, 1883-09-22
Qglalla QWdlld SldlfSllldH
DRIVEN! F.!
The Golden Spike Hammered
Home With a
Silver Sledge.
Nearly Five Thousand People
Present at the
Ceremony.
Speeches by President Willard
Ex-Secretary Evarts and
Others. .
thousand Feet Of Track Laid 10
Show How II Is Done.
1,,nnla-a DaCcr1p-ioD of rhs I1Dror- a my
Complete Description of the Important
Event.
To he Editor Of The Indepenaeur.

To the Edior Oi The independent
AT THE GOLD SPIKE, September S.-This
has been Gold Spike" day and when this
afternoon President Willard gave the last
blow that drove home the golden spike
which bound together the two ends of a
mighty railroad, the echo Of that blow re-
sounded from the Atlantic 10 The Pacific
ocean.
The morning dawned bright and beauti-
ful. and little shower spread the dust and
cooled the air At about seven O'Clock the
,liird section of Mr.. Wizards party left
the lhe'eHA DAYS i'' festivities. fI' It was as
closely followed by the fourth section and q
special train. which contained large mum
Der Of the leading citizens of Helena and
vicinity The first and second section be
longing to Nr. Wizards party mad preceded
the other sections the night before. Owing
10 several small Inishaps il was three O'Clock
before all the trains had arrived at the scene
of the spike driving . point about fifty five
miles west of Helena. AT this point there
had been erected grand stand capable OF
holding Il thousand people This and the
extensive platforms near by were crowded
with people. The occasion was
settlers from all around. Prominent among
the interested spectators were about score
or more of Crow Indians who had come
down FROM their reservation in order 10 be
present with their white brethren on the
OCCASION At 3 o'clock the grand stand was
crowded to its utmost capacity and dense
crowd surrounded the speakers position.
President Willard and members Of his fam
ilv occupied the foremost position on The
sand In the front seats close at hand
were noticed General Grant, Hon VIM.
NJ EyarrS. Secretary Teller, Hon Carl
Schurz. Governor Ordway, of Dakota.
Gov. J. Schuyler Crosby of Montana
Gov Rush of Wisconsin, Gov. Hubbard OF
Minnesota. Ex President Frederick Billing:
and family. Ex-President CasS, Hon. Garter
Harrison of Chicago, George II Pullman,
Marshall Field. Robert Harris, John Nc
Ginnis. J. y. Doaue Hon. Sackville- West
Lord Darlington. DR.. BunSen, DR. Hoffman,
Captain Mullau, and other distinguished
foreign guests.
During the delivery of his speech PreSi
dent Willard was the recipient OF the closest
attention and in closing was greeted with
the greatest applause. His speech was as
follows:
Il is nay agreeable duty and very great
pleasure Ia offer hearty welcome TO this
distinguished assemhlage on this memorable
occasion and in these remarkable surround
ingS. To you, the representatives OF foreign
nations, the members of the executive, leglS-
lative and judicial branches of the United
States government. the Governors OF States
and Territories, the representatives OF the
European and American press, and our
guests from abroad and al home generally,
10 YOU. one and all. beg to oiter, IN the
name of the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
panv, profound thanks for your KIND pres
ence and participation in this. the most I'M
portant event Of our corporate existence.
Our work means the conquest OF new neids
for general commerce and industry. 1t ere
ates a new highway between Europe, Amer
lea and Asia The population OF the States
and Territories traversed by our road Is
largely made up from the European nation
aIities represented here We deemed II nj
and proper, therefore 10 bid 50 10 speak,
both the old and the new world to this ccle
bration. or, in other words. To arrange SORT
of international Festival Many of You have
crossed the ocean. and all have Travelled
great distances in order TO be with us To-
day. BE pleased 10 accept my assurance
that We greatly appreciate your sacrifice ot
time and comfort. In return, We earnestly
wish 10 DO our guests all possible honor and
10 give them AL possible pleasure, and We
trust that this tranScontinental journey has
been and will be an unalloyed enjoyment to
them. We hope, moreover, that as IN this
hour new and indissOluble tOnd will be
formed between the countries 10 the east
and TO the west of these Rocky Mountains,
this gathering may also strengthen the ties
of good will and friendship between the
Republic of North America and the parent
countries of Europe.
Thanks to the foresight Of President
Thomas Jefferson. well nigh four score years
ago Lewis and Clarke toiled through these
mountains as the first explorers OF Anglo
American origin, and lifted the veil that hid
from civilized mankind the regions wa;ered
by the Cpper Missouri. the Yellowstone. the
Columbia and their tributaries. The exploits
of these gifted and fearless men were the
rich germ. the full fruition of which we eel
ebrate this day.
More eloquent lips than mine will describe
tn Won the long and singular, but interesting
process of evolution. by which our enter
prise slowly grew out of the discoveries
fhen made with so much courage and intel
ligeuce. They will tell YOU how the record
of these discoveries first gave rise, as long
as nearly half a century ago, 10 prophetic
y,sicns of q transcontinental railroad alg0n
Lewis and Clarke's route. and how, within
ten wears after these visions were first en-
bodied In print. they filled the mind of one
man with such fire Of enthusiasm as TO move
bim TO 60 forth, like another apostle, and to
spend the best years Of his life and all he
possessed in the propagation of his faith.
You will learn how he became in the end a
very martyr TO his belief, but how the pro-
iect of railroad 10 the Pacific, despite the
fsilnre of It's first prophet, made converts,
snread widely and grew into popularity, IN
,iI il finally attained TO the importance of a
leading public question and object of ma
tional legislation
You Will be shown how the northern