The daily gazette., 1879-07-25
The Odd Fellows.
PREPARING FOR THE GRAND EXCURSION
THE DEPARTURE FoR REHoBoTH.

PREPARING FOR THE GRAND EXCURSION
THE DEPARTURE FoR REHoBoTH.
Last night was busy ume with the
Odd Fellows Of this city, as the final
preparations were made for their grand
excursion to Rehob"th Beach. Com
nittee meeiing- were held In the Lodge
rooms, and all necessary alrangeIne nts
for to-day's celebration were perfected
and put into operative shape.
During the evening James l. Ridgeley,
Esq, of Baltimore, " no is Grand Secre-
States, arrived in this city, accompanied
by his wifi and daughter, and stopped
1t the Clayton House. He was called
upon by Grand Master VIM. II. Foulk,
Of this State, and other leading members
of the Order, aud about eight o'clock in
ths evening, the Uniformed Battalion Of
Patriarchs, with the City Cornet Band.
The Patriarchs, under command of Capt.
Joseph Seal, marched to the Fifth street
entrance of the hotel, where the band
played lively air, which quickly at
tracted large crowd to the place. In
response Mr.. kidgoley appeared upon
the balcony and bowed his thanks, after
which DIR. q. Troupe Maxwell, of thi'
city, made IA brief ndlress stating that
Mr.. Ridgeloy did not feel able to make
a personal response to the CON phment
thus rendered hin, and for which he de-
sired his sincere thanks to be returned.
Tue crowd cheerei, and then the Patri-
archs marched into the Clayton House
and were personally presented to the
Grand Secretary.
MIR. Ridgeley Is one of the most re yered
and respected members of the order and
| for 48 years-since 1s31-Las wrestleG
with the numerical statistics of Odd Eel
| lOwship, in the position of Secretary ol
the Grand Lodge OF the United s ates
| As he Is becoming enfeebled by advanc-
ing years, the active duties of his office
are now perforated by an assistant. Mr.
| Ridgeley went on the excursion this
morning, and Grand Master John s
Stokes, of Philadelphia, and Grand Trea'
surer Joshua Vansant, of Baltimore, vi
| the Grand Lodge Of the U. s., are ale
expected to be present al the reunion
this afternoon at Rehoboth.
THE DEPARTURE-THE LARGEST EXCUR-
| SION THAT EVER LEFT WILMINGTON.
| Before six o'clock, this morning, the
| members OF the Order in this city met al
The Odd Fellows Hall, and marched VI
King street 10 Tenth, to Market, t,
Market, to Fourth, to Walnut, and thence
to the r., w. Il b. Il. II. depot. Here ;
large crowd OF .Xcursionists had alread.
| ~ was aIBhi' nv at
glance that the excursion was to be al
unusually large one. Two empty trains
of eight cars each, went down IN ad
vance for the purpose of taking the ex
| cur iOuisls from stations down the road
while huge train Of one baggage AM
eighteen passenger cars was drawn VI
to the depot for the reception of the ex
eursionists from This city.
Two car loads came up from Newark
and the special train over the Delawai
Western road, from Landenbufg, ais
comprised two cars, both completel
filed.
In few minutes after the excursiO
train drew up to the depot, the eigbtee
coaches were filled to the extent of thei
seating capacity, and numbers of pei
sons Gro wded the platforms. The con
NIT ees rushed wildly about, endeavol
ing to procure more cars, but the raj
road officials had none to give, az, coun
ing the train thai came up from Delma
over forty passenger cars were in use I,
this excursion alOue. The sale of ticke
uaite number of persons who had a
ready procured their tickets renamed ;
home, preferring not to suffer the di
comforts of the overcrowded cars. 1t
) estimated that fully twelve hundred pei
sons were on this train, and the txcu
sion is the largest ever gwen in tn
State.
The tram .teame out of the depot {
745 O'CLOCK, drawn by engine N IS, an
such an unusual array of cars attracte
general. comment. Conductor Eugen
Messick, one of the most careful an
cautious of railroad men, was in chari
: of the train; and VIM. b ckley, an Ell
gineer of experience and Judgment, 'coI
trolled the engine. With such officia
every pr-caution will b. taken to rend'
the "trip pleasant as well as safe for Il
p;isse gers.