Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1879-01-25
The Great West

week you mentioned my trip west,
and the experience of returning with
the unpleasant remembrance Of
frozen nose; also, the otherwise ex-
ceedingly pleasant time l experienced
by meeting so many Of my old and
kind friends and relatives. Yod also
spoke of my opinion Of the Western
States generally, and of the express
sion of Greeley to the "young man,
go West"
shall therefore, as promised, en-
deavor to give ypla short sketch Of
my trip, although I may use some
commonplace remarks in doing so, I
will state some things that to me
were very interesting, and trust they
may also be interesting to at least
some Of the readers of the JOURNAL.
I have had for many years a great
desire to take trip West; first, to sec
many frs nds and relatives, and also
to see the great country for myself I
did not, however, choose to make the
trip in winter, rather in summer, but
as business in connection with the
Steyer estate required immediate at
tenton the powers that be said 80,
and at once" found there was no
alternative but be off and Immediately
After having made some prepare
tons by purchasing a ticket, etc, aud
it .eing very cold here, | delayed d
few days for moderate weather, but
aLas for lu", struck a polar wave
soon after | aving Frosthurg, such as
! never before experienced, and hope
never to encounter again.
My first stop-oyer was at Tifiin,
Ohio, where | arrived on Tuesday,
Dec. 3lsJ, for the purpose of visiting
on my way some of my re atives, WHO
lett fTostburg some twenty three
years ago. They consisted of the
widow ana children Of Enoch Frost,
ne uaVlng lived here, and also deceas-
ed here, many years since. | found
the boys as | called them, James
w., Josiah and Mesheck, and alto
their mother, all in good health. OF
course, so long a time had elapsed
stree seeing them that We were as
strangers, }ut having soon recognized
each other We had very pleasant
time, To say that they made it
pleasan; for me scarcely does them
Justice. All with the exception of
James have small families, are COM
tortablY situated and seem to be DO
ing well, My time being somewhat
limited, was compelled to make a
short visit, and therefore left fer
Chicago next evening-New Years.
Iitiin is quite hourishing inland
toWn Of about 5000 inhabitants; fine
wide streets, with several manufactor-
les Of different kinds and magnificent
agricultural country surrounding it.
| will nov introduce toyou my ex-
pgrlence in reference to a Shalt
ohange in the weather. I left Tifin
at 7 p. H., with the thermometer at
20 degrees above zero, and arrived at
Chicago the next morning at S a. n.
1T distance Of about 200 milcs-au6
found it marked 10 degrees below.
You may well imagine my feelings,
and how terribly the cold affected
me; but found by sad exr erienco that
this was only a preliminary to what
l will hereafter inform you of. Hav-
ing met an old acquaintance here, Mr..
George Hoffman formerly Of Climber
land, and having two hours in the
city, We started out to see the sights,
but soon returned. I told iIoamau
| did not want to see Chicago or any
other city that day. I did, however,
see something of the great Palmer
Hotel. 1t is certainly immense ia
proportions; said to be fire. roof in
every respect. 1t reminded me in /
one respect of OFT capitol at Wash
Ington, and that was, there was dan
ger OF a stranger getting lost in it. I
did, however, on my return see more .
Of Chicago. and a wonderful city it IS. .
! let Chicago at 1880 a. H., Oh
that ever memorable Thursday, Jar.
.. i day Inever will forget. Iceland, .
Greenland, the North Pole, and every
other old pole came into nay mind. I ,
rodathat day about 80 miles and stop
ped over to see an OLD friend aid
sahooImatc f early days. Here |
found it "a 'r5rees below, at Dixon,
Illinois. Worse and more Of it! had
two miles to walk, facing north-wost
wind, to his house. As he was about
leaving for Chicago, | left next morn
ing, and called on my return, spend
ng two days exceedingly pleasant to
me, with himself and wife, they hay
ne no family. Mr., H. Uhl, the party
above mentioned, married here in
FrostbUrg, a Miss Wilhelm, most
lady, and | shall not soon
orget her kindness to me in her ef-
orts to make me comfortable during
nose terribly cold days. While here