The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-06-27
THE MACKINAC EXCURSION.

arranging such grand trip TOT thls year
annual tour ofthe Association, by all who
participated in it. The trip to Chicago,
the second city of the continent, and then
TO the north nearly 400 miles by water,
into cool and bracing climate, all for
the sum of $25 to $50, was in many re-
specls the grandest and most enjoyable
one of all the annual excursions Of the
Association. Every detail had been ar
ranged, and only by two or three una
voidable mishaps was it interfered with
from beginning TO ending. A man could
hardly have stayed at home ten days
much cheaper, and the recreation and
rest from the trials and vexations of the
tread-mill life at the editorial business,
must have been felt and enjoyed by all.
At first Topeka entertained those who
attended the annual meeting royalty.
Her people, with their well known and
generous hospitality, met the gathering
members at the trains and took them TO
their homes, where they were taken care
of and made TO enjoy the visit at the cap
ital. Topeka is rapidly developing into
an important town, and its citizens are
celebrated for enterprise and hospitality.
Every wantw anticipated and provided
for. There was a ball by the capital
guards, and ride over the city in car
riages. In fact the whole city turned its
attention TO the entertainment of its
guests, and ITS citizens added new laurels
TO their well earned reputation for hos
pitality.
The party was carried to Independence,
Mo-, by a special train on the Santa Fe
railroad, where il took the Chicago &
Alton road for Chicago At Independ-
ence an unpleasant delay of eight or ten
hours occurred by break in the road
east of that place. We were finally trans
ferred tO the Chicago & Alton train,
amid much confusion. Many people
were taking advantage of the cheap rates
so cents-to Chicago and st. Louis,
and there were twelve or fourteen cars
crowded with passengers. This road
since its completion TO Kansas City, has
become a favorite public thoroughfare
The delay above was unavoidable. We
soon ratified away at II rapid rate, and
early in the morning crossed the Mis-
souri, at Glasgow. From Independence
to Glasgow we found there had been
plenty of rain, and crops generally were
looking tOlerably well. They had suf
fered for want of rain. The wheat in
many places was thin on the ground
We crossed the Mississippi on a magnifi-
cent bridge at Louisiana. Getting into
Illinois, we found the drOuth worse than
anywhere else. The cars were so filled
with dust as to threaten ruinatiOn to the
ladies' clothing, and suffOcatiOn to the
traveller. The grass and wheat were very
short, while the corn looked as though
nothing could be expected of it. The
country traversed by the Alton railroad
up to the point where night overlook us,
is certainly in bad fix SO far as all crops
are concerned. We were to arrive at
Chicago by 3 30 p. IN. Saturday, but the
hands on our watches marked that hour
Sunday morning before "ChicagO" was
called by the brakeman. We found the
splendid, clean and commodiOus 'busses
of the generous Frank Parmelee, ready to
transfer us free of charge to the dock of the
lake steamer Peerless" which captain
MacIntyre had kept in waiting for us.
In very short time we were steaming
up the lake. After securing our state
rooms and slowing away our baggage,
many of us went upon the decks to get a
view of the city, which was rapidly fad
ing away from us. Nothing of interest
occurred. We reached Milwaukee about
2p. m, 30 miles from Chicago, having
passed Waukegan, Kenosha, Kacine,
and other towns, without stopping. We
went into Milwaukee in heavy rain and
thunder storm. This soon broke away
however, and the party scattered over
the city to see its beautiful business
structures and admire its magnificent res
licences. 1t is one of the handsomest
towns in the country. 1t now claims q
population of 10000. 1t has a large Ger
man element in its population, and beer
SuSo ltS SWIRL
and political make up. Passing by the
door of place where this medicine was
sold-we suppose it has medicinal quail
ties, because temperance people say so
we saw a couple of fellows slipping from
glasses that would hold at least quart
Our mind wandered back to EmpOria
and somehow or Otherwe at once though
of Lutz, and Jay, and Capt. Sommers
We really felt sorry that they were no
editors.
Leaving Milwaukee we soon encoun
tered a very considerable storm on thu
lake, and the boat began to pitch bacl
and forth at rate that made standingOl
the floor or walking about, Difficult
task. Supper was announced, and a gay
er or more hilarious crowd never sat "A
table on that boat. This seemed to b
the forerunner of a general movement
inwardly which made il impossible fo
the suppers to retain their natural place
in the stomachs of the eXcursiOnist:
There was a general rush for the railing
of the deck The next morning the foo
of the deck looked as though there ha
been a shower of halfmashed strawbel
ries on board Half the crowd, or mOr'
contributed to the "sad sea waves" Som
were very sick, and remained so unit
we reached our destination. John Egar
j. q. Richards and Clarence HOlme:
were those from EmpOria who suffered
Early IN the morning we found oul
selves at the beautiful town of Mamie
voc, containing population of abou
1000 people. All day long Monday W
plowed the waters, the storm having sui
sided. Most of the time the weather wa
so cool as to make it unpleasant to b
out. Many of us had made mistake il
leaving behind our OvercOats. Durin
the day the Emporia band contributed I
the pleasure of the ride by some of thei
fine performances. The Topeka Gle
club, and Miss leila Neill of Lawrenc,
Mrs. Colonel Anthony, of LeavenwOrtl
and Mrs. Murdoch, of Wichita, also san
most delightfully."-. The next mOrnin
we awoke at the dock at the town {
Mackinac.
"Here's Mackinacr was the joyfU
exclaim from all, as the rush was mad
for the shore The 100 eXcursionisi