The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-11
OFF FOR HOME.
Christmas Came Early
at q. T. Wharves.
The Vancouver Took Hundreds Of
Pleasure Seekers.
Came from All Over
This Broad Land.
Stories of Some of Those Who
Were Sailing Away.

Saturday was one OF the busiest days
that has ever been known along the wat
er front section of the city and there were
more and far larger crowds tina
thropged the wharves Of the ocean steam
ers than there have been ON any day since
the beginning Of the present season.
Busy scenes were the rules at each OF
the wharves where the big ocean liners
we're docked but the busiest locality Of all
was on the wharf to which this sturdy
steamship Vancouver Of the Dominion
line was tied. The Vancouver arrived
at this port several days ago and on FRI
day the work Of placing on the greater
part of her cargo had been finished. Sat
urday, therefore, was given up almost en-
tirsly to taking on the many passengers
and looking after thsir baggage. Early
In the forenoon the people who were In
tending to sail on this steamer. began to
come to the city on the lines Of the vari-
ous railroads. A large number arrived on
the trains over the Grand Trunk and
about as many more came on the trains
over the Boston and Maine. Immediate
ly upon leaving the train. all Of thess
people m AIDE haste to the wharf of the
Vancouver. there to await the disposition
Of the clerks of the steamship line who
were to look after tho tickets and bag
| gage.
These people came from various parts OF
the country, In the lot being men. wom-
en- and children. There were 25 cabin
passengers, 66 intermediate and 23s steer
age.
| In the forward part Of the shed, tom
porary booth had been constructed and
here three Of the clerks Of the Dominion
line were stationed for the purpose OF ssh
ling tickets. These three clerks vera kept
on the alert every minute fromithe time
that they appeared at the windows at q
| few minutes past one o'clock until the
business In this department was conclud-
ed at few minutes past four O'Clock.
Not IN all Of the cases were tickets sold
outright from this port to those who de-
| sired to visit their homes In the old
world; for before leaving their homes
here to come to Portland to take depart
ure, these people had besn able to procure
tickets good for their entire destination.
But Notwithstanding this convenience
that had been made BY the railroad and
steamboat lines, the clerks were kept just
as busy in answering questions to th o
holders Of such tickets as they were In
selling brand new oardboards.
The people crowded into the shed and
then they ware lined mp either for the
purpose of securing their tickets or to
further satisfy themselves by the assur-
ances Of the officials at the last stop be-
fore departure, that they were holding
the proper certificates. In no instance
ror had been committed In the purchase
of tickets.
there Was not spark Of fire Of any
| description In the large shed and as tina
officers of the steamer could not aooommo-
date the passengers until short time be-
fore she was due to draw out Of the dock,
the only thing left for the people was to
hang about the shsd and SILVER. 1t was
regular winter day and there was NO
colder locality in the city than this shed
on this wharf. Few complaints, howev-
er, were made as every person within Its
con fines was properly clothed for just
such occasions. The men stamped their
feet and swung their arms to keep them
selves from freezing while the women
pulled their shawls about them all the
more tightly.
GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.
The largest number of passengers that
came from any one section was that which
was under the charge Of Nisls Nilsson,
who 10 the agent of the Dominion line at
Minneapolis, Mimi. He brought party
of 10 people, some % Of whom were
women and children. The party had ar
rived over the Grand Trunk in the fore
noon, having left Minneapolis early
Wednesday evening.
"1his is s,rt of an excursion party. "
said A gent Nilsson. "It Ii composed OF
people who come from Minnesota. North
Dakota, South Dakota, Montana,
Washington and Idaho. They are, for
the most part, either Swsdes or Norws-
gians, although there are some Danes In
the number. They are going home to
spend the Christmas holidays and nearly
all of them will be back in this country
in the spring. This lie the first party thai
nave brought to Portland. Lsat year
took a party of about 15o from my section
to Boston where they sailed on the steam
ship New England Of the Dominion
line"
A party of six young Swsdes came from
ST. Paul, MINI. They are to spend
Christmas with their relatives. SOM
eighty or ninety people came from Chioa
60 and about fifty hailed from Indianap-
oils. In both of these parties there wsrs
several women.
Agent John II. Murphy of Lowell
Mass, conducted party Of six men from
that city. They have bssn employed Il