Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-03-02
PHILBROOK To AFRICA.
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT OF THE JOUR-
NEY OF TWO FORMER PHIlBR0OK
RESIDENTS FROM THE NORTH
WEST TERRITORY To SOUTH
AFRICA.
Visit the. Museums Of Liverpool and London
and Buys Madeira Wines at shil-
ling a Quart.

The following letter has been received
from David Reed. whoj in company
with Frank Kernohan, left this section
several months ago and are now in the
Trans-vaal on the southeastern coast
of the Dark Continent. Many of our
readers will no doubt, remember the
gentlemen:
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH African
REPUBLIC ON TRANs-vAAL.J
January 7th, 1898.
EDITOR FERGUS. .CoUNTY,,ARGUs:
give an account OF a trip from Ed
monton, N. w. T., Canada, to South
Africa. Our party consisted of Frank
Kernohan. Donald Nickhaden, of Ed
monton, and myself. We left Edmon-
ton October 26th, passing through
beautiful country for $50 miles south.
This part might be called a timbereed
country but there is plenty of prairie
for hay and small farms, Edmonton
district itself being a fine place for
mixed farming, stock of all kinds do
ing well, the growth of vegetation
heavy, oats having been known to
yield 135 bushels per acre, and the
district takes first prize in Canada for
native grasses. One can stand on the
banks of the Saskatchewan river and
see men washing out gold on the bars,
which is deposited during high water.
The placer gold extends for 100 miles
below and about the same distance
above the town, and is worked by
hundreds of miners, the pay being from
81. 80 to $3.50 per day. On nearing
the town OF Calgary We see numerous
small herds ofhorses, cattle and sheep,
showing we had left the farming coun-
try behind and were in fine grazing
and stock raising portion, the timber
also disappeared and we could see the
Rocky Mountains lying in the west.
The 9th we continued our journey as
far as Medicine Hat, not having our
minds fully settled whether to 20 by
Great Falls or Winnipeg. Wedecided
upon the latter route and traversed d
fine country en- route. At Winnipeg
we purchased tickets for London via
Chicago an New York, the fare being
almost as cheaI as on the Canadian
line. We passed through st. Paul in
the morning and mol ed beautiful farms
handsome dwelling houses and fine
barns through the states of Minnesota,
Iowa and Illinois. Arrived in Chicago
November End and on the morning OF
the 3rd visited jackson Park to see
the Worlds Fair grounds and build
ings. Space will not permit my de-
scribing the sight, though the hundreds
of st atues and the architectural beauty
of the buildings attracted our especial
admiration. The Montana building,
though small. stands in very promi-
nent position.
We arrived in New York November
4th, among the places of interest on
the way being the St. Clair tunnel,
which we passed through, and Niagra
Falls. Left New York the morning of
the 5th on the steamship Umbria and
after suffering a few days sea sickness
arrived in Liverpool all o. K. on the
18th. As We neared Queenstown, Ire
land, q small mail steamer came out
to receive the U. S. mail. She carried
only the one flag, the stars and stripes
and gave US the first news of Cleve
lands election. The Englishmen on
board began cheering for Cleveland
and as did not feel that way but
wanted to make a noise of some kind
1 began cheering for the stars and
stripes. Some of the boys gave me q
hint to keep still as we were on an
English ship, however Ibid some pretty
loud thinking the remainder of the
time. When We got to Liverpool the
same cheering for Cleveland arose as
before. AS we walked up the docks in
Liverpool we were all glad to be on
solid footing again. After a careful
inspection of our baggage by the Gus
tom officer we were permitted to 90
out of the gates, and being determined
on sight seeing went Through the pic
ture gallery, museum and to the opera
house at night. Sunday we visited
Birkenhead to see large man of war,
the Royal Oak. She is nearing COM
pletion and is said to be one of the
best ever built. From there we Jour-
neyed to London by rail and of all
riding | detest the English railroad car.
They are away behind the times and
lust AS soon ride..in a side-door Pull
man car in the states, however, after
a tiresome ride of five hours we ar
rived in Old London. The country was
thickly settled and cultivated, the
farms were very small, many of them
no larger than &. NJ. GoodelPs barn.
yatrd at Philbrook. From the station
we went to our lodgings in a hanson;
they are neither "hansom" to look at
or to ride in-Red River carts would
be better name for them Our stay
was limited in London but we i'm.
proved the time by visiting, among
other places, the Geological gardens
and the London Tower. In the latter
we saw hundreds of instruments OF
4. "A -.
also the golden crowns that had been
orn by kings and queens. We 81 ood
on the spot where so many of the
mobiles were beheaded and saw the
block and axe that served he purpose.
do not know whether England il
proud OF this part OF hernist ory or not.
at any rate she advertises this as one
OF the places OF interest and charges
admission at the gates. On the 10th
We went by raIl to South Hampton.
We were to 60 on the steamship,
Trojan, at 12 O'Clock, giving US but
one hour in the city, which time We
occupied in buying such necessaries as
we might need on the long voyage be.
fore US. Passed the Needles ami en-.
tered the Bay of Biscay Sunday morn.
ing, the Roslen Castle, bound for the
Cape, passing us about noon. Arrived
at Lisbon, Portugal, on the 23rd
Lisbon seemed to be a very busy place,
delightfully."- situated, but it must be a
very poor country as paper money il
issued as low as so ries (5 cents)
Saw no silver money. There were
many beggars on the streets and oxer
and mules used as beasts of burden
packed the same as we pack horses in