The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-24
ORPHANS JOURNEY
All the Way From California 10
New York City.
TRAVELLED ABOUT 1000 MILES
And Looked Af,sr Along tho Routs by
Railroad and Steamship Msn-Tow
President C. p. Huntfngton's rn.trne-
lions were obeyed-story orths Trip.

NEW YORK, Jan. 25-Motherlcss,
fathcrless, but happy. came 10 the busy
metropolis to-day four tourists OF the
juvenile world. The Cromwell line
steamer Louisiana, which has carried
many precious burdens to this city from
New Orleans, brought them here. The
four little wallis. Ahrens by name, the
eldest twelve, and the youngest four
years old. were made orphans on n lit
tie farm ut LOOMS. In California, md
their grandfather here, furnished the
fund which enabled the little tots TO
come here.
The journey represented about 1900
miles. and the Quartette OF tiny travel
ers completed Il unattended except for
the assistance from railroad and steam
ship officials at various points along
the route. No travellers ever came over
the Southern Pacific in whose behalf
more general orders md special in
structions had been issued. President
c. p. Huntington. when he was inform
ed that the little parentless quartette
were coming, wired A. N. Towne, the
general manager OF the Pncific system.
that they should be treated with the
greatest consideration and care. And
80 they were everywhere along the line,
conductors, brakesmen. agents compet-
Ing with each other In the common erlJ-
denYor TO make the journey OF the chill
dren safe and comfortable.
ALONE For Them Here.
The late father OF the four CHILDREN
was son of Charles A. Ahrens, a ci-
CUR dealer at No. 6S Eighth avenue. II
was to this grandfather whom they
had never seen before. that the children
came consigned. Their mother died
two months ago Mt LOOMS, shortly be-
fore the death OF their father. The
eldest child is George. u years old. who
acted as cashier during the trip. Dora.
years old. a sweet, golden haired miss.
is next. She Ia fully an inch taller than
her older brother. Charles, the next in
years, celebrated his eighth anntver-
sary OF his birth while the train wna Mt
San Antonio. He, too. Is undersized.
and resembles adenry. the baby OF the
party, years old. both In build and in
height so much TINT the two might
readily pass for twins.
The children arrived in perfect health
and were, under special instructions.
examined by the surgeons OF the road
from point TO point The sea passage
was a rough one. the Louisiana en-
countering several days OF hard head
winds. The tiny travellers were sea-
sick the most OF the time; but beyond
that they suffered no Inconvenience on
their long Journey. They were Just
eleven days on the road. having LETT
San Francisco on January 10.
The Ease miles OF railroad Journey to
the Crescent City was finished last
Tuesday evening. and the following
morning the Louisiana left New Or
leans, reaching her pier In the North
River Mt II O'Clock last night The
children were given into the custody OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Henry Poulstou.
steward and stewardess respectively OF
the Louisiana, and the latter In parucu-
lar became SO attached to the tots that
she wept like a child when their grand.
father came along this morning and
took them away.
..f3e good TO them for my sake. SAID
Mrs. Poulston between sobs 20 Grand
father Ahrens, 'will you not7"
az shall guard them with my lie"
said the old man.
"And you. little mother" said Mrs.
Pouiston, taking Dora In her arms and
twinlng her fingers In her hair, you
will be brave and true and honest and
grow up a good woman. will you not?"
Eyes, Mrs. poulston. WILL"
Story OF Their Trip.
The children are all bright looking
and interesting. Dora is especially So
Unlike her brothers. she is a pure
blonde. They were at breakfast when a
Mail and Express reporter visited the
ship to-day.
tell the reporter something about your
trip"
o,hsrs were iust as mute, and SO Stew
ard Poulston had to act as spokesman
for them.
:sTheir father" he said, was former
ly sailor. He gave up senfaring be.
cause he met and won a sweet faced
lass in San Francisco. Buying little
farm nj I,oonis, he settled down there,
and Il was on this farm that these tots
were born. Their father couldn't make
money, mad when finally he was found
dead ON. his farm there was no equity
left In the fnrm. Seighbors ut AUBURN
had To take charge OF the children
tThen Grandfather Ahrens here sent Tor
them. and here they are.
ON leaving San F'rancisco, Charley,
tho oldest OF the children. had SIS in
cash, He had 1t tucked away to-day on
arrival, The railroad officials tagged
them with letters TO the conductors
along the line. Newspapers oil along
the route had printed information that
the children were coming and It was
siIrnrisInC what large crowds tiocked TO
| the cnrs 10 see tibet tourists at various
points. 1t was not mere curiosity on
the part OF the crowds either. for they
Invished presents upon the orphans
The passengers OF the steamer did
everything In their power 70 make the
tots happy. When not III the chlluren
wandered all over the vessel anu on
| several occasions were taken down IN
| the engine room. on Sunday last
| Charley wandered into the steernEe.
| one OF the passengers in this section
| was an Italian peddler. He persuaded
| the hoy 10 buy a gold" watch for ~.
| The hoy showed the watch TO Porter
| John Johnson and the latter promptly
| went to Captain eager. The watch was
worth about 81 and It's works shook
| IKE A rattiebox. Before Captain Ca
| Cor could act, Johnson, with the assist
| ant engineer and quartarmaster. went
| in search OF the italian and beat him
| numerically. In the excitement tha .e
folIowed, the Italian turned over ~
and gave II TO the lad. Charley eountea
the money and said:
"There IL too much here"
"Thst doesn't matter. Keep IT,"
no" said the boy. That would be
dishonest. Shall keen It, Doraf"
mo" replied the little miss. You
know what mother told US once;
what did she tell you. dear?' asked
Captain Guger.
In Their New Home.
During the drive from the steamship
plcr TO the Ahrcn's home in Eighth
avenue. tho four youngsters were rs