The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-07-09

Il christcc this etrssctnre THE Illinois
and St. Louis Bridge and invoke the
blessings Of the Almighty upon it, its
builders and the commerce 10 which it
Is henceforth and forever dedicated"
The "Inaugaral Tain" moved across
with number Of distinguished people
aboard. Although this was not the
FIRST train to make the passage, BY "com-
OF those who were aboard,
and for arguments sake" it will DO con-
sidcred the first train in "his:ory." We
were not aboard the train for the very
simple reason We were not distinguished
At about II o'clock NJ, under
a tent with seating capacity Of twelve
or fifteen hundred, near the entrance to
the bridge, speaking commenced-con-
gratulatory, commendatory and hifalu-
tin. Mayor Brown delivered bis i'd
dress of welcome; then there was u
speech from Gov. Beverage Of Illinois,
who was followed by Gov. woodson of
Missouri. Then B. Gratx Brown had his
say, when Capt. James B. Eads, the great
man of the hour, tho conceivcr and
builder OF the eighth wonder Of tho
world, made his remarks. Gov. Hen
bricks of Indiana and Senator Ferry of
Michigan also addressed the multitudes.
We know that all this was done by the
paper. We were not anxious about
the speaking, rs we were not disting-
uishcd enough to get under that tent ;
nor were we 40 patriotic and enthusias-
tic as to caro- to be made into mincc
meat by the dense crowd surrounding it.
We were satisfied to strike little sit
ting room in q shady place-no matter
where.
We finally concluded VIC would strike
the lcvcc. There we found that the "ele-
CANT steamer, Eichert," would make an
excursion up the river for distance OF
six miles and down the river the same
distance, that passengers might have a
good view of tho bridge. For Sl.0O
Frank and oursclf procured tickets and
VIC were soon out on the waters Of the
Mississippi. A goodiy crowd was
aboard, and a band gave US plsnty OF
music. That was the coolest" time we
had during the day. As we passed un-
der the bridge, the smoke stacks seemed
to be in danger of "breaking off" but,
on close inspection, were many feet be-
low the complication of iron and steel
bars. A cannon on tho PROV OF the
steamer was "touched off rs we passed
up. and again as we passed down, and
this was our first introduction TO a bridge
which is larger and grander than the
celebrated "war bridges" erected by
Xerxcs, Caesar and ..Trajan; grander,
more beautiful and substantial than any
which span the Thames; grander than
Pont Ncuf at Paris. or the bridge of lIar-
lem river; grander than any bridges on
this continent-perhaps tho "king OF
bridges" Of the whole world.
After our pleasant little excursion We
went aboard the steamer, Great Rcpub-
lie, on which we had purchased tickets
for the purpose ofvicw'ng the fire works.
Our tickets cost us one dollar each. We
"pitched our tent" on the hurricane
deck-forward-that VIC might got the
best view. The Republic is the largest
and most beautiful steamer on the river,
and for this reason it was !hronged with
a larger mass of human beings than any
of its neighbors. A forest Of smoke
stacks surrounded US. Nearly every
steamer had a band Of music. Bands
playing together and separately, the
blowing of whistles, the ding-dong OF
steamer bells, the shouts OF thousands
of cclebrators-altogetl'cr made a very
noise. Besides this, the
steamers were handsomely Illuminated,
and passing hither and thither made us
think that perhaps we were all afloat on
the bay of Venice. 1t was o grand
scene, long TO be remembered, and alto
gcther finer than the 100000 fire
works, OF which We will soon speak.
Some 5000 persons were slowed away
on the Republic and when the packing
process was over, . man could not have
changed his position by being banged
by pile driver, and much less force
pump. Added to all this was most
sultry air, which brought degree OF
torture that tho Republic crowd will re-
until they get to hotter place.
We had supposed all along that Frank
was q member of tho church in good
until We heard him force out
some "expletives to plump his speech"
which werc not altogether proper and
digaifed, but expressed our opinion of
the situation, withaI. The gang plank
vas haulcd abaard. the stcam commenc-