Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-08-05
DOWN THE NEW RAILROAD.
wSsT YIKaLNIA INVADED ny
DELA WRARE.
The First Trip co Baltimore over the
new ndne-A JRuut Win n Drcsded
Air Of Wont no Home TItI Norm
Ing About At.

Washington and HRrper's Ferry Thought
Of Thursday. And IL seemed TO keep on
getting hotter.
30 far as size and getting the worth of
ones money In travel were concerned, the
excursion was big success. In some
other respootsa reasonable regard for the
unyarnished truth compels the assertion
that IL was not 30 successful.
Tho excursion train was run in two
sections, numbering "A cars in both. The
first section pulled out from Water and
Market streets ut O So n. m. IL was under
the command of train agent o. u. Dud-
row and Conductor j. b. Alldridee, John
w. Diefendorf, on behalf of the A. o. u,
W., and wearing q badge that became
him as an official decoration, kept ON the
60 all day and despite hoat and other dis
comforts, retained his oheerfulnoss un-
rnfiled all day and a long ways into the
night. For last night had gwen place TO
thb} morning and it was nearly time for
the so-called milkmen to appear when
the Wilmington excursionists finally got
back 10 their domieiles.
The excursion committee comprised
the following honorable brethren of tho
Ancient Order OF United Workmen.
John W. Diefendorf, DIR. IL. q. Snitcher,
W. q. Farra, W. II. Pierson, W. Il. Nc
Oormick, Warren Harper and W. r.
Robinson.
Tho run down over the new Baltimore
q Philadelphia railroad 10 Canton was
made in good time--about u hours. The
Bolidity and smoothness OF the rond-bed
was the subject Of general remark.
Through Delaware and Cecil county, Nd,
the road traversea q generally good farm
ing county, but down in Hartford and
the southern part of Baltimore counties
there are fields where the poverty.loving
MULLEN outgrows the feeble corn. There
has been considerable heavy grading done
and there Is a deep cut short distance
below the Big Gunpowder that is well
worth seeing. The name Of this stream
has but relative Significance where the
new road crosses IL, being not more than
10 or 10 yardS-Yide.
The first st5b was made at Newark,
where about 100 additional excursionists
boarded the train. The whole number
carried on both sections was close to 800
At Singerly, 18A miles from Wilmington,
the framework Of commodious station
In up; a matter in which Singorly has
gotten the lead. A little more than mile
below Singerly Ia Marley, where the pas
senger looks from tho car window down
into picturesque gorge, lined on each
side with small houses. Below Childs' OF
North East station, which is "a miles
down, the excurHionists were surprised by
settlement which looked Rs if n section
Of Shantytown had oollided with gypsy
enoampment.
The big bridge over the Susqnehanna
was naturally the chief object of interest
along the line. Over mile long, crossing
the river where Garrett Island divides il
into two broad channels, and 80 feet
above high water, and with its massive
piers reaching down in some places almost
Rs mary feet below to the underlying
solid rock, IL is abig thing in all respects.
The bridge commands fine view up and
down the river, the town of Harve do
Grnoe and the p, w. & B. bridge being
the conspicuous features of the latter
view.
After passing Aberdeen the two rail-
roads approach quite close to each other,
apparently not much over 100 yards
separnting them at their nearest, and run
nearly parallel for a considerable distance.
They then diYerge again and nothing
more is seen of the p, w. & Ii. until the
traveller comes unexpectedly upon il again
at Bay View and sweeping to tho south
ward crosses IL by an overhead bridge
and keeps on down to the Patapsco, ,strik-
ing the same near the Canton elevator.
Hero the cars were transferred by barge
to Locust Point, very tedious proceeding
which occupied over ON hour for the first
section alone, each way, going and return
ing. The exoursionists understood the
transfer arrangements 10 he incomplete
and simply gotten up for the emergency,
but in such swelteringly hot weather it
was not to be expected that the delay
would be uncomplainingly endured.
The run from Baltimore TO Washington
was made in excellent time and the
pioneer excursionists reached tho capital
city about IL O'Clock. Here some 200 or
more left the train and spent tho after
noon In seeing some of the national lions.
At l.l5, or thereabout, the first section
pulled out for Harpor's Ferry, arriving
there about 1880. The atopping place was
really about half mile above llarper's
Ferry, opposite Island Park in the
Potomac, which is fitted up with
dancing payilions, swings, seats, tables
and shedding in excellent style for m ex
cursion resort. II Ia not 10 be gainsaid
that those who stopped here and spent
the afternoon under the shade, without
concerning themselves about anything ex-
cept haying good time, got the most en-
joyment out of the trip. But some more
restless spirits, after hurriedly circuman-
bulating the island, turned their backs on
its attractions and went back 10 the town
to take near view of John Browns fort
and other things of historic interest. The
structure looks as II il had not been
touched, except by relic hunters, since
the eventful 18th Of October, 1859. The
brick walls bear the marks of numerous
holes made by bullets and enlarged by
the pocket knives Of those who have dug
those bullets out for mementoes.
At the risk OF HunHtroke some OF the
exoursionists climbed the nights back OF
the town TO the famous Jefierson's rock,
from which grand view was obtained Of
the valleys uf the Potomac and tho Shen-
andoah. Nearby is the old cemetery
wherein, in nm enclosure surrounded by q
rough stone wall and matted with will
derness of creeping vines and bushes, lie
the remains Of Robert Harper, from whom
tho town derives IFS name. He is reported
to have established ferry Mt this point in
l847. A weather worn stone marks his
grave, but it was too hot to climb over
tho wall and look for an inscription. A
new Btofie alongside bears the name Of Mrs.
Mary Harper. .....
High in the air over the mountain on
tho Maryland shoro buzzards were sailing,
looking small enough for crows, and the
exoursionists were informed that wild
goats roamed the steep wooded slopes,
nffarinu N grant tamntntion to ambitious
hunters by whom they were sometimes
shot. These goats are tho descendants OF
soma animals by which tho woods were
stocked by an enterpising native who, the
visitors were informed, 'never took no
account of them afterwards"
On s..e way down the passengers on the
second section were informed TINT the first
section had run over and killed q COW and
girl at Locust Point. This was news tc
those ON the first section and the Balti
more papers of this morning do not re.
port such an accident.
Inquiry of the train men was met by
the reply that they knew of no such acei
dent and il seems almost impossible that
ii could happen without attracting gen
eral attention.
A few Of the excursionists who took q
local train from Harper's Ferry to gel
down TO Washington in advance OF theil
own train, it 10 believed succeeded in get
ting left. The local train crawled along
like its $50 p. m. predecessor and some
how on the route was overtaken ant
passed by the excursion train. The un
fortunate travellers could and probably
did get to Baltimore some time during thu
night by the train they were on and, i
Aa fNNa n