Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-06-29

anu uuiih my HlSlC 70 Albany, no
ticed large and very snowy posters
in various parts of both cities. an
nouneing that on the 18th day of
September, IA old vessel, a man-of
war" which was surrendered to Com
odore Perry at his famous victory"
on Lake Erie lin September, 1918, l
think) which from age had become
useless, would be set adrift above
Niagara Falls, and allowed to go
over the falls in the presence of the
assembled multitude. Sundry bears,
geese and other "wild varmints
were advertised to be aboard and
& visible to the naked eye" of each
astonished beholder! | did not see
then as l did afterwards, that all this
meant ten to twenty thousand hu-
man beings on Goat Island at the
''small admission fee" of one dollar
per human being! To me it was a
purely philanthropic scheme, gotten
up regardless of expense, and entire
ly prO-6OnO- -p1tbIicO, and l read the
posters word by word, and swal-
lowed every high sounding sentence
as completely as all boys devour
circus bill. On leaving Troy very
early in the morning for Schenecta-
dy, seventeen miles by stage, was
not surprised to find, upon getting
out few miles, that there were sew
eral coaches making the same jour
ney, all well filled with passengers.
knew, or supposed did, that the
whole crowd was enrOute to Niagara
Falls to witness that wonderful ex-
hibition, because l had determined
to enjoy that rare treat myself.
Arriving in Schenectady in ad-
vance of the train that was coming
from Albany, and which was to con-
vey me quite a distance towards
Out West" the railroad was then
complete from Albany to Syracuse,
and there was also road from Lock
port via Niagara Falls to Buffalo,, l
busted myself in inspecting the
Rail Track" trst taking off
my overcoat and placing it across the
back of a chair in a public room,
which now believe to have been
waiting room in passenger depot.
I was conscious that it was "brand
new" coat, and quite nice one for
boy to OWE. had worn it for the
first time during that early morn
ing journey on the outside of the
coach. When the train arrived from
Albany there was great excitement
and a rush for the cars. ! went to
the verv chair on which l had so
confdingly deposited my new over
coat not thirty minutes before, to
find that some other chap had mis-
taken the garment for his own, ard
had disappeared in some mysterious
way that | knew not of. The idea
occurred to me then that l had been
cautioned before leaving home not
to lose nv trunk or overcOat, and !
couldn't help regretting that had
disregarded the instructions given
me.
| found myself aboard the first
railroad train | had ever seen; a very
long train too as it seemed to me, ]
should Judge as many as fifteen cars,
and every ear apparently filled with
people, all on their way to Niagara
Falls as I verify belteged, because
could not account for so many peo
ple being '' on the wing upon any
other hypothesis. The cars were
similar in shape to Concord coach,
and not much larger-A partition
through the center, traDsversely,
which could be raised or lowered at
will, each half of the car accOmmo-
dating six persons-twO seats, three
persons on a seat, gGs-G-Dis. The
conductor walked around the car on
the outside on a foot-boaTd" and
transacted his business with each
passenger through the window.
The speed of the train probably a
dszen miles an hour, astonished me.
After about an hours ride through
a very beautiful country, more SO
than any ] had ever imagined; we
met A train fully as long as ours, and
containing quite as many people,
and mv heart sunk within me; for l
said 20 myself, "Fhe show is over
and the people are all going home!"
although it was four or five days be-
fore the time advertised for the per
ea, - stnonna off" Our train
arrived at Syracuse at "early candle
ligbt"-half way across the great
State of New York between sunrise
and sun.down-marvelOus speed :
for those days. Having been so
thoroughly posted by my friend OF
the Mansios House, ] knew precisely
how TO deport myself at the next
tavern / might honor with my pres
ence and patronage, in such a man
ner as that all behOlders would see
at a glance that / was an expert
anced traveller and perfectly familiar
With the wavs of the world general
Iv and with first-class hotels IN par
ticnIar Accordingly, upon entering
tbe Syracuse House with great
~nItitude of people, all bound for
Nisyara Falls, of course, got to the
reoister as soon as possible, the
crowd of older people somewhat OBJ
structisg my progress, and after de-
posting py autograph, as | thought
in exceIleat style, asked the clerA
in a pretty le9d voice, so as 70 'Iu tho
vince him that there was no. no. ,1o rn'
least particle of greeopess aOoT' I boii Hi
bow | Inc before the seeond pei
,'aor ~ou'u TO 30 fully comprehend my
aPpea, o,';,,,, and | thought he hardly
lneanaisI ,a,.,'.;sIed the fact of my arrival;
IPp, Poppnsoird myself, however, as wfli
rs I could, by the reflection that on
occonnt a of the large crowd of people
all eager to register, quite possibly
he had mistaken me for some other
/ how! Presently l heard most un'
earthly sound-different from any
thing / had ever heard in all my
bor1 days. The people all rushed
in one objection, and l decided tI
follow them. l was sure the roo
had fallen in, and that every. lo0k
ing-glass and all the dishes IN t1'
house were broken 10 eternal SMASH
| UbaD I left Syracuse on q packe