National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-12-04
OUR KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
NOTES OF THE CRUSADE FROM
WASHINGTON TO NEW ORLEANS.

UASHLAO1OA ~ NEW OhLEAAos
"A HILARIOUS COMPANY OF KNIGHTs-RE-
LIEVING THE MONoToNY OF TRAVEL
GALLANT CHARGES FOR GRUB-sIGHTS
IN NEW DECENTRALIZATION OF GRAND
OFFICERS
Correspondence OF the National Republican.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 3d. The Washington
Templars and friends that LEFT your city Thurs
day last arrived here at o'clock yesterday (Sun-
day) morning safe and we'll The ride was long
one, the excursionists being over three days and
two nights on the road; still thoy were not as
much fatigued as such journey was calculated to
cause them. The monOtOny Of the journey was
considerably relieved by
THE HIARITY THAT PREVAILED
among the company, Of whom Sir Albert Gleason
was one Of the chief leaders. He did not rest
night or day, was the last to retire at night and
the first to appear In the morning, rushing
through the sleeping-ear at the early hour Of
O'Clock, hunting, as he sad for the worm that be-
longed to the early riser. During the day travel,
whenever q station was made, he would purchase
the stock In trade from an apple or peanut ven
der, and ply the calling on the train, with the
difference from the genuine dealer that he gave
away his goods, instead Of disposing Of them at
triple prices.
PLEASING INCIDENT
was the presentation by Sir Z. g. Maekey, Of
South Carolina, Of cane to the Grand Master Of
Templars Of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
The speech and response were pertinent to the
occasion, and filled with wit and humor. On the
succeeding day, Mr.. O. W. Clark, a Well-known
wood and coal merchant Of your city, who BY the
way is not Templar, but accompanied the party,
with whom he had many friends, to see the coun-
try and Southern cities. was presented by Sir
Robert II. Graham with a handsome case and
ugzFN de haa -fy hFa a1HN Fa TnaH1
tho commandery." Mr.. Clark was taken quite
aback at the unexpected present, but returned
his thanks in q few appropriate words Probably
the most lively time while en- route was
RUSHING FOR MEALS,
when meal stations were reached. Some time
before they were approached everybody prepared
for a race, and the train would be scarcely drawn
up on the track ere the Whele party tumbled out
pellmell and rushed for the nearest plate in
sight. 1t was reached here and there over your
neAghbor's shoulder on the one side and across
| his Dish on the other. Each Individual helped
himself and did not dream Of waiting for the
| SERVANT to attend to his wants. The meals were
| excellent and food abundant until we reached
Montgomery, Alabama, which was about $50 in
the morning, A more hungry crew could scarcely
| be brought together. In we marched, to the
number Of 125S expecting that abundance which
We had preTiOuIly received, but, to surprise,
there was room y feed only about forty, and the
rost had to eontent themselves and wait until the
places occupied became vacant. Knowing that
| there was not much wait to the train after the
regular time allowed for stoppages the passen-
| gers came to the conclusion that they would help
themselves, and they started at It.
RUSH run THE KITCHEN.
One seized plate and mNdetor the kitchen,
while another grabbed cup and hunted out the
| cofee-boilor. was one of those visiting the
| kitchen. i reached the distributor Of sood. He
was an old colored man aud not much Of o carver.
! Stretching my arm toward him called for beef
| steak. He supplied me promptly by picking up
piece from q dirty looking basin with his fingers
and slapping It on the plate, reached out wit =
| the other hand, and seizng piece of ham cried,
| "Will you have this, also?" but his manner Of
| dishing up food took the edge from my appetite,
and replied, mo" Then / turned to find po-
tatoes or something else. AS did so the old
man let a cut Of beef slip through his fingers to
the floor. 1t was too valuable to be missed so he
picked IT up and replaced 1t in the basin.
From this place
ON TO NEW ORLEANS
the fare was poor and the prediction made by Mr..
Short that we would get plain fare was fully
verified. The excurslonists were only too glad to
reach here. The last part Of the ride-from
| Mobile to this city, which was said To be the
| shortest, sWiftest and best-Was decidedly the
sloEest and most tedious, and tired the party
completely. The Templars were accommodated
at the st. Charles hotel and completely filled it.
| The different visiting Communicates have col
OniEed and headquarter cards can be found In all
the corridors. Among them is Pennsylvania,
| Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas,
Michigan, Washington and Virginia.
| MOVEMENTS OF THE WASHINGTON KNIGsHT.
Yesterday the Sir knights Of your city, by in.
| vltation, attended the Methodist Church South,
| where they listened to an eloquent discourse
preached by Rev. DR.. Tudor, formerly Of
| Washington and member Of No. Com
| mandery Of that city. In the afternoon
they rode GU. Aapk the she'll road to Lake
PO9iehartSaiR, is aeopt i've miles
Z Sn1U sandsys "a W S5id at the lake lake
7 in factthe citizens say it was the coolest day
| they have experienced so far this winter. Cen
seQuently the visit outside the Iake-house was
brief. After an hour spent in surveying the
| scenery the company returned to the hotel. In
the evening they walked through the city which
\ was an animation, and would lead person to
suppose it vas any other day in the week than
| the S3bbstA Saloons were ablaze with lights,
stores open and theatres in full blast.
| This morning the members of Washington
| Commandery visited the works of the Louisiana
| ice Manufacturing Company, and saw them in
! Operation. The works have now been in opera
! ton six years. They were built at an expense of
| loco, and have received additions since. The
company turn out 10000 tons Of ice annually, all
| Of which is consumed in this city. While No. l
| was there De Molay, No. 4, was at the country
residence Of Grand Master Fellows, whittier they
| had gone at his invitation. 1t is six miles from
the city. IwIll give you full account Of the
trip on their return. By the way they seem to
/ be grand faYOrites here. They have been chosen
| as the special escort for the Grand Master, and
| will form his body guard on the occasion Of the
! great parade on Friday next. What has become
| of the members Of Columbia No. 2 is unknown.
They were expected yesterday, but thus far have
failed to put in an appearance. 1t is said that
| they are on the steamer Great Republic, and
that she is held up the Mississippi by dense
fog. 1t is thought that they will reach here to,
| morrow. J.N. p.
! MEETING OF THE GRAND ENCAMPMENT
| .r ELECTION OF GRAND OFFICERS.
| NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 3.-The Grand Eneamp-
| ment of knights Templar Of the United States