The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-11-17

snowy white handkerchiefs as en-
blems of purity and the gentlemen
gave their most graceful salute to the
friends left behind, with tears coming
from eyes unused to weep, we sailed
forth on this unknown voyage With
our electric propeller and trusted cleo
trician, we sailed at the rate of hun
dred miles a second and were soon at
the head waters of Salt River where
a telegram awaited us saying, Mary
land, Ny Maryland, hangs in bal
ance, and all is not lost Immediate
lv we tackled about and with Joyous
shouts and the band playing Dixie,
our gallant boat soon left the foun-
tain of this stream far in the rear.
and with our genial conductor at all
times willing to frequent the hold our
spirits were soon doubly revived
and our toast master with his manly
courtesy placed upon the banquet
table of the state room, where his
good Democratic wife, and cultured
Virginia lady of ante-bellum days
presided, and with all inspiring words
by way of toast, this graceful Re
publican said ladies and gentlemen,
to my regret, but ! hope a pleasure
to you my Democratic friends, the
news has reached us that your fair
state is likely to be cast in the columns
of the faith of my dear wife and for
her sake as well as all the fair ladies of
this expedition, | partake of this
elixir of life and ask you all 10 join
the manager of the hold in wishing
safe return to the loved ones left be-
hind" With cheers to this toast we
moved down the stream with light
ming speed and in 1000 seconds
our mountain town hove in sight
and cheer after cheer rent the air and
as we glided into port glad friends
came aboard to greet us.
But finding the news from Mary
land unverified we held hasty consul
tation and by a unanimous vote we de-
cided to use The Lady of the Myth
and take a pleasure trip. Entering
the placid waters of the Great Yough-
iogheny, which forms a confluence
with the Salt River at this place, and
our hold being we'll filled with all the
rich viands that sustains the inner
man, we cast anch or in front of the
distinguished state chairman of West
Virginia's summer home, the much
chagrined Col. John T. McGraw, and
again waving an adieu to friends we
start on a journey that will live in
mythical history and be stored in the
memories of the voyagers for ages in
the future of this great country of
ours
As we glide down this noble Indian
stream we soon enter the waters of
the Monongahela at McKeesport,
thence down the Ohio via Pittsburg
to Cincinnati, Louisville, Cairo,
Vicksburg. Casting anchor at this
historic city where we viewed the
battle-ground and siege of this, one of
General Grants most noted victories,
where he and General Sherman over
powered the gallant General Penn
berton on July 4th, 1868.
Weighing anchor we again are
borne swiftly along the sluggish
Father of Waters and enter the Cres-
cent City and Metropolis of the South,
thence on through the Gulf of Mexico,
Yucatan channel, through the Gulf
of Honduras and the Caribbean Sea to
Colon, where we halt and view the
prospective "big ditch one of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's pet schemes
From this famed locality we again
set sail for Porto Rico, lovely little
island, where the colored brother
rules, thence by Santiago where we
sailed around viewing the locality
| where the gallant Schley annihilated
the Spanish fleet with its heroic ad-
miral, the chivalrous Cervera, and
| also viewing the channel that entered
Santiago harbor, the wanton wreck
of the old Merrimac and the heroic
feat of the world-famed Capt. Hobson.
With hearts stirred py emotions
that words fail to express in our sym
pathy for the then oppressed Cubans
and with feelings of veneration for
the lamented Mckinley who so molly
came to the rescue of this noble,
bleeding and chivalrous people who
followed the lead of the grand old
General Gomez who defended this
Pearl of the Antilles for so long
against the blood thirsty Spaniards
commander by that inhuman brute
Weyler.
Again we weigh anchor and with
the shout" Cuba Libra" we sail for the
Florida coast After loading our
hold with tropical fruits we hasten on
our journey touching at Tampa,
thence along the coast to Sumter,
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