The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-06-12
THEY BOTH
ENJOYED TRIP
Bernardsville Electricians Trav-
eled $4,000 Miles on Presi-
dent Roosevelt's Train.
INCIDENTS OF THEIR TRAVELS

Edward S. Spinning and Charles
Thompson both returned to their
homes at BernardSville on Saturday,
after an absence of ten weeks, in
which they had travelled $4,000 miles.
Both young men were employed as
electricians on President Roosevelt S
special train in which he made his re-
cent tour of the United States. This
is the fourth long trip these young
menhaye made withina year and half.
Several trips to St. Augustine were
followed by the trip to Vancouver on
the special train of the Crown Prince
of Siam. They started also upon the
first trip of the president, which he
was compelled on account of illness to
postpone.
Both young men report the trip on
the presidents special as most en-
joyable, especially the sixteen days
stop at Yellowstone Park. Young
Spinning, who is something of nat
uralist, improved this stay by adding
to his valuable collection of curiosities
and specimens. Among them are a
perfect pair of antlers of eight points,
which he secured in the following
manner: One day, while making a
trip in the park with some of his COM
panions, Mr.. Spinning became sep
arated from the others He had taken
a trail which led higher on one of the
mountains. After travelling some
time he discovered his companions
further down travelling in the same
direction. AS the snow was waist
deep, Spinning called to his compan-
ions, telling them he would not turn
back, but would meet them further
along. A short time after he came
upon the antlers, which had been
dropped by an elk only short time
before. They were unusually large and
heavy, but Spinning was determined to
secure them. After he had carried
them a good distance he came to a
gully filled with snow. He could see
no way of getting around this gully,
which was twenty-five feet wide and
very deep, and, as he had no snow
shoes, he tried the novel plan of maxi
ing substitute of the antlers. Grasp
ing pair in each hand, he crawled
across the snow-filled crevice on his
hands and knees, placing all his weight
on the antlers, which kept him from
sinking in the snow.
Among the numerous presents made
President Roosevelt upon the trip was
that of horned toad. Later it died
and young Spinning promptly mounted
it, and has it now among his collec-
tion. He also succeeded in securing a
live specimen in Arizona which he
brought to his home.
While in California, Mr.. Spinning
discovered one day lizard about six
inches long, covered with scales and
beautifully marked. He secured it by
throwing his coat over it, and after
ward transferred it to his pocket.
Returning to his car they shortly en-
tered San Francisco During the fes-
tivities attending the reception of the
presidents entrance to that city, Spin
ming forgot completely the occupant
of his pocket. Late that night Spin
Francisco. Upon putting his hand in
his pockets he found an angry lizard
who evidently did not wish to be dis
turbed. Although Spinning handles
the reptile considerably, it has never
bitten him.
Among many Indian curiosities and
souvenirs of many places, which Mr..
Spinning brought home, is a valuable
floral collection, which includes lilies
from San Antonio and cacti from
southern California and Arizona.
A laughable incident of the trip is
that although Mr.. Spinning and Mr..
Thompson had travelled $4,000 miles
together without losing one another,
yet Saturday morning, after landing
in Jersey City they became separated,
and each came to Bernardsville on
different trains, instead of arriving
home together as they intended