The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1895-10-25
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

| had expected to write something
regarding the exposition and the
treatment accorded the Minnesota
editorial party while here some Gays
AGO but a visit to Knoxville is the eX-
cuse for delay.
Our party reached here Wednesday
morning the End inst, and after
breakfast was taken in body to the
grounds by the exposition officials.
On the roof of the Forestry building,
which by the way is most charming
place, welcoming speeches were made
by Vice-President Hemphill and
others, appropriately responded to by
Lieut. Governor Day and Harlon P.
Hall.
This formility over the exposition
management, through Major Hemp
hill, Mr.. Cooper and Col. Cabiness, es-
corted the party through Midway
where many of the attractive sights
witnessed at Chicago are reproduced.
Dahomany village, with many OF the
same uncivilized Africans as were eX-
hibited in Chicago, are here as crude
and filthy as they were there. The
streets of Cairo, German village,
Beauty show, Ferris wheel and numer-
GUS other catch-penny side-shows are
| in full blast and are doing a thriving
business. A novel sight and blood
stirring ride is the shooting of the
chute" You are drawn up an incline
about fifty feet above the water level,
transferred into a flat-bottom boat
and at an angle of about twenty-five
degrees shot down at mile minute
speed into an artificial lake. AS the
boat strikes the water the bow jumps
clear out of the water and it looks as
though it must capsize with all on
| board, but not SO. 1t makes two or
three mad lunges, rights itself up and
allows the occupants on the hurricane
deck to regain their breath and also
equilibrium. Col. Monfort, of the
Windsor Hotel, St. Paul, who is the
editor of a publication called the
"Missing Link" was with the party
and under threat of being eXcOmmuni-
Gated from the journalistic profession
| if he refused to ''shoot the chute"
consented, after being given time to
assign his right, title and interest in
the 'Missing Link" to Old'Pease, in
the event he did not succeed in re-
gaining terra firma. To see the Col.
come down the chute was a sight
never to be forgotten. He clutched
the railing of the boat with death
like grip, and with blanched face and
eyes sternly set in their sockets,
wholly eXpressionless from fear and
trembling, the guide gave wild war
whoop and away sped the thing of life
with it's load of precious souls aboard.
The Colonel held his breath, clenched
his teeth until their grinding could be
distinctly heard by all on board, and
in another second the boat was up on
end pitching and plunging liken unto
trick mule in circus. But the gal
liant Colonel shrank shrink. AS
soon as he could catch his breath his
merry, musical voice rang out upon
the now placid water like nighten-
gale, and it was Immediately resolved
by the association that his exhibition
of true grit entitled him to were the
Greek cross of the order of undaunted
braves.
Many other amusing incidents oc-
Cured on Midway, but have not the
timeO ITO enumerate them. 1t may
be said, however, that at the
"Beauty show of mighty homely
women, Trilby's feet caught Gov.
Day, and it required the herculean
efforts of Capt. Castle to extricate him
in time to join the party at lunch on
the roof garden. The afternoon and
following day were put in by mem
bers of the party as best suited the
individual. The evening before the
departure meeting was held at the
Oriental hotel and the officers
remembered for their untiring efforts
in making this one of the most prof
liable and enjoyable excursions in the
history of the association. President
Whitney was presented with mag
nificent gold watch, appropriately
inscribed, and rmost deserringly be-
slowed. H. P. Hall, who always
works hard at whatever he under
takes, was presented with a beauti-
full cut-glass pitcher. Secretary Dow
ling with silver tea set, Treasurer
Ramaley with silk umbrella, and
Mr.. G. P, Stein, of the executive COM
mittee, whose business matters would
not permit him to accompany the eX-
cursion, but who did the major por-
tion of the preliminary work con-
nected with the excursion, was left to
receive some token of appreciation on
the arrival of the party at St. Paul.
A series of resolutions were adopted
which, | presume, have already been