Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1885-09-17
THE EXCURSION.

The Methodist Excursion to the Lake of
Water and Salt-Its Pleasures
and Disappolntments.
Last Thursday morning about one
hundred and fifty citizens of this city and
of the country immedia tely surrounding
nearly or quite half the number being
ladies ranging IN age from the straw berry
blonde of "sweet sixteen" to that uncer-
tain age where inquiry is imprudent if
not dangerous-assemble at the depot
where fine train consisting Of four
coaches and baggage car was ready to
receive and convey them as an excursion
party over the jamestown & Northern
railroad to Minnewaukan-a distance Of
about ninety miles-there to take the
steamer Minnie IL for Fort Totten.
The morning sun had risen bright and
beautiful, Illuminating the eastern horl-
zon and shedding halo of glory over
the city and country only to be soon af-
forwards transformed into a ]eaden hue
by the gathering clouds blending together
and portending a day of unusual gloom,
which followed only too true to indica-
tions. However unpropitious the aspect
OF the weather outside everything was
pleasant and cheerful within, the railroad
company and management of the excur-
sion having made every necessary ar
rangement for the comfort and pleasure
of the party, leaving no cause for the
| most eXacting to find fault. The plan Of
reserving seats proved to be an excellent
and satisfactory one as it enabled families
and intimate friends to group together
both gong and coming without Interrupt
ton
The train started few minutes after
advertised time and made the run without
accident, stopping anu taking on addi-
tional excursionists at nearly all stations
on the way until the number increased
to about two hundred, the larger part of
the additional number being furnished by
Carrlngton and New Rockford. The
view on either side Of the 1airoad after
leaving the Pipestem few miles above
Jamest,wn was one vast exparse of prai-
rie, which, though not romantic, was
nevertheless beautiful, dotted as it is
with newly opened farms and occasional
lakes.
A few minutes after twelve the train
arrived in Minnewaukan, and here the
unfortunate mistake that resulted in pro-
voking disappointment, and marred the
pleasures of the remaining part of the eX-
cursion, developed itself. The people
had just cause OF complaint, and it is but
justice to those connected with the man
agement of the excursion that the blame
be placed where it belongs. On the way,
II. G. Clark, who was known 10 be iden-
titled with the excursion arrangements,
passed through the tram selling dinner
tickets for the Arlington hotel in Mime
waukan. The people, supposing that the
church was to receive commission on
these tickets, bought literally; some who
had their lunches with them bought din
ner tickets just to help the church, as
they supposed. Having bought dinner
tickets under this impression, they natur-
ally and rightfully expected the manage
ment of the excursion to see that they
| were prov ided with dinner. The prepa-
rations at the Arlington were wholly in
| adequate for the accommodation of the
numerous guests, both in the way of ta-
BILE room and dining room help. The
result was that the boat, which was to
leave for Fort Totten at one O'Clock in the
afternoon, was held till nearly three
O'Clock waiting for the excursiopists at
dinner, and even then some of them were
| left behind, and Others failed to get din
ner on the tickets they had bought on the
train Those who had taken the trouble
to carry their lunches with them, and
went to the boat promptly on time, were
thus compelled to wait, and finally failed,
on this account alone, of reaching their
destination, the principal object they had
| in view in going on the excursion. We
are infol med that neither the church nor
the management of the excursion had any
part or interest in the dinner ticket busl-
ness, and that Mr.. Clark did that on his
own responsibility. and to HIM attaches
the blame for the partial failure of the
excursion. But for this gorgeous blum
der the excursion would have been an en-
tire success, and for this provoking error
and improperly neither Rev. S. N. Grit
| fifth nor Mr.. LeTourneau is in the least
to blame.
1t was nearly three O'Clock when the
Minnie H., with its load of passengers,
many of whom had their patience wsrn
tLreadbare. started out into the lake, OF
rather the bay which forms the west shore
of the famous lake with the satanic name
of Devils Lake. The original name OF
this lake, given it by the Indians, was
Minnewaukan, which in the Indian
tongue signifies spirit water, suggested by
the bracklsh taste of the water. But this
beautiful name has been corrupted by the
pale face successors to the Sioux into the
harsh and uncouth name of Devils Lake
by which name it is now known and des
ignated on the maps. The original name
OF the lake, however, IS perpetuated IL
the beautiful new town Of Minnewaukan
on the west shore, a town that will prob
ably live to perpetuate the name lons
after the aborlginies, as race, have be
come extinct.