San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-06-18
FRIDAY, JUNE IS. 1886.
EDITORIAL JoTTINCS.
The BeevlIle EGcursIsnists, What They
Saw, What They Did, What
They Say.

A healthier, happier, heartier, hand
somer party Of gentlemen never left the
Alamo city and struck Bee line for the
gulf than that which left San Antonio
yesterday morning under the safe con-
duct of the officers of the San Antonio
and Arkansas Pass railroad. The party
was composed Of the officers and direc-
tors Of the road, and their guests; the
latter including many OF the leading
business men Of the city and the repre-
sentatiyes Of the daily press. The only
drawback to the perfect enjoyment OF
the day was the unavoidable absence OF
the president OF the road, U. Lott, who
had been Unexpectedly called south at
too late an hour to admit Of pOstponing
the arrangements made for the trip.
In his absence the honOrs Of the occa-
sion fell upon Secretary and Traffic Man
ager b. +. Yoakum, who is host in him
self and to whose unremitting attention
to the comfort OF his guests they were In
debted for one OF the plessantest days
ever spent between the auro borealis
and the equator. The excursion was ar
ranged for the purpose Of affording the
directors and their friends an appor-
tunity to inspect the road just COM
pleted to Beeville, examine the charac-
ter Of its construction, note the country
through which 1t passed and form their
own opinions concerning the road Itself
and the outlook for future business. The
excursion was in the hands Of Secretary
Yoakum; Yardmaster Owen Sinnott
took charge Of the train the
engine was handled by that young vet
eran Of the iron horse, Tom Sinnott,
whose manipulation Of the lever was as
skillful as Fireman Miller's attention to
the door of his little crematory was con-
slant Brakeman Black, who was by no
means q black brakeman, brought up
the rear
Thus equipped, at fifteen minutes past
seven, on the morning Of June II, 1886,
the excursion train for Beeville pulled
out from the San Antonio and Arkansas
Pass depot in this city for Beeville, dis
tant ninety-six miles, and to which
place the road had just been completed.
THE ExCURSIoNIsTs.
The gentlemen composing the party
were-Colonel Augustus Belknap, A. c.
Sohryver, General G. W. Russ, W. II.
Maverick, George Maverick, William
Heuermann, Sr., Herman Kampmann,
J. S. Alexander, of the Texas National
bank, George Kslteyer, Gus Duerler, A.
Heusinger, Ed Kotuls, Capt. G. Houston,
the attorney ofthe road C. L. Dignowity,
A. J. Lockwood, VIM. Heuerman, Jr.,
w. s. Messmer, editor Of the LIGHT,
and ii. Breusing, solicitor; James p.
Newoomb, Of the Evening Paper, and
A. l.. He'll Hans Nickel Of the Stock
Journal.
The train, consisting Of the presidents
car and one passenger coach, had hardly
passed the city limits before 1t was no.
tioed that the the iron steed had
craven on his crest the name Of "a.
Belknap." This was accepted as a hap
py sugury and commented upon, as
Colonel Belknaps name generally stands
sponsor for success in what he under
takes. The run to Floresville, 81 miles,
was made In one hour and ten minutes;
the run to Kennedy, 80 miles, in less than
two hours; from that station down the
pace was more moderate, the entire run
OF Sc miles, including several stoppsges,
being made in three hours and twenty
five minutes. The short train rolled
over the newly completed road as
smoothly as though it was gliding over
some long established trunk line, and
had the transfer been made to the
Arkansas Pass road from the Penns.
ylvania in the night, the change
would not be perceptible. The
solid nature Of the road bed
was the theme Of universal
prairie, as was also the character of the
bridges and.timber constructions of all
kind. The side tracks, switches, sec
ton houses, station houses and platforms,
water tanks and stock pens were all Of