Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-05-21
Bismarck News.

Ell. HG9tStSF-1u 0 QOSt lFu1bLul SuU-
ject for news this week from this loca-
ton would be synoptical report of
the A. o. U. w. excursion, and the
it received by Joachim Lodge
and the railroad management. Our
posters, (the mechanical work of the
were the advertising medium
of the affair which spread the news to
every point, and all was serene for a
glorious turnout until the evening OF
the 18th. Heavy dark clouds, with
out q .'silver lining" soon sprang up
in the northwest, and quickly shut
out from view the stars. Heavy bolts
of thunder augmented the appearances
of rain until eleven o'clock p. NJ. Then
the rain poured until about 8 o'clock.
By four. several of the Committeeman
were out and at work; by five the rain
began to fall, which continued in per-
feet sheets until our train had departed
for Montesano. The lodge had engag-
ed three coaches, had them decorated
with streamers forty-five feet long,
carrying the name and number of this
Lodge in sixteen-inch letters. Their
work was complete, but the rainfall
was was the worst of disbursement
which bid fair to completely destroy
the days outing, and had not it been
for the bravest of the brave the occa-
sion would have been a failure. BY
six, several teams and buggies were
driven from the country, loaded with
good examples of the brave, beautiful
In r10 II h.
ing of the word s.bluff." By this
time the exodus from town came from
every direction amid the sheets OF
rain, carrying baskets, bundles and
babies, until the three coaches were
filled, consuming all the
space that had been prepared for the
occasion. Had the day been fair,
eight coaches would not have given
space for the crowd. However, many
ladies had the misfortune of having
sleeves wilted to finish.
They were true example of glee and
happiness-sang, chatted, waved. and
cheered, Notwithstanding the rain con-
tinued to pour-which to your cor
respondent was one of the grandest
OF true courage he has
ever had the pleasure of Witnessing.
The lady members Degree of Honor
were unquestionably determined to
not be outdone in their first outing
wearing the badges SO kindly present
ed by the Editor of the REGIsTER-for
they wore out In full force to meet
their Grand Lodge Chief of Honor,
Mrs. Genevieve Miller of st. Louis.
ATT, our coaches were attached to
the Arcadia train and we speeded
away, taking on passengers at all
stations, finally arriving at our desti-
nation about 80, when the several
hundred person aboard the train en-
tered the beautiful Montesano Park
and spread their dinners, rode behind
the donkies, rode the switchback, the
merry go-round, danced, and spent
one of the most enjoyable days of the
season-the rain having ceased about
8 o'clock, leaving for the enjoyment of
the brave and beautiful ladies and de-
termined men as fine day for suoh
an occasion as could have been wanted.
And had 1t not been for some acts OF
the most gross injustice at the hands
of Joachim Lodge of De Soto, and the
manner our cars were handled, we
would all unite in one expression that
the occasion was q grand one. Our
cars were side-tracked at De Soto from
8 A. NJ. until 1920, on account of the
rain having bluffed the timid souls Of
that town, and, to the minds of many,
to create little business by our two
hundred and fifty people being detain-
ed. At last, after getting out the
drum corps and instilling little life
and enthusiasm into their inactive and
timid bodies. they finally, assisted by
a clear sky and bright sun, crept out
and filed a line of coaches and were q
portion of the solid excursion train.
This delay was universally expressed
as a genuine .'gag" on the part OF
Joachim Lodge, as our coaches could
have continued as connected with the
Arcadia train. On our return. ac-
cording to letter from General Pas
senger Agent, H. C. Townsend, our
cars should have been handled from
Montesano by the Arcadia train; but
instead of this, we were taken to De
Soto and there again sidetracked for
over three hours; and. finally. at past
II o'clock, were taken south by train
Go, after having been pushed and
jammed by switch engines all over the
yards, from the shops to south end OF
the tracks-to the utter disgust oil
rybody. and very materially to the
discomfort of sleeping children and
tired mothers, We say nothing of the
fact that several passengers had to
buy candles and light the cars, which
were not supplied with water or light
until long after dark. These are only
q few OF the beautiful" deals given
the Bismarck exoursionists, after
charging us $40 per coach. and De
Soto $50 for the same. And when our
coaches were taken out of the town
the conductor had orders to not stop
the train only at Blackwell and Bis
marck, carrying the people all past
their homes at that hour OF night
Nay, even more, the train on the Bel
mont Branch had gone, which COM