The record-union., 1895-06-08
IN THE CANADIAN MOUNTAINS.
Railway Conductors Entertained on
Canadian Soil.
The Banquet at Banff Springs and the
Honors to Queen Victoria and
President Cleveland.

Especial Correspondence REcoRD-UNIoN.l
NEAR BANFF, CANADIAN PACIFIC
RAILWAY, juno /, 1895 with California
o. r. G. Excursion).-Overth e"Soo" line
from Minneapolis we came through Min
nesota and on diagonally across North
Dakota. Cool weather succeeded the hot
day that was with US crossing WISCONSIN.
Flat prairie stretches out on all sides, put
the small towns have neat, well-buIlt
houses and every place has its church.
At Portable gateway-on the boundary
between the United States and the Cana
dian territory of Assiniboia, we see the
STARS and stripes and the union jack OF
Great Britain flying within twenty-five
feet of one another. Between them, at
right angles to the track, a stout wire is
stretched between two poles, and this Is
pointed out as the boundary line between
the dominions of Uncle Sam and John
Bull. Mounted police are here and
Canadian Custom-house officers. The
police are dressed in the regulation Brit
ish cavalry uniform, with red coats, blue
breeches with yellow stripes, and saucer
caps stuck on the sides of their heads.
=
ladies of the party, because all the trunks
were snugly sealed. The Custom-house
man was as courteous as San Fran
cisco politician during a campaign, and
he did his duty as tenderly as his official
duty and the presentation OF q case OF
California wine might suggest.
At Pasqua our train touched the main
line of the Canadian Pacific. Here came
rumors, circulated by MIR. Fahey, travel
ing agent of the road-bland, talkative.
imaginative and entertaining-that thou
sands of Cree Indians would gather for a
grand pow-wow at Moose Jaw, one OF
Assiniboia's populous towns. Expectation
was raised to the highest pitch, and when
the train rolled into Moose Jaw our party
alighted to see the painted warriors that
once went raiding with Sitting Bull. No
Indians appeared. Nothing but the Sal
vaIion Army was in sight, and the only
excitement was at the depot lunch coun-
ter. Fahey disappeared. He locked him.
self in the commissary, and only reap
peared when the train pulled out Then
ne rallied enough TO say the expected
Indians were then just coming over the
hill" But it was TOO late. His reputation
for veracity had received a severe shock,
apd after that all his picturesque tales
were received with many pounds OF salt.
These flights of the imagination only
L
business, and his many later efforts to
entertain the party were thoroughly ap-
preciated.
At Calgary, where there are business
blocks as 81 bstantial as many in Sacra-
mento, made of sandstone quarried from
near by. there was brief stop. Indians
were numerous here, and red-faced Eng
lishmen in tweeds and knicker bockers
formed features in the group at the depot.
But at Bantf Springs, up in the Rocky
Mountains, f. 500 feet altitude. with the
surging Bow River in the foreground
and snow-capped peaks all about, genu-
inc surprise was in store for the party
one of the many pleasant features OF the
whole trip. The Canadian Pacific Rail-
way has a superb hotel here, built in or
der that sportSmen, tourists and health
seekers may learn the merits OF this
mountain resort around which, embrac-
ing q strip tWenty-four miles long and
ten wide, national park has been ere
ated. The party went upto the hotel in
carriages and saw the hot springs which
bubble and foam in a temperature OF 1873.
Mr.. Norman of Livermore, one of the
party, was one Of the discoveries OF these
springs, and he was able 10 tell all the in
teresting things about them. For several
years he was IN the employ OF the Domin-
ion Government as an interpreter among
Reil rebellion. and later explored vast
expauses of this wonderful region. The
fine hotel was inspected, and that was ali
that was expected, but the manager, Mr..
Mathews, turned things upside down to
give the party pleasure. a banquet, with
all the luXuries Of the season, dance
aiterward and baths for all who wished
were features of the entertainment. At
the banquet, Manager Mathews, Superin-
tendent Nibloch, of the Canadian Pacific,
and Major Lauck of our party, officiated
by turns as toastmasters. The first toast
was to good Queen Victoria. 1t was drank
standing, every body singing God Save
the Queen" President Cleveland was
similarly honored. MIR. MARI responded
TO the toast 1.-THE order Of Railroad Con-
ductors''; Superintendent Nibloeh to
1.-THE Canadian Pacific Railway" There
were other speeches by DR.. knight OF
Santa Cruz, George S. Smith, DR.. Brett.
surgeon at Bantf, Major Lauck and
others. There was singing-"The Star
Spangled Banner" by Miss Miller. Mrs
Avery, Mr.. Houston and Mr.. knight, tc
which the British guests admiriugly list
ened 1t was altogether a great time,
jolly time, and Manager Mathews is sci
down in the hearts of the party as the
most hospitable host who ever kept &
hotel eyrie in mountain iastness.
G. s. a.