance editors of the State Of Iowa
reside. Those whom we arc accus-
toned to regard as being the loudest
and most active teetotallers in the
Commonwealth, demonstrated q most
surprising lack of faith in the princi-
pies advocated by them, and showed
themselves to bo as good three bottle
men as any club in the country could
muster on its roll. Some ofthe moro
orthodox were little sparing ofthe
sparkling wine at first but ended by
becoming tho most merry CT the par
ty. There's nothing like these ex-
cursion parties with free drinks ad
libitans to knock tho props--and legs
too-from under the advocates of
prohibition.
A party from st. Louis, headed by
Lieut.. Gov. Stannard and ]. G. Cole.
man (of the Rural World met the
rarty at St. Charles, and the latter
gentleman in neat speech extended
to the party the hospitality of the
city. Hc said that the press of Iowa
and its representatives were thrice
welcome to the State and city; that
he hoped tho relations between his
place and our own State once Of q
close and traternal.. character, would
be renewed +; and that our merchants,
farmers and stock-growers would
soon find that the best outlet for
their products and the most ad-
vantageous market for the purchase
of thoir supplies of merchandise,
would be through and in the impor-
tant city, which he in part repre-
sent. His remarks were responded
to by Irish in the most genial and
happy manner.
This morning the entire party
wero driven to tho wharf whore they
embarked on the Belle of Alton, for
the rolling mills of Carondolet. AZ
ter witnessing the operation OF cast
ing pig iron, the party re-embarked,
and the steamer proceeded up the
river front, past the piers OF the new
bridge and the water works to a
point beyond the city limits, return
ing thence to the wharf. There was
an excellent band Of music on board,
and champagne punch was ladled
out to the temperance press by the
barrelful. | saw one man whom |
have known to write the most saw
age articles, demanding even the
third party in our State as tho only
means of inaugurating reform, get
outside of four big goblets Of punch,
and then he hung round the edge Of
the crowd, thirsting, yet feeling
ashamed to ask for more. He onght
to bc published!
This afternoon the party is to be
driven to Shaw's garden, somo five
or six miics from the hotel, and
thence to tho fair grounds, where tho
grand banqnet of the entire excursion
will be given at five o'clock. l am
anxious to SEQ how fan st. Louis can
oxcel ottumwa. Shc has plenty OF
means, and plcnty to cat and drink,
but she has no Pete Ballingall. We
can hang our hopes on "Pcte." BY
the by, tho cxcursionists, all and
singly,' express themselves as being
delighted with the reception they
met with at our place; they were
more than delighted-they were as.
tonishcd that place numbering only
1000 people could afford an enter.
tainment that even would be no dis