Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-08-07
THE EXCURSION.
A Large Crowd and a Glori-
Gus Time.
Arkansas City-The Steamboat Exeur-
sion-The Picnic, Base Ball, Etc

sion-The Picnic, Base Ball, Etc.
The excursion to Arkansas City Yesterday
was, in every respect . great success, .
source of pleasure to all who participated
and Of profit to its projectors, nevertheless
it would have been doubly profitable had
they enough coaches to accommodate all
who had made preparations to go.
Half an hour before the hour named for
departure, crowds of ladies and gentlemen
began to assemble at the Douglass avenue
depot, and the stream Of humanity contin-
ued TO pour in that direction until at 6
O'Clock about 500 were on the platform
awaiting the arrival of the train from the I'm
ion depot When the train came at s:15 as
there were but four coaches and baggage car
it was apparent that all could not 60, and
general rush was made for the cars. Not
more than half of those who were waiting to
go were able to find room in the oars, Is
nearly two coaches full embarked at the IN
ion depot Mr.. Stanley, Fred Sweet and
Sam Woodland made commendable efforts TO
seat as many as possible, but even then 8
large number stood upon the platforms and
numbers had to stand up in the coaches. 1t
was nearly half past eight when the train
steamed out Of the depot when the band
struck up lively air.
The morning was bright,cool and delight
full, and the ride over the broad prsirie amid
grand fields of waving corn, new mown hay
and great ricks of oats was delightful, while
the exhilsrating breezes fosted in the open
windows. The country along the entire
route presented . charming picture. and is
well calculated to awaken feelings of admit
ration for beauteous, prosperous, happy
Kansas. Men, women and children gazed
in admiration on the scene without as the
train glided around the curves and through
the immense sea of corn and
down the rich ailuvial valleys
of the Arkansas and the Walnut, all fringed
with beautiful trees. 1t is a charming pict-
ure. On we sped past Derby and reached
Mulvane at 9 o'clock, where we remained q
few minutes and then struck out for our
destination. At $50 we passed the flourish
ing little town of Udall and rolled along
through Cowley county along the banks of
the Walnut, q delightful and highly produc-
tive valley until just at 10 o'clock the whistle
gave notice of approaching station and on
looking out We obtained a view of Winfield,
the capital of Cowley and the seat of the
Southern Methodist College and the embi-
Gle ASYLUM. Winfield is handsome city
located upon gentle emmence in the rich
valley of the Walnut, and surrounded by a
rolling prairie with an occasional rugged
bluff. The landscape between Winfield and
Arkansas City is of a more rugged and
picturesque nature than that we had already
passed through. Heavier timber skirts the
river and there arc many high lodges of
of limestone rock. The valley is deep and
rich, but he surrounding country is bluffy
around steep bluff or hill, the engine gave
a warning note, and We caught view of
the Queen Of the Border in the delta of the
Arkansas and the Walnut. The train
passed on by the depot and down to the
road crossing that leads to the Walnut
bridge. Here we slighted and followed the
band down to the river, where about fifty
boarded the kansas Millers" and steamed
down the river, the remainder of the excur-
sionists picnicking in the grove. The trip
down the river was delightful; the scenery
is really beautiful. Great waving willows
line the edge of the stream, their slender
boughs STOPPING over until the green leaves
kiss the water, while the valley i. thickly
wooded with giant cottowoods, elms and
wslnut,. With the high rolling prairie for
background, it was a lovely scene.
We passed by the magnifi-
cent stone hydraulic mills, where
the yellow waters of the Arkansas
came tearing down from the mill race.
Great droves of cattle lined the banks of the
stream, some lazily browsing and Others
| quenching their thirst in the blue waters.
The little steamer made good time as curve
after curve was rounded. The banks in
some places are ragged lime stone cliffs so
that the scenery is by no means tame or unin-
teresting. On the contrary it is really beauti-
| full. We went down to the confluence of
the Arkansas, then turned and set out for
the return trip, which We made in half an
hour, the distance being about six miles. On
our arrival we took buses and went up TO
the city, took dinner at the Leland house
and then the writer strolled out to view the
| city. Arkansas City is q beautiful place.
has many very fine public and private
buildings and is rapidly growing.
The writer rode on horseback from
Parsons to Arkansas City, in 1870, and
what = contrast between then and now.
Then there were few shell frames on the
sandy knoll, overlooking the Arkansas. Not
| a substantial structure, nor one hundred
feet of sidewalk in the whole town. The
night came there, a report came in that 3
band of hostile Indians were approaching.
and the town was up in arms and scouts
were sent out to verify the story. Happily
they did not come. Now there is one street
| Of solid brick and stone blocks where the
little board sheds then stood. There are
some of the finest mills in the state and per-
haps the best water power. There are three
newspapers, fine school houses and churches
and an air Of plenty and comfort pervades
the Hourishing young city. Its inhabitants
are wide-awake, go-ahead people, intel
lectual and hospitable. Arkansas City
is rising town. visited
the office of the Republican, the Arkansas
Traveller, and the Democrat, and as the
representative OF the EAGLE, Was received
with the highest courtesy, and received I'M
limited compliments for the EAGLE. met
Mr. Fred Shift bower, the mayor of the city,
and made the acquaintance of several other
gentlemen who welcomed the EAGLES rep
refen.stive most cordially, and most every
| man / met SAYS he takes the EAGLE. l met
Sheriff Mcintyre and my old friend Captain
Rarick, deputy United States marshal, who
| usually has his hands full of boomers. l
met Colonel sumner who looks veil and is
preparing an obsequies Grafton for to-mor-
| row. DR.. Whitlock, who is now soiourning
at Gueda Springs, came in to
see some of the old boys from Wichita. The
Dr.. SAWS. although he will spend only about
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