Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-09-23

After Travelling Over Seven Thou
sand Miles Over Railroad Lines.
The Party Was Overwhelmed
With Courtesies at All Points in
CalifOrnia-SOme of the Points of
Interest Visited-Yellow Fever
Necesoitated a Change of Plans
on the Return Trip-All Benefited
by the Journey.
The $40 o'clock B. & o. train from
the west was over an hour late in
reaching this city last evening. The
cause of the delay was not explained
by the train crew, but it was proba-
bly, due to the fact that the special
car containing the Wheeling delega-
ton to San Francisco was attached to
the rear of the train. There were
some heavy weights in the party when
the start was made, four weeks ago,
and one member figured UP the in
crease in averdupois before the train
stopped and ascertained that there was
a clear gain of quarter Of a ton in
the aggregate weight of the Wheeling
representatives. A healthier, happier
looking lot of men never stepped from
a railroad train. They were heavily
laden with baggage and there was
general atmosphere Of high living
surrounding them.
The excursionists were compelled to
run the gauntlet of friends at the sta
ton, who had gathered to the number
of more than half a hundred, and Tor
about ten minutes there was a season
of handshaking, in which the entire
party participated. All stated that
they had never enjoyed themselves
more in their lives and there was GER
tainly nothing in their appearance to
belle their words.
The party had a most delightful, in
teresting and instructive trip, which
covered just four weeks, crossed sew
enteen States, and footed up $500
miles of actual travel. From first to
last the trip was one round Of pleas
ure, ard at no less t1an fifteen cities
and towns the party was the recip-
of municipal authorities and mercan-
tile and business associations. Upon
many occasions the travellers were lit
orally overwhelmed with courtesies,
and they came home with realizing
sense of what Western hospitality, and
particularly California hospitality,
means. A similar trip could not be
procured for money, and it is safe to
say that very few parties of tourists
ever saw so much of the western
side of the continent in so short a
time.
No point of interest, except the Yose-
mite Valley, was passed by and that
trip was cut out by the party of their
own volition because it occupied five
days of time 1t would be impossible,
in the space to be allotted to
this article, to recount, even in the
most concise manner, all the details
of the journey completed yesterday.
A larg and intrsting volume could
be written upon the subject. And it
is equally impossible to give the names
of the individuals to whom formal ac~
acknowledgement is due. But it is pos
sible to say a few words Of earnest
appreciation and acknowledgment
due few individuals for countless
kindnesses and courtesies EXTENDED,
and prominent amorg them may be
mentioned Charles A. Thurston, Tray
cling Passenger Agent of the Southern
Pacific Railroad: Mr.. w. S. Wright, of
the Pullman Palace Car Company; Mr..
w. E. Hughes, Of Los Angeles, for
merly of Wheeling; Captain Sebree,
OF the gunboat "Wheeling;" Lieuten-
ant Braunersreuther formerly of the
Linsly Institute; Mayor Phelan, of San
Francisco: President Scott, Of the
Union Iron Works, and Lieutenant
Governor Jeter, of California. All of
these gentlemen, and two score others,
were most assiduous in their atten-
tons and untiring in their efforts to
extend to the entire party every facil-
ity for having a good time.
Mr.. Thurston was especially atten-
tive He met the party at the Cali
fornia State line and was with them
always the last man to so to bed and
the first UP in the morning, and to him
the party is everlastingly indebted.
Mr.. Wright, who was in charge Of the
Pullman service. was also hard
worker. ana 10 MIN ana TO COmmlSafy
G. Goldsmith, of Chicago, more thanks
are due than can be expressed in mere
words
Leaving Wheeling on the morning
of the Goth of August. nothing trans
pired beyond the ordinary incidents of
a transcontinental journey until Og-
den. Utah, was reached, about daylight
Sunday morning. There our train was
switched off for a run to Salt Lake
City. The party were soon embarked
on a narrow gauge road for Salt Lake,
where a delightful bath was taken in
the heavy brine of that inland sea.
Returning to the city, the afternoon
services at the Mormon Tabernacle
were attended, and the remainder of
the day given up TO sight seeing. That
night the party started for San Fran
cisco and were met at Sacramento by
Mr.. AmeS and a committee of the
Chamber of Commerce. under whose
escort the chief city Of the Western
Coast was reached. At Sacramento
f<vers and fruits were distributed
with lavish hand.
At San Francisco the business men
had prepared forty rooms at the Pal
ace Hotel each apartment being hand
somly decorated with flowers. but for
reasons not necessary to state the par
ty went to the Occidental Hotel in
Tho TWO Fo11o1ripr do1-c