The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-09-12

eStS; TO when the ministers OF the
Powers of Europe lend the favor o1
their countenance, and which collects
so many eminent men of Our own
country and of the old world to assist
in this international celebration.
Mr.. EYarts' speech occupied lit
tie over one hour in it's delivery, and
was frequently interrupted BY cheers.
At its conclusion he was vOciferOusly
app!aud+d by the enthusiastic attend
ance, while cries Of Hear" Hear" F."
were uttered by the foreis guests.
Loud calls were now made for Gen
erai Grant, but Mr.. Willard raised
his hand, and, after gaining the at
tantion Of the crowd, introduced
Secretary Teller.
AS OHr kilograms contain a fair
synopsis of the speeches made after
Mr.. Evarts had spoken, we shall not
refer to them. 1t is not, however,
out of place to state that. with the
exception of General Grant and Mr..
Teller. every one Of the speakers
turned his back upon the
audience in front of him
and directed his renal ks to the dis
tinguished gentlemen occupying seats
facing the audience. With one or
two exceptions after each speaker
had concluded his remarks the crowd
cried for Grant, Finally after a
burst Of eloquence from one of the for
e;gn visitors, such an cutlery was
made for the General that Mr.. Viii
ard went to the old General and es-
corted rim to the front. The cheer
upon cheer and the applause upon
applause with which he Was greeted
were fitting climax to the cere-
monies of the day. They could have
Stopped there without detracting
from the interest of the hour. The
everlasting hills through which the
ndomitable Willard had cut his road
never gave forth more earnest,
heartfelt echo than they did
yesterday when the vast thr.'ng
rs one man, met the advance of the
the old General with prolonged.
deafening shout. True to his in
stincts the old veteran faced his
and in an impromptu
speech which it is fair to presume
was the longest he ever made, he riv-
tied the attention Of his hearers.
The crowd headed by Mr.. Willard
and his distinguished guests now
toward the spot wnere the
last act in the ceremony was to be
performed. Some difficulty was ex-
perienced in clearing a passage way
for "O!d Mig" the faithful horse that
had drawn TIE rails to their place
ft> i,,f
The old horse was gaily decked
with flags and ribbons and
md responded to the call upon him
with vim and energy befitting the
great occasion. A After the laying and |
spiking of few rails the point was
reached where the last rail was to be
placed and the last spike to be
lr.ven. At this point post was
firmly planted in the ground, across
which was a board placed horizon
ally, upon which was lettered in
'n'd-faced words and figures the
'n'Iowins inscriptions. Over hand
pointing to the east, Lake Superior
l9s miles" and over a hand point
ny to the west, puget sound, S47
niles.
Here the last spike was to be
lrivvu. President Willard now ad-
ranced aud holding aloft a spike
aid: 'Gentlemen, this is the spike
which is to he driven. 1t is not q
to!dru spike as YOU can plainly see.
.ut a rusty Sri;,e-the first spike
lriyen in the first rail ever laid "p"n
he Northern Pacific railroad"
lie then took the spike gave
t blow or two and hand
ng the ham,ner to Mrs. Willard
ne struck it for her little boy who
fnod by her side. At this juncture
lr. Rod Leggat OF this city, cried
ut "Grneral Grant drive the spike
Inm-." The crowd took up the Cry
nd the old veteran, in response to the
all, took the hammer aud drove the
last spike' to its f.,ai resting
lace. During this time two pieces
{ artillery, manned by squad Of
Military, were ii Ell in quick success
ion for several minutes, and thus
mid rejnicings and cheers from
he crowd, the be ting Of
runs and braying of trumpets,
uti lie booming Of cannon, an event
5i,ch will PASS into and become a
s;rt of t. history of the nation, as
-eii is Il part Of the history of Mon
ana, was cousu't.n.a:ed. The whole
eremony occ!pied nearly three
ours and Il half but never has the
sn,e length Of time been so protita-
ly and enio,i,hly passed by "a people.