The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1908-07-09
CHAPTER xxxv.
The Wedding Of the Rails.

| A glorious, cloudless day! The tentf
Of May, 1863.
Beside the majestic inland sea, gath
cred there from near and from hal
the world away, men and women hat
come to celebrate the elimination Of
two tremendous enterprises.
Against calumny, against plot anc
counterplot, against the power ol
money and bribery, against old Time
himself. had the Central Pacific rail
road come to completion. On pork
beans. "iicey," and pluck had 1t beer
builded, teaching the world its great
est lesson in iron.
Surmounting similar obstacles the
Union Pacific had come westward to
meet it. And here, in the heart OF
the continent. amidst cheers. speech
es. and the screaming Of whistles, the
final blow was struck, the day made
historic.
Early in the morning magnificent
trains came from each way bearing
officials and dignitaries. Following
them thronged the sightseers.
Esther and Alfred were there.
standing near the Central Pacific Of
ficers, both radiant, unmasked of re-
serve, young. beautiful with happiness.
Close at hand were Uncle Billy, the
Harmons, and Amabel Hamilton, deli
cate, fiower-like, bravely carrying a
heartache that Alfred least of all sus-
pected.
And Sally b.! No pen could paint
the sividness Of her cardinal plush
gown, the sweep Of the forty-dollar
plume above her red Gainsborough
hat, the gleam of her jewels, or the
pride in the uplift Of her dark head
Regal, brilliant, as glad Of the great
triumph as If 1t were her own, she
drew every eye, dominated the scene,
clamocously red against the surround
ing gray.
Not the least striking among that re-
markable assemblage was George
Gregory. Erect as he had not been
for months, we'll groomed and hand
some in his faultless clothes, jubilant,
he was yet restless from the very
lifting Of his burden, and tackled from
shore tc shore in the human sea, COM
ing tc anchor at intervals beside his
wife.
But the eye of the vast throng, shift
ing from notable to notable, came
oftenest to rest upon the valiant
Four" quartette Of keen, compile
Inenting minds, the power that had
driven to completion the most difficult
enterprise of the era.
Mark Hopkins, the treasurer, looked
small beside the others; yet his body
was vigorous, his eye vigilant, his lip
firm. A fine, penetrating exactness,
rigid carefulness, enveioped him as
a garment. A stern man, just, en-
ployees and foster-children yet testi-
fed to his kindness, his consideration
Bluff, hearty Charles Crocker, the
superintendent, irascible. obstinate,
yet reasonable, was also the daring.
the generous, the pioneer!
Next stood Coils P. Huntington, the
vice president, tall, stately, elegant
the keen f1nancier, the astute business
man, the subtle politician, the keeper
of secrets; tireless worker, q courtly
gentleman.
Leland Stanford. the president, ex-
governor of California, beloved by the
people, this man was the cynosure;
imperial head powerfully set on mas
sive body; eyes Of the seer, brows of
the conqueror; mind of steel and heart
of gold; brother Of men and respecter
of man; orator, friend, patriot
Talleyrand once declared to the EN-
peror Napoleon, THE great republic
Is giant without bones" These four
men had put into the giant spine of
iron.
Under the desert sky the spreading
multitude was called to order. There
followed solemn prayer of thanks
giving, The laurel tie was placed,
amidst ringing cheers. The golden
spike was set. The trans-American
telegraph wire was adjusted. Amid
breathless silence the silver hammer
was lifted, poised. dropped, giving the
gentle tap that licked the news to all |
the world! Then, blow on blow. Gov
ernor Stanford sent the spike to place!
A storm Of wild huzzas burst forth; |
desert rock and sand, plain and noun. |
tain, echoed the conquest of their |
Ierrors. The two engines moved up, |
touched noses" and each In turn |
crossed the magic tie.
America was beltedi The great
ron Way was finished
THE EN-