The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-07-04
THE MONTANA PRESS ASSOCIATION.
How the Members Were Entertained at the
Cataract City.


ton of the Montana Press association we
this year had the pleasure of attending
the annual meeting of the gang" which
occurred at our neighboring city of Great
Falls, commencing last Thursday after
noon and terminating Saturday night It
will be impossible, in the brief article
which we can devote to it, to attempt to
enter into all the details of the pleasant,
preventative newspaper men of Montana.
Our experience in getting started was
somewhat aggravating, and the aggrava-
tion increased when we found that the
that it would be compelled to stop at ev-
cry section house and gravel train on the
road to pay off the hands. The train bull
letined to arrive at 1915, p. M. reached
the Benton depot at about 4 p. m. After
paying off here, it proceeded to repeat the
operation every few miles along the route
"a proceeding that became somewhat
monotonous to the passengers, some of
| W11OuQ 1ldO OSOA SuUOI Uu11CO III OL1S A1CIn
all the way from Mlnot, Dakota. It re-
CURED about ~ hours to cover the 43
miles, and we reached Great Falls at $50
in time to get lunch and attend the
closing hour of the evening session.
We found nearly every journal of the
territory represented by active members
of the association, and there we're also
present many distinguished honorary
members. The most pleasing feature con-
nected with this years meeting was the
presence of large number of ladies, the
wives, sisters, daughters and sWeethearts
1--WE presume) of the various members of
the association. There were two active
lady members present-Mrs. S. M. John
stone, Of Anaconda, and Mrs. Reynolds, of
Glendale, who not only took part in the
social events incident to the occasion, but
were present with many visiting ladies in
the hall during business meetings.
Friday morning an excursion to the
smelter site was announced for the enter
tainment Of the guests. At 1920 train
consisting of two elegant coaches was
filed to overf1owing with the members
and many ladies and gentlemen of Great
Falls At Black Eagle Falls, two miles
below, a stop was made, and a half hour
given to viewing the first of the numerous
waterfalls The next stop was near the
smelter site, where carriages were III wait
| ing to convey the guests to the wonderful
and beautiful "Giant Spring" not more
than quarter of a mile away from the
track and just above the smelter site. An
attempt to describe these great natural
wonders would be useless. They must be
seen to be appreciated. At the noon hour
the party was invited to dinner by Gen1
Manager Harry Childs, Of the Montana
Smelling company. Upon filing into
the spacious dining hall, which is 150 feet
in length, the guests were surprised to find
royal dinner awaiting them. The hall
was beautifully decorated throughout,
and the tables we're loaded down with all
the delicacies of the season; bouquets of
native roses and other wild flowers were
tastefully arranged on the tables, and the
feast was served in a manner that could
not have been excelled at the best first
class hotels in the land. Mr.. Anton
Eilers, of New York, president of the
Montana Smelling company, graced the
occasion with his presence, and made all
feel that they were thrice wiloome. AT
ter dinner, carriages were utilized to con-
vey the guests to Rainbow Falls, a short
distance below the smelter site, trip
which was thoroughly appreciated and
enjoyed by all who availed themselves OF
the opportunity. About the middle of
the afternoon the whistle of the locomo-
tive announced that the train was ready
to return to the city, and in a few MIN
utes more it was flying along on the re-
turn trip, and the happy party was soon
landed at the hotel in the city.
A business meeting of the association
was called for the afternoon, but the
spirits of pleasure" seemed to take pos
session Of the "gang," and the meeting as
sumed a lively informal character that
precluded the possibility OF thinking OF
business for moment.
In the evening grand banquet was
announced to take place at the Park ho- |
tel, to which the association and citizens
Of Great Falls were invited. When the
hour arrived the doors were opened to the
sound of gay music. The seats at the ia
bles, which extended the full length of
the immense dining room, were soon taken
and there was not an empty chair. Extra
tables and seats were provided and still
there were some who had ito take stand
ing room Hon. T. e. Collins oficiated
as toast master, and in a brief and appro-
pirate address welcomed the guests. The
supper was superb one, and proved that