Middletown transcript., 1878-05-11

man sleeping coach being taken before
the train left St. Louis, the day-cOach
passengers were compelled to make
the best of the car seats as substitutes
for beds. The weather was quite cold,
though it was the 9th of June, and the
wind whistled over the car like the
blasts of December. A brakeman soon
had roaring fire in the only stove in
our car, but the seats in the vicinity
of it being given to the ladies, the mas
culine passengers were gallant enough
to take "baok seats" and shiyer. Squibs
and the writer being without oyercOats
passed an uncomfortable night.
Early in the morning we left the
car to take an observation of our sur
roundings, and found Lexington juno
tion contained fine depot building,
the usual varied assortment Of saloons
and groceries incident to western vii
lage, and several dwellings. a few
miles away, but in full view upon the
high bluffs Of the opposite side Of the
river, lay the city Of Lexington, famed
for her fine educational Universities
and also as the scene Of a battle dur
ing the late civil war, where Col. Null
ligan surrendered to the Confederates
under Gen. Price, after long siege.
While we were taking breakfast at
the Junction another train arrived
from St. Louis, and an engine was
dispatched up the road on a tour Of
observation and soon returned with the
unpleasant information that the road
was under water for many miles, and
that it would be impossible for the
trains to get through. The Railroad
officials were at once besieged for in
formation, while number Of rumors
in regard to our disposition were set
aAoat, one of them being to the effect
that we would have to stay here until
the water fell. As it was still rising
this was not pleasant information, and
Squibs said before he'd do it he'd walk
back to St. Louis. Information was
finally gained from the officials that
we were to be run down to Lexington
and taken thence to Kansas City by
a narrow gauge railroad, on a train
which was supposed to start some time
during the afternoon (if it was not
washed out, and soon the welcome
sound of call aboard" was heard again
and we were off upon branch road
for Lexington.
We soon reached the river, where
the water was far out Of its banks and
flowing swiftly through the corn and
wheat fields. At the waters edge our
party were piled, baggage and all into
a number Of vehicles Of various sorts,
shapes, sizes and ages; whirled round
the shore through swift flowing Sluices,
"washouts" and bitches, where the
equilibrium Of the vehicle was threat
eled every moment, until ferry boat
was reached, which finally landed US
upon the other side of the river, and
mounting the wagons once more, we
were whirled up the bluff, through the
of Lexington and over a most
abominable road, containing the larg-
est and stickiest of mud holes, till a
mile in the country we drew near the
river again and reached the marrow
gauge (called marrow gouge" in the
west) railroad. The depot and por-
tions Of the track Of this road had suf-
fered from the food near town and a
depot had been established
a mile in the country the spot being
marked only by an oak tree and a
pair Of bars.
During this memorable trip from
Lexington Junction to Lexington City |
we had among our happy little band
Of beIated travellers no less a parsonage
than Brig. Gen. Price, who was in
command Of the Confederates at the
siege and capture of Lexington. dur
ing the war. Price is, or was at the |
time Of which I write, very hale and
pleasant gentleman Of perhaps, sixty
five or seventy years, but he looked |
much younger. He was quite gray
but as straight as an arrow and step
ped off as lively as man of twenty.
While crossing the river in front Of
the town,he gave us much information
about the battle and pointed out the
college building in which COL Multi
gan, with the Federal force was forti-
fed. Lexington is city Of perhaps,
5000 inhabitants, and is built upon
the high bluffs Of the Missouri. 1t is
the seat of several Universities, the
centre of an extensive and productive
section and a place of
trade. It is also a great
hemp centre, and during the siege,
bales of this fibre were used by the
as breast-works, proving
very effective in resisting bullets.
Squibs named our place of waiting
coax Tree Station" and, as the train
was not expected for some time, the
writer, in company with a st. Louis
drummer, ascended a steep hill for the
distance Of the fourth of mile, where a