Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-10-20

ing somewhat anxious to see
actual camp life, ventured among
the tents, but before proceeding
very far, | felt a hand on my
shoulder, and turning around a
red coat faced me, and a command
ing voice said Excuse me sir,
but we do not allow anyone in the
line of tents" and feeling some
what chagrined l went back to the
main thoroughfare.
Leaving this we wendell our
way to the soldiers barracks and
here found the regulations to be
such as to exclude, unless by
special permission. Derby was
the Roman station Dervantis
which stood on the east bank of
the river opposite the town. 1t
has numerous industries, silk
manufacturing is extensively
carried on. Here Blackwell
author of the sacred classics was
a master and Flamsted a pupil.
Here to; Darwin in 1888 founded
the philosophical society of Derby
and wrote most of his works.
The houses are mostly of brick,
and the public buildings of stone.
1t is we'll situated for manufacture
and trade, being at the south end
of a coal field, and is connected
by canals and railways with a
great part of England.
FROM GRAND RAPIDS TO NEW YORK.
We left Centralia on Sunday
evening May s, quite a number
Of friends were there to help us on
the train and say good bye" as
we set our faces toward the east,
and at $50 we boarded the train
and were soon on the move
New Lisbon being reached we
took the main line for Milwaukee
and Chicago, and through the
darkness of the night the train
cuts its way until Milwaukee was
reached, and from thence the
journey continued when about
7 o'clock the train pulled up in
Union depot Chicago. A trans
fer was made to the Michigan
Central and Illinois Central Depot.
Having some business to do l
went up into the city and could
not help being cognizant of the
fact that Chicago is a very busy
city, as street cars, and vehicles of
every description passed quickly
along the streets while the side
walks, were crowded with people,
every one seemingly in a great
hurry, whether they had any
urgent business to do or not.
Leaving Chicago by the Michigan
Central Railroad, we passed Hyde
Park, Kensington until Niles was
reached beautiful place, built on
the hill slope, and presenting a
very picturesque view. The fields
were greener than in Wisconsin,
and the trees were clothed with
charming foliage in this section of
southern Michigan. The train
stopped at Niles twenty minutes.
Leaving here we pass Kalamazoo,
Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, Jackson,
and come to Detroit, where the
train is ferried across the river to
Windsor in Canada. A custom
officer boards the train in search
of contraband goods, and for the
purpose Of examining the baggage
Of passengers who intending
stopping in Canada. All ready
we make another start and go
whizzing along until St. Thomas
is reached and from thence to
Niagara Falls. By this time
morning has again come, the gray
dawn appears, and bright aurora
blesses this side of the globe
again. The train stopped at Falls
View station, and the passengers
rushed from the train to see
natures panorama in the form of
Niagara; and this seen from the
Canada side is one of the grandest
spectacles that the human eye
could gaze upon. Here is seen
the grandeur cataract known as
Horse Shoe Falls, but no longer
bears the name appropriately as
the precipice has been worn from
a curve into a somewhat angular
shape and this process of wearing
away goes on still. This fall is
over 600 yards in breadth and
about I54 feet in height. The
water is so deep that it retains its
green color for some distance
below the bow of the precipice
and it rushes over with such force
that it is thrown about 50 feet
from the front Of the cliff. The
separation caused by Goat Island
leaves large wall of rock between