Putnam patriot., 1908-08-14
Sightseeing Tour Around the couu,r,

J. &Httu oaSties o iulnaua tseASSs and Isaac Champeau, Delegate to the National Convention of the Renevo- ] lent and Protective Order Of Etks, at Dallas. Texas. joined personally con ducted party at New York, arranged under the auspices of the Elk's Antler and McCann's Tours. The party num- hered LIS. representing ai Lodges from eight Sts;es-it being from Cannecu- cut. Everything was iirst-elass, and all provided for in advance.
 The following sketch contains some l of the incidents of the interesting trip: 1 We left Putnam, July Sd, on the boat train, al p. m. connecting at 1 New York with the Norwich line steamer for New York. Had good nights rest, and arrived al New York al a. m, After hreakfasiing on board, we went to the steamer that was to l take ns te New Orleans and secured our stateroom and there Jeff our bag gage. As we had few hours before i sailing, we visited about the big city. 1 IL vas the qnietest Fourth we ever saw everybody seemed to ee going away, and the ears and waarses were crowd- cd with people. We returned to the steamer, and watched the crowds com ing aboard, and their friends who came To see them oil,
 Al is m., sharp, the big steamer Mo mus, of the southern Pacific Line, steamed out, and We were of on our 2,hoa mile run to New Orleans, crowds on the wharf footing horns and waN- ing good. bye. Ne passed the statue of Liberty, down the bay. and were soon on the Atlantic
 We spent the afternoon getting ae- and watching the interesting scenes along the coast. Al q r. m. everybody was ready fer dinner and did ample l justice to the splendid meal provided for us, After dinner all hands took their steamer chairs, and secured fato- | rable positions To view the sunset. | Al N U tiDCk ati tb thtSt dining saloon to assist in celebrating the Glorious Fourth. Under the lead ership of br. II. (. MeAdam, Past EN- alted Ruler, of New York Lodge, n fine impfomptu program WAS carried out, consisting ef singing, reeitations, short speeches, humorous sketches, and a patriotic address hy Judge Demarest Of Hoboken, \ IL, which aroused great enthusiasm The program was con clnded by all rising and singing "Ame' rissn
 The next day being Sunday, every. body spent a quiet day, reading and on the lookout for anything of interest We passed the Diamond Shoals Light ship of Hattefas about noon. Many were disappointed in not finding T rough sea there, but the next day made up for il, as we ran into a rough storm accustomed places al the dinner table
 Monday the sun came out and all were in good spirits smiling and joking about their experiences of the day before.
 We passed off Savannah, Ga, SIG miles from New York and 2iD miles oil shore--the furlhest point out from land on the trip. In the afternoon we ran into large school of porpoises. il was great sport to watch them leaping diving and swimming ahead of the ship for miles, asd then disappearing as suddenly as they came. We also saw many flying iish on the trip; they came out of the water, flew 25 or A yards then dove down again.
 That night We were treated 10 mag nilieent sunset landscape scene. We could see in the clouds q large estaie on which was a big house surrounded by trees shrubs. lawns and winding road then the farm house, barns, orchards hills and fields, the whole flooded With light, showing all the eolo-s of the rainbow. It was grand.
 Tuesday we ran nearer inland along the Florida coast, and could see St. A IT, 1 gusiine, Palm Beach, Miami and other shore resorts of Florida.
 Wednesday we passed Key West, (and saw train going on the new railroad over the Florida Keys and 1 Into the Gulf Of Mexico, and expe- rieneed the hottest day of the trip. Al l 10 D. III. we were at the mouth of the famous Mississippi river where We took on pilot land a million or two of mosquitoesl who took us 100 miles up the river 10 New Orleans.
 ] Thursday we were up bright and l early to take in Inc sights along the | river--which are the sugar cane plan tations, the little parishes, the levees on either side, and, as we get nearer the city, the immense sugar refineries the largest in the world. At the l2 mile point tug came alongside with l delegation Of about forty members Of the New Orleans Lodge, who came on | board and welcomed us to New Or leans. They helped to eniighten us by pointing out the various sights along the river the resi- of tae journey. As we landed al the wharf at i0s50, VIC were greeted with the sefeeehing Of whistles from al the hareof steam boats, and .ere met by large delega- ton from the New Orleans Lodge, headed by band playing Dixie and other Southern atFs. and escorted to their beautiful home, fthe ladies of the