Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-09-21
A TRIP TO THE SEA.

y. IL. S N. II. IL. 1Or the sea SHOfe duu
intermediate points. AS we believe in
''honor to whom honor is due" we will
first notice the B., G. r. & N. This
road is noted for it's ability to handle
large excursions Our train when COM
pleted consisted of Is cars and 1000
passengers. Some of the way two
engines were required and at Detroit
the train was divided into two sections,
but all reached every point on time,
and all arrived in Buffalo without the
slightest accident, and with the high
est praise for the management from
the gentlemanly agent at Decorah, G.
S. Rice, down to every porter on the
train.
The majority of the passengers were
old soldiers and while many showed
the scars of.battle and all gave evident
signs that they were among the Sim
mortal 100000 more" we saw no one
who carried as much rebel lead in his
body as Capt. Weiser, of Decorah.
The crowd in Buffalo was immense but
the officials handled it with patience
and skill. We were not ordered by
the police to "move on" but did so as
soon as we could get through the crowd
which took several hours and finally
landed near the sea shore. We noticed
that apples the entire trip were very
scarce and potatoes scarcer yet; the
rust or something similar, seems to
have struck potatoes from Iowa to the
sea. The first familiar face we met
was that of Judge Lyman, of Wilt
mantle, Conn.,, fellow townsman of
the olden time and who in addition to
his judicial duties is special correspond
ent for the Hartford CO,uant, probably
the oldest and ablest republican paper
in the state. He said he should put
me in his paper; just think how l
would look in metropolitan republi-
can paper, but told him to go ahead
and to handle me with great care-po-
litically.
In this city had my picture taken,
the best ever had, by the celebrated
artist l.. Barrett. The next point was
the Sherman House on Liberty Hill.
This house is open summer and winter
and no guest ever left it's doors dissat-
| isfied. l soon wandered over into Col
chester, my native town; passed the
spot where / was born and little fur
ther on the old farm where nay father
was born, which is still, and has been,
owned by the Bigelow family ever
Since its first settlement over $50 years
ago.
In Lebanon, Conn.,, I slept several
nights in the house where Washington
and Lafayette had spent many days
and nights. This is fine old mansion
which with the splendid farm is now
owned and occupied as summer re-
sort by my nephew Capt. Palmer, of
New York. Right across the way is
the old war Office of Gov. Trumbull,
one of Connecticut's old revolutionary
heroes and where many Of the plans
4
This building is now owned and pre-
served by the state and from the dome
the flag of old glory constantly floats
i'm the breeze. Passing down the
Thames river at the mouth of which
were forts on both sides and the guns
pointed directly at me, / felt little
nervous but as was dressed and ap-
peared like quaker of the old school,
1 was allowed to pass without shot.
In passing Fort Ledyard the old revo-
lutionary blood of my ancestors rose to
fever heat in my veins as l remem-
bered the gallant Col. Ledyard, who
surrendered to British officer and
was immediately run through by his
own sword, and then followed the
most horrible massacre known in his
tory. The fort is situated on high
| hill and the dead bodies of the Ameri-
can soldiers were rolled down into the
sea. How can l help feeling hot when
such scene in civilized warfare is re-
called to mind, especially when my
| father was revolutionary soldier.
My next experience was on the shore
of the dark and deep blue ocean, where
l sat and watched the waves come in
with clock work regularity. 1t is a
splendid place for meditation and no
one can sit there long without deep
feeling of awe and admiration for the
wonderful power that controls all
things. Among my thoughts was how
long will it be before messages will be
sent across this broad expanse of water
without cable.
1t is needless to say that the trip was
grand and to those who know me, that
an enormous quantity of sea food was
destroyed. Came home through great
er New York saw no particular change
only that one arrived in the city little
sooner than before. Not to exhaust all
your space and patience, will defer
further comments until later on.
II. A. BIGELow.