The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-22

rendered to Commodore Perry at his
famous "victory" on Lake Erie Tin Sep
tember, 1918, think) which, from age,
had become useless would be set adrift
above Niagara Falls in presence of the
assembled multitude. Sundry bears,
geese and other "wild varmints" were
advertised to be aboard and "visible to
the naked eye" of each astonished be-
holder ! did not then see. as did
afterward, that all this really meant ten
to twenty thousand human beings on
Goat Island at the "small admission fee"
of one dollar per human being
To me it was purely philanthropic
scheme gotten up regardless Of expense
and entirely pro bono publico, and |
read the posters word for word, and
swallowed every high sounding sen
tence as completely as all boys devour
circus bill
Upon leaving Troy very early in the
morning for Schenectady, seventeen
miles by stage, was not surprised to
find upon getting out few miles that
there were several coaches making the
same journey, all well filled with pas
sengers.
knew, or supposed did. that the en-
tire crowd was en- route to Niagara Falls
to witness that wonderful exhibition be-
cause had determined to enjoy that
rare treat myself.
Arriving at Schenectady in advance
of the train that was coming from AL
bany and which was to convey me quite
distance toward 'Out West" (the rail-
road was then completed from Albany
to Syracuse, and there was also road
from Lockport, via Niagara Falls, to
Buffalo,, busted myself in inspecting
the STRAP Rail Track" first taking off
my overcoat and placing it across the
back of chair In public room which l
now believe to have been waiting
room in passenger depot. was con-
scious that it was a "brand new" coat
and quite nice one foc boy to own.
l had worn it for the firsG time during
that early mornings journey on the out
side of the coach. When the train ar
rived from Albany there was great ex-
citement and a grand rush for the cars.
l went to the very chair upon which l
had 50 confidingly deposited my new
overcoat not thirty minutes before to
find that some other chap had mistaken
the garment for his own and had disap
peared in some mysterious way that
knew not of. The idea occurred to me
then that had been cautioned before
leaving home not to lose my trunk OF
my overcoat, and could not help re-
GREETING that had disregarded the in
structions given me,
l found myself aboard the first rail
road train had ever seen; a very long
train, too. it seemed to me, | shoulC
Judge as many as fifteen cars, and every
car apparently filled with people, all OF
their way to Niagara Falls, as verify be
lieved, because | could not account fol
80 many people being ION the wing
upon anyother hypothesis. The cars
were similar in shape to Concord
coach, and not being much longer-'
: partition through the centre, transverse
: ly which could be raised or lowered a
will, each half of the car accommodating
six persons-two seats, three persons or
/ seat, UiS UiS. The conductor walked
around the car outside, on "footboard
! and transacted his business with eacl
passenger throught the window,
! The speed of the train, probably
7 dozen miles an hour, astonished me
After about an hours ride through YER
beautiful country, we met train full
! as long as ours, and containing quite a
u many people, and my heart sank within
1 me, for said to myself, "the shower
a over, and the people are all going home!
g although it was four or five days befor
i the time advertised for the performanc
to "come of"
g Our tram arrived at Syracuse, at earl
t 'candle light half way across tn
e great State of New York, between sur
e rise and sundowd; marvellous speed TO
those days. Having been 80 thorough
e posted by my friend. of the Mansio
: House, knew precisely how to depor
myself at the next tavern, | might hone
v with my presence and patronage in sue
d a manner as that all beholders would sc
at u glance that | was an experience
d traveller, and perfectly familiar with th
a ways of the world, and with first claI
d hotels in particular. Accordingly, upo
d entering the Syracuse House with
# great multitude of people, all bound #
Niagara Falls, of course, got to the regi
a ter as soon as possible, the crowd OF ole
a er people somewhat obstructing my pr
;, gress, and after depositing my autograph
"a as thought in excellent style, l aske
70 the clerk, in pretty loud voice SO as
II convince him that there was not the lea
# particle of greenness about me, ho
4 long before the second bell would RIM
a The stupid man didn't appear fully
e comprehend my meaning, and Though
a. he hardly appreciated the fact of my
Ia rival, l consoled myself however
q well as could by the reflection that c
Il account of the large crowd of people a
b. eager to register, quite possible, he ha
, mistaken me for some other boy Pre-
=, emily, heard most unearthly sound,
|, different from anything had ever heal
n "In all my born days." The people 9
.. p rushed in one direction, and l decide
v to follow them, was sure the roof ha
> fallen in, and that every looking-glaI
n and all the dishes in the house we
~ broken to eternal smash When l lie
y Syracuse Oh packet boat on the Raj
r. ing Erie Kan-awl, some forty-eight hou
n thereafter, l had so far perfected n
n education" as that knew the differen,
h between a fret class earthquake and
az Chinese gong