The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-22
WEI, DEUnHU0LCU
That Describes Condition of
5000 Topeka ExcursiOnists.
Came to See the Soldiers at Camp
Bailey.
FOUGHT FOR PLACES.
Great Difficulty in Handling the
Crowds.
Drenched by Rain When In the
Park.
FOUGHT FOR PLACES.

f6Fks
Between four and FIVE thousand peo-
pie came to Topeka on the Santa lie
excursions from all parts of the state OF
Kansas Sunday
Until about $3.50 the day was ideal.
Unfortunately for the excursionists ana
others who were at Camp Bailey at the
park. it began to rain shortly before 1
o'clock and the pleasure of an other
wise successful excursion was destroy
ed.
Atchison branch carried three extra
cars beside the regular equipment yes
The special train from the Southern
Kansas division numbered 10 coaches
and il was hauled by two engines as
was also the train from Wellington,
Wichita, Newton and Emporia rms
train also consisted of Is coaches Pas
senger train No 113, the regular morn
ing train from Kansas City carrier eX-
ira equipment, and altogether about 40
coach loads Of people were brought TO
Topeka for the day on account OF the
encampment-
Every coach on each of the special
trains was packed to it's capacity, and
then people stood up in the a1sles ana
on the platforms.
The Santa Fe station appeared as
busy all day yesterday as the union
station at Kansas City. In addition TO
the excursions into Topeka from an
directions. an excursion was run from
Topeka to Kansas City with elghI
coach loads of people
The Rock Island took trainload TO
the Chautauqua at Wathena-
The street car facilities were made
Quate to transport all of the excursion
lists from the Santa Fe depot to the up
town districts, and many walked up
The street railway company concen5
heroically handled the immense crowds,
though there was a crushing conges-
tion.
From IL o'clock until $3.50 the cor
ner of Eighth and Kansas ave, where
the VineWood cars gathered their load
of passengers. was crowded with an
anxious lot of humanity who fought
and piled onto the cars as II the ex-
istence of life depended upon 1t.
Fingers were tramped upon, dresses
torn and violent language used in the
wild endcavor to secure a seat on the
outward bound street cars. Each of
the regular coaches had trallers at
tached and in spite of the 15-minute
service the accommO dationS failed to |
be equal to the demand. Many of the
excursionists were not accustomed to |
fighting for a seat on street car and
waiting and hoping that the next car
would be less packed stood on the cOr-1
ner CT Eighth and Kansas avenues
until with patience exhausted, they
their train should arrive to take them
back.
This was not the worst, however, |
for dark threatening clouds COM
after 3 o'clock the clouds released |
their floods of stored UP water. The |
in the outward bound open |
trailers screamed with disappointment |
their unprotected persons. The few |
who had umbrellas raised them and |
to extend the protecting /
shelter to the more unfortunate. A /
large majority cIambered up on top I
of the seats and seat arms budding as
best they could under the slight pro- |
lection which the roof could afford |
Many a dainty summer garment which |
had been froned with a considerable l
degree of pride the previous day was /
ruined beyond recognition of its for
mer state.
Out at Vinewood where a crowd |
about 5000 had already
gathered in the earlier part of the |
day, before the rain began to fall.
anything which could boast of a roof
was welcomed with cry of glee. The
depot, the entrance to the number
eight toboggan,'' "carousaI' and every
other building upon the grounds was
crowded by the great numbers of
people
At 8 o'clock the majority of the peo-
pie out at the park were anxious to
and the rain to the park depot to catch
the home cars. Here fight as large
and exciting in proportions as that UP
town took place as the people attempt
I'd to wedge themselves aboard. A
great many of those who came out on
he cars at 8 o'clock stayed right on,
-eturning back to town without endeav-
BRING to get off. This delayed the
,rowd waiting on the depot platform
until and Z o'clock.
The dress parade which was to have
aiken place at the camp for the enter
ainment of the visitors was dispensed |
With on account of the condition of the
grounds and the weather and the ex-
,ursionists had to be content with the
nasty shelter which they secured by
'unning into the soldiers tents.