Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-06-25

Clly, OF Ine Oh. LOUIS O. SG. Idul pdche
company, the steamer sailed gaily up to tn
warehouse of the company, foot of Jackson
street AS part of the reception to be ten
dered Commodore Davidson, general manage
of the line, and through whose enterprise
public spirit, and faith in the
FATHER OF WATERS
as highway for pleasure travel and the move
ment of the commerce of the great Missis
sippi valley, the idea of constructing a float
ing palace after the model of the Gen
City was conceived and carried
out, the long span of the Wabashaw stree
bridge had been profusely hung with Ameri
can flags, large and small, (making beautiful
showing as The boat steamed up the river) bl
the chamber of commerce committee, In whost
hands the formalities of the reception haC
been placed.
LOOKING FOR THE BOAT.
In anticipation of the boats arrival, the
committee, with the Great Union band, assem-
bled at the Merchants hotel al
about 1:30 P.5 NJ, where in the
interim before the boats arrival the band ia.
vored the guests of the house and Others in
attendance with several popular airs. In the
meantime crowds of citizens, ladies and gen.
tlemen, boys and girls, old and young, business
men, professional men, pleasure seekers and
the high ground on Second street, the
river bank, and other positions advan-
tageous for a view of the river,
mol few with field glasses, all eagerly strain
ing their eyes for the expected arrival. Soon
a cry went up, as a puff of black smoke shot
up above the trees just below Pigs Eye, there
she comes" And then there was few min
utes OF anxious expectancy, dispelled as the
turn at Pigs Eye was made, by the sight of
the escaping white caps of steam, plainly WIS.,
ible. Along the steamer came, now hid from
view by intervening trees lining the bank, and
again affording glimpse of her smoke stacks
and upper works, until the bend was made
Just below the city, when there was a rush of
onlookers to the levee.
THE SIGNAL.
Soon after the Gem City made the turn her
arrival was announced by the steamers whistle
followed by the discharge of a piece
of artillery upon the boat.
As the boat neared the wharf the Great Union
band struck up a lively air, to which the
Keithsburg's silver cornet band, which is ac-
companying the boat on the round trip, re-
sponded. At the same time the large num-
Der of passengers on board took positions as
best they could, on the shore side of the boat,
on the cabin and texas decks, presenting per-
feet sea of happy faces, interspersed with
vigorous fluttering of handkerchiefs answer
ing greetings from the shore. AS the boat
drew near
COMMODORE DAVIDSON
was observed directing the movements of the
boat, discovery that was promptly responded
under the chip, hip, hurrah" of P. H.
Kelly, by three hearty cheers. In
making the landing, the boat passed short
distance above the landing, giving the spec
tators fine opportunity to note the grand
proportions, fine exterior finish, graceful con-
tour and spread lines, all of which won hearty
and enthusiastic comment. The boat landed,
there was a rush of the crowd, and for fifteen
or twenty minutes, what with the
passengers leaving the boat, and
the crowd rushing on board, the jam was
indescribable, the only comparison being an
army demoralized and in retreat.
While this scene of confusion is in progress,
the reporter will give the ''log" of the ruu
from st. Louis to st. Paul, kindly furnished
by N. B. Pole) Hatcher, the gentlemanly and
business chief clerk.
Distance from st. Louis to st. Paul, river
turnings, 800 miles. Left st. Louis $50 P.
NJ Tuesday. Arrived st. Paul 2 P. NJ. Friday.
Time of run COZ hours. Time from Dubuque
to st. Paul 25 hours; running time % hours.
Time from La Crosse IA hours; running time
12b hours. Time through Lake Pepin, 80
miles, hour IA minutes. Registered on trip,
2S6 passengers, of which 100 were through
from st. Louis, and about so round trip, and
handled ,S47 packages of freight
OFFICERS
The officers are:
Commodore VIM. F. Davidson in COM
mand.
N. B. Hatcher, chief clerk.
Ed. Young, assistant clerk.
f. B. Buckley, steward.
James Boland, mate.
A. Mcconnell, assis tant mate.
Hiram Beedle and Campbell Hunt pilots.
Geo. Brennan, engineer, and Chas. Evans, as
sistaut.
Officers wear a neat uniform of bright navy
blue, brass buttons, with navy cap, with the
designation of their rank in gilt letters in
front, and present very neat and attractive
appearance.
THE BOAT
has been so thoroughly described by the GLOBE
that no extensive description is required
at this time. Suffice it that she is 3O(
feet in length, SO feet beam
and six foot hold, and has accommodations
for 224 cabin passengers, including about SIX
ty in the texas, when the rooms are finished
off, in all respects equal to those in the cabin
proper. She is an entirely new boat, sub
stantially though tastefully built and finished
off. Her furniture and fittings are of the best
rich but not gaudy. The cabins are large
well ventilated and handsomely fur
nished, and her. machinery of the best ant
most improved, for furnishing power ant
speed with safety. Such is in brief the Gen
City.
THE RECEPTION.
The rush of the crowd having somewha
subsidized in the fifteen minutes while the re
porter was jotting down the above items, tn
chamber of commerce committee elbowet
their way down through the throng to abou
midway of the grand saloon, where Commo
dore Davidson was busily engaged receiviD,
the congratulations of friends, the band mean
while playing stirring air. Arriving in from
of the commodore, DIR. Day, the spokesman
of the committee, addressed him, speakin!
substantially as follows:
Commodore Davidson: On behalf of the cham
ber of commerce of the city of st. Paul and of you
old neghb Us and friends, it is made our peasar
duty to welcome you and your magnificent steam
boat to our city. This task is made more easy whe
we remember that you are no stranger to us. or tn
navigation of great river, for mora than qual
tsr of century you and your boats have bee
familiar to u; have brought us our supplies an
taken away what we had to sell. Seeing the person
who make this call upon you, it is but proper to ga
that the first motive they have in view is to pa
their respects to you personally as an old citize
;.,Hh Hhnr and tn