The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1889-08-14
The Summerton Excursion to Charleston.


CHARLESTON, Aug. 8.-Mr. Editor: I
noticed in last weeks TINES that there
was to be an excursion from Sum-
merton to Charleston on August the
9Th, to return on the 9th, giving two
days in the city, fare SO for round
trip, and everybody invited to go. As
such excursions are common at this
season Of the year, it was not given
thought until the World came out
this morning with the following:
ga New County Opened. The Will
son & Summerton Road Opened with
an Excursion. There will be an ex-
cursion to-day from along the line Of
the Wilson & Summerton Railroad to
this city. This excursion will be the
inaugural trip over this road which is
just now completed. The Coast Line,
of which the Wilson & Summerton
Road is branch, has made prepara-
tions for the accommodation OF large
crowd. This road is branch Of the
Central of South Carolina, twenty-five
miles in length. It runs westward
from Wilson's on the Central Road out
to Summerton through some OF the
richest country in the State. This is
a new section for Charleston mer-
chants and Charleston capital to de-
velop for the interest of both the
country and the city itself. AS this
is the season for country merchants
to lay in their fsli goods no doubt
there will be some trading to-day"
As soon as the carriers delivered
the World to its patrons the excite
ment and commotion commenced.
Everything was on the go. Some Of
the merchants who had let of some
of their worn out clerks commenced
looking round to find some unem-
ployed young men to fill their places
for two days, and all the force availa-
bic was ordered to brush up and have
everything in readiness for the arrival
of the above named excursion. The
hotel men made for the market as tho
they feared there would not be pro-
visions enough there to feed the null
titude. The Charleston, Pavilion,
and Waverly Hotels ordered out all
their buses. The National House
having none, engaged all the hacks
with the promise of a good commits
sion. Some time before the arrival
of the train the crowd commenced
gathering, and awaited with breath
less silence. At last the sound of the
whistle from the mammoth engine
was heard. Such a shout as went up
is seldom heard. Finally she rolled
in with four coaches and about twen-
ty-6ve passengers. You ought, Mr..
Editor, to have been here to see the
crowd which had gathered slip of,
and the buses and hacks leaving, and
if you want to get up fight right
quick just ask a man if be saw the
Summerton excursion.
It being my profession to hold on
till all was clear, I did so. My object
was to interview the conductor. He
didn't like to talk, but you know how
we fellows are: we won't be put off
we hold on till we get something. At
last I obtained few of the reasons
why the cars were not filled up. In
the first place, he said there amt many
people in that country to come; and
in the second place, he said, Che spoke
very low as tho he was afraid some
body would hear him. you see that
was the first train that had ever ap-
peared in that section, and those who
had the bigger hearts said that the
larger part of the inhabitants was
.afsaisss on ps~#EaeellssT Thtsst
as they expected it to make its daily
visits that they hoped they would be-
come accustomed to it, and when the
time come for another excursion they
would all 60. I inquired how many
passengers ne had. lie SAID ne mad
six from Summerton, and three from
Jordan, the President and family, with
a few invited guests.
It's al i'll wind that blows nobody
any good. The butchers, poultry
men, and old women who sell vegeta-
bles made a good thing out of the
Summerton excursion. j. &.
~. c." is in great error about tie
Summerton people. They are among
the very best people in the world.
The real cause Of the failure Of the ex-
cursion was a too long stay in Charles
ton and too high fare. Ifth excur-
sion had been run to return the same
day OF $3.50 for the round trip, it
would have paid handsomely. Few
people now have 50 to pay for a tick
ct, and then two days hotel bill, etc.
Fnrrop n1,rEc