Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-06
INNOcENTS ABROAD.
The wheeling Argonauts of Eighty
Three.
Nail CITY Pilgrims to the 0ccideRt-CIimb-
ing Pixies Peak-Buzzing the Nor
mons-Doing the Golden CITY
and Sweltering at Fort Yuma.

Prof. John d. Birch, superintendent OF
the city schools, returned yesterday from
a month trip through the West, of which
the conclave Of Knights Templars at San
Francisco was the main object. Mr.. Birch
left here On August 4, in company with
Conn odore T. N. Darrah and made most
of his trip in q party made up of Mayor
Miller, Mr.. s P. Hildreth and wife and
Miss Dorie Hildreth. The opening of the
schools fastened his return and the re-
mainder OF the party, who stayed 10 take
in the marvels of the Yosemite Valley,
will be along IN about ten days or two
weeks. His appearance and general i'm
proved health tell how Mr.. Birch enjoyed
the iaunt and he never tires praising the
courtesy of the Knights and citiz ans gen.
orally of the Golden City. To tell all that
were seen and done by the Wheeling par.
", would occupy a yolume-ay, and has,
for Commodore Darrah has kept q journal
and Mr.. Birch says its pages give a good
and entertaining account OF the many
strange, interesting and marvellous sights
EDlOOSu ny luOSS plISL4"S W NhC SSS'N~''
CLIMBING Fixes PEAK.
Wherever they went the party ran across
reople from or near Wheeling, who Wed
with each other in doing the agreeable to
the Innocents and making the trip pleas
ant and memorable. At Chicago they
found score of Wheeling boys who showed
them the elephant in approved style ana
at Kansas City Charlie Johnson, VIII List,
Frank Oglebay and others were on hand to
give them the freedom OF the town. from
Denver, the party made number OF eX-
cursions, taking in Manitou, Idaho Springs,
Colorado Springs and finally Plkes Peak.
The ascent of this famous mountain was
made on the backs OF little Broncho horses
which carried the tourists safely TO the
elevation of Is, 600 feet above the sea level.
Commodore Darrah's pocket aneroid bar,
ometer was used to test the altitude and
the guide books were found correct Oh this
point. The vast eXpanse OF territory
opened by this height was enjoyed, and
after viewing the landscape DER and in
duiging in an August game OF snoWbulilng
the descent was made, Commodore Darrah
beating the record by making the fastest
time ever known.
NO MORMONs IL THEIRS.
At Denver Mayor Miller fell into tue
hospitable hands OF some friends and fell
train behind the others, rejOinlng them at
Salt Lake City. At this point our Wheel
iBg pilgrims spent two days exploring the
mysteries Of MOrmonism and inspecting
the town and build ngs. The Temple was
thoroughly overhauled, and Mayor Miller
had an exhaustive talk on municipal, econ
Omy with one OF the Bishops. None OF the
Nail City gentlemen were favOrably i'm
pressed with Joe Smiths doctrines and
none of them cared about remaining and
having wives sealed TO them, though the
beautiful country pleased them all, which
goes without saying.
San Francisco received them veritably
with open arms. Nothing was too good to
be given them and the Californians fairly
spread themselves in their hoSpitable en-
deavOrs. Excursions, amusementS, enter
tainments and fetes without number (and
without price, may be added were prepar.
ed and the stay was one long round OF
pleasure. Everything the city had to show
was seen, from the Palace Hotel down to
the Chinese quarter, though the latter was
not seen in its native hideousness, having
been cleaned out by order of the Consul.
HOT AS HADEs.
Mr.. Birch returned by the Southern Pa
CiliC road, which gave him a change of
scenery and climate, and showed him the
beauties Of Lower California and the won.
ders of Arizona and New Mexico. He
passed through Fort Yuma, which is 200
leet below the sea level, and the hottest
place this side OF TartarTs. Perhaps even
the latter is not an exception. as the story
is told that when one OF Fort Eumas sol.
diers died and sought the lower world, the
change Of climate was severe and he tele-
graphed back for his winter clothing. But
il is warm place, and the natives limit
,heir clothing to a breech clout. Though
il may be the correct thing when in Rome
TO as the Romans do, yet it is needless to
say our pilgrims, while at Fort Yuma did
not adopt the costume of the day. The
mercury stood at ll5' in the shade. but
they only stripped OF their coats and per-
spifingly endured it. Coming home via
Kansas City and the AtCheson, Topeka n
Santa Fe road, Mr.. Birch reached here yes
terday, as stated, bron2ed and healthy, re-
freshed in mind and body and will pitch
into school work with even more than his
usual energy.