Omaha daily bee., 1883-12-01

wells, which caused considerable excite
ment and fear among the more timid
ones, but when informed that it was q
joke originated by Mr.. Durant, General
Dodge and Secretary Paddock, of the Elk.
horn club, their fear we're allayed and
and they resumed their slumbers.
After breakfast wal served, the train
proceeded westward, some little distance,
and then halted in front of the Indian
encampment, where the exc~ursionists
witnessed a sham Indian fight.
After the battle, Mr.. Duraut distri-
buted several hundred dollars worth II
of presents among the Indians and their
sqHaws.
When this most interesting exhibition
of savage life and customs was ended,
the excursion train started again on its
westward course. passing successfully the
embryo towns Of Silver Creek, Lone
Tree, Grand Island, Wood River,
Kearney, Elm Creek, Plum Creek, and
Willow Island. Soon after which, and
at about 8 p. M, it arrived at the termi.
nation of the second days journey, a
distance of 279 miles west of Omaha.
AT CAMP NO. 2.
Here, as at Columbus, on the previous
evening, a large and brilliantly illumin-
ated encampment had been prepared for
the reception of the guests.
A military encampment had also been
established during the previous day by
Colonel Miner, in command of Fort
Mcpherson on the opposite side of the
Platte, 30 near the excursionists camp
as to preclude any fear from the roaming
bands of Indians, which were said to in
fest this portion of the country.
Comfortable quarters were Immediately
assigned to each one of the party, and
very soon thereafter an elegant supper
was served
When the excursion party left New
York, it was understood that it would
overtake the western end of the Union
Pacific railroad track, at or about the
one hundredth meridian of longitude,
some two hundred and forty-seven miles
west of Omaha, and that then and there
the great celebration would come off. as
per invitation and programme. But
there they now were more than thirty
miles west of the one bundredth msrid.
ian, and no end of track yet visible
On the following morning, the famous
Elkhorn club, marched in a body down
to the Platte river and took their matu
final wash.
Breakfast was then had, after which
an amusing programme of exercises was
rendered, and a series of resolutions
were passed. At eleven o'clock the trair
pulled outfor the end of the track som
eight or ten miles distant. Severa
hours were spent here in watching the
track laying under the direction of Gen,
eral Casem ,nt and Daniei Easement
Upon returning to camp the excursion
lists found an elegant dinner awaiting
them. The camp was at that time named
Platte City
In the evening a fine display of fire.
works was given from the stand in the
center of the camp, under the direction
of Webster Snyder and Silas Seymour.
At n later hour a concert took place al
Bunker hall, followedbya lecture on phre.
nology by"Professor" Wells, who anus.
ingly illustrated his subject by referring
to the head of George Francis Train.
HoMEwARD BOUND.
AT ten O'Clock next morning the train
started on its return trip to Omaha,
where it arrived at ten o'clock in the
evening. On the following morning
quite a number of the excursionists
left for the east, going by stage
and the Chicago & North western rail
road. The rest of the party left Omaha
on the following Sunday by tho steamer
Denver for st. Joe. Upon reaching Chi
cago, a meeting of the excursionists was
held in the opera house, the assembly
being increased by the attendance of a
large number of Chicago's prominent
citizens. The assembly was called to
order by Mayor Rice, who delivered an
address, after which the meeting adopted
a series of resolutions. Speeches were
then made by Hon. G. A. Lambard, of
Boston; Hon. B. +. Wade, of Ohio; J..
G.. Dore, the president of the Chicago
board of trade; Col. j. III. Howe, solicit
tor of the Chicago & Northwestern; Lord
Airlie, of England; Hon. S. S. Hayes,
of Chicago; Hon. b. M. Boyer, of Penn
%rylvania; the marquis of Chambrun, OF
France; Senator Patterson, of New
Hampshire; Gen. j. III. Simpson, and
others.
The following was the
Speech of Hon. Ii. II. Wade Mt CHI
cagO.
Mr.. Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen:
L feel entirely inadequate to express t.
this assemblage the feelings which | en-
terrain upon the subject under consider
aticn. l have looked over the map Z
the whole country for a good many years
and at an early period of my study of tn,
geography of our country and its histor,
| was impressed deeply with the i'm
portance of this location, Chicago, an,
about t~hirty-two years G l visited thi
=, city, or the site where the city nov
stands. for at that period there was II,
city here-there were a few rude build
, ings, and some gentlemen, attracted b,
the location and prospective importanc,
of the place, interested in its futur,
building up, and, like myself, believin,
it might grow into a great city. l at
tended, l recollect, a court here at tina
! time, but there were hardly any inhabi
tants and very little to do in the court
| cannot describe the condition of thi
place at that time. have been over tn,
city to-day and endeavored to recollect tn,
sites where the important transaction
were, even where the court house stood
but l am entirely unable nov to form an,
definite opinion where the place was
and 30 of all the rest Of the city. w,
have all heard of the wonderful ant
amazing growth of this city; of the great
bold enterprise of it's .inhabitants-th'
whole country is deeply impressed will
these sentiments, but, sir, it takes tn,
presentation of the reality before us t,
enable us to understand the full power o
your operations here. GApplause.l