Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1903-07-18
FIRST SANTA FE TRAIN.
How the First Excursion Ran From
Las Cruces 10 RinCon.
SIXTEEN HUNDRED PEOPLE WENT.


Cofrans iron foundry In Topeka, Is
the possessor of a copy of Ncwman's
SENT Weekly, which was published in
las Cruces Ia The early eighties. The
PAPER, which Is dated May 4, 1881, con.
tains several stories of interest. One
is story Of the escape of Billy the
hid from his prison cell in Lincoln, n.
NJ, and of the offer of several thou.
sand dollars reward for his recapture.
The other, the most int testing one,
IL story of an excursion that the
Atchlson. Topeka a. anita Fe railroad
an from Las Cruces to Rincon on
Sunday, May !, 1881, shortly after that
road had extended its line into the
Mesilla valley.
At the time referred to in the story
VI the excursion, A. A. Robinson, presi.
dent OF the Mexican Central railway,
and resident of Topeka, was chief en-
ginneer for the anita Fe, Many changes
have taken place since the time the
Santa Fe entered New Mexico. Many
| OF the men who took an active part In
the building of the road at that time
ere now dead and gone, and since then
| the road has reached out until II is
now referred to as a transcontinental
railroad. The road. which at that time
only covered small territory, now
runs from Chicago to San Francisco.
The following is the story Of the
| Santa Fe excursion printed in full;
| The excursion on Sunday drew out
che largest gathering ever seen in the
valley and the attendance would have
| been even larger had II occurred on
any other day. Under the circum-
stances the selection Of that particular
day was unavoidable. The work on
the railroad 10 being pushed ahead
with such energy that on week days no
interruption could be allowed. Three
hundred men could not be kept idle
and the work delayed for any reason
except lack Of material with which to
proceed. Even at the grand celebration
on the Goth, when the people turned
out en- masse &c meet the locomotive
and welcome II TO our town, the work
OF track laying was not interrupted
for a moment. The giant corporation
which Is reaching out across the con
tinent and seizing the commerce oil
nations in Its iron grasp cannot af
ford to cease its work until that work
Ia accomplished. Hence 1t could only
offer our people the road and rolling
stock on day when no retarding Of
the work would result, and the people
must either take their ride on Sunda,
or not at all.
Now II must be remembered that {
great part OF the community had neve
be fore seen a railroad. and a ride owe
the rails at thirty miles an hour was ,
treat not to he lightly refused. Be
sides, a large majority OF our people
are Catholics and look upon the Sab
} bath day as a lay of recreation as wei
as OF devotion; and these peeded n
, excuse as a compromise with thei
, consciences for making a gala day O
last Sunday.
} With this preface, or apology, II 20
choose we Will proceed with our az
was the hour announced for the de
parture OF the train. but as early as
: large crowds began to gather at tn
. depot. Every available vehicle wa
l called into requisition and coaches
: cabs, carriages, buggies. and eve
wagons were seen hurrying aroun
from street to street and house
house. collecting their freight Of HI
man beings. The distance to the dcpt
grounds Is less .hap half mile frol
the plaza and much the greater pa
of the people went over on foot, III
5 carriages being reserved for the fam
, lies.
Chief Coleman had prepared cars Il
: seven or eight hundred persons; b.
J. long before the hour for departure a
: rived 1t became apparent that thel
s would not be room for the gatherir
o crowd. Mesllla and the towns down Il
l. river furnished their quota to swe
l. the multitude; and as additional CT
e after car was switched on to the ma
ID track and attached to the train 1t b
Ie gan to look as though part Of the pc
u pie would be left. All present wer
g however, finally accommodated, Il
!. shrill whistle OF the locomotive SCUM
81 ed the signal ''all aboard" the b'
70 began to ring. the brass band whit
Is had been provided for the occasi'
y struck up a familiar air and the loI
., train of box and fiat cars swarmil
OIL with human freight moved slowly OF
Sc Owing TO the immense crowd. eve
D. available piece of rolling stock at {
TT depot was brought into requisition a
1000 people were stored away in 8
teen box. combination and fiat ca
mr. The ladies and children we're provid
or with seats In the box and combinati
IN cars and the men had to take thin
-. az they found them on the fats. Eve
M foot OF space was occupied. The b
m cars furnished seats for fifty perso
m. earh, besides standing room for ma
ca more and perches on top for all W
eonid nila on Thus each carried ire