The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-28
Westward RO!' TIE CRY
TWO THOUSAND EXCURSIONISTS
PASSED THROUGH SIT. PAUL
YESTERDAY
DUNKARDs HEAD FOR DAKOTA
Queer Costumes and Sedate Appear
ance characterized the Mem
beers of the Sect-MOre
Coming Today.

81. Paul was huge distributing center
yesterday for about 1000 sturdy men,
young, middle-aged and old, who are
heading westward in search of homes
where competition is less keen and where
conditions admit of a fresh start in life.
The first rush came in the morning,
and the coast lines were kept busy pro-
Viding extra cars for those who had
arrived over night and on the early
morning trains The movement to the
far West was larger than it has been at
any time this year, and all the roads re-
port that agents estimates of the traffic
were STeatly exceeded.
In the afternoon, the advance guard Of
the so-callcd Dunkard excursion to the
Devils Lake region arrived, and the
first train over the Wisconsin Central
reached st. Paul shortly after o'clock.
This train was composed of twelve cars,
and ii remained in the city for nearly
three hours. a walk through it revealed
the fact that the movement to the North
Dakota settling districts is by no means
confined to the DunkardS. In fact the
majority of the passengers belonged to
other seCtS, and it was easy to see that
they were migrating for good. The. cars
seemed TO be tenanted principally by chill
dIen, who were enjoying the occasion
Immensely Their mothers were kept on
tenter hooks as the frisky youngsters
the interior economy of the train at the
same time.
In one Of the last cars of the train the
Dnkards proper congregated and they
Were 4 sedate, dignified party. Even the
children seemed to be prematurely aged,
and the life and boisterousness observa-
bic in the other cars were entirely alb
sent. The costumes worn bore little re-
semblance to the sartorial creations af-
fected by the man of fashion, and il
seemed as though the Dunkard cate
chism must stipulate that every man is
to he his own tailor Shape TO the gar
ments there was none, and even buttons
are regarded as indispensable in only
very few places. Hooks and eyes supply
most of the supporting tackle, and the
clothes are built with a view to saving
as much work as possible. The Dunkards
are an earnest people, and the journey
was evidently regarded by them very
much in the light of a pilgrimage to
promised land. Inquiries as to their des-
tinations invariably brought a smile to
their faces, and in broken English they
proudly announced the name of the sta
ton at which they will get off Seem
ingly North Dakota is to them land lit
orally flowing with milk and honey
Perhaps the oldest character on the
train was a stock young Dunkard, clad
In the garb of his sect, who was travel.
Ills III ii car l6ndQLeQ Tor the most part
by young men who were going to North
Dakota ION spec" He was jolly, ard
sought to impress all with whoIff he came
into contact with the idea that he was a
widely Travelled man. To reporter for
the G b e he explained that he had OK
plored the trackless wastes of Florida
and had once penetrated the labyrinthne
mystries of the streets of Boston. Into
this young mans mind the shadow Of
skepticism had come, and he confessed
that he no longer had faith in the time
honored tenets which have made the sect
famous.
Later in the afternoon another train.
loaded with passengers for the North
Dakota country arrived, and both were
hauled out by the Great Northern. These
people are, for the most part, well to do.
ana their effects came loaded into $50
cars, all Of which will leave this city this
morning. The Great Northern has made
specially of encouraging the movement
TO the Devils Lake region, and it's eff
forts nave been crowned with complete
success Thousands of Dunkards have
been taken into the country, and now
that the excellent quality of the land is
becoming noised about, farmers ara lock
ing into it from all parts of the Union.
Ihe last of the excursionists bound for
Dakota will reach the city this rlorn1nos
and Will be taken out in a special train.
IN all 1t is estimated that 1000 people
We're taken out of ST Paul yesterday. and
almost 1000 Joined the trains at Mime
apohs.