Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-02
DR.. BRANN REPORTS
fine TRIP TO THE ELKS'
CONVENTION, CALIFORNIA

A most enjoyable trip with sight
seeing tours to place Of interest all
along the way was reported by DIR.
oscar II. Brann, past exalted ruler
OF the Augusta Lodge, 3. p, Q. f..
VINO returned Sunday from Los An
Seies, Cal, where as delegate from
the Augusta Lodge he had been in
attendance at the 9th Grand Lodge
, Sessions of the Elks held there
July 1l-l2-l3 and If. There were SIX
other delegates from Maine lodges
al inc convention and the New Eng
lahd delegates with other members
CT the order and their wives, par
Z ~ Of 13S went FROM Boston on the
Elks' special train.
one of the most spectacular
Things during the days Of the con-
Nentlon," said DR., Brann, was the
parade put on by the different
lodges. This parade with it's many
Heats was SO long that it took two
hours and 10 minutes TO pass any
point. That evening there was un-
other parade by the movie peo-
pie among the stars in this parade
being Mary Pickford'' Douglas Fair
banks and Charlie Chaplin. There
were large number Of beautifully
designed floats in the line"
The convention sessions were TAX
ell up mostly with matters of bust
ness. William Mountain of Flint,
Mich, was elected to the office of
grand exalted ruler. The only New
England man elected to Office was
Judge Duffy of Providence, K. l..
who was chosen grand leading
knight
Dr. Erann. stated that while he
was at Los Angeles lie had the
pleasure of meeting ID number of
former Augusta men who are now
residing in California, among them
being Charles Ballard, Reuel Moves
and John Ward. He stated that
they were all anxious to see people
from the East and to get all the
! Maine news.
Among the side trips that were
taken by the E.lks were Il visit to
/ the Grand Canyon. II trip up Pixies
Peak, q days stop III Mexico. The
return. trip was made through the
/ Canadian Rockies with stops Ut StlU
Francisco. Portland Seattle uuG
Vancouver. The trip to the top Of
+ Pixies Peak was made in trucks
i which were equipped with Nutcr
cooled brakes for the regular brakes
could never stand the strain. At the
top of this mountain. an elevation Of
about 10000 feet. there were large
drifts of snow. About half way up,
the members of the party put ON
lined oNercoato in preparation for
the winter weather up there. The
air WAS 50 rare that number of the
members were forced to turn back
before reaching the top.
Burros furnished the means of
conV eyancc to the bottom Of the
Grand Canyon. The doctor remark -
cd that it was surely some thrilling
ride along the narrow shelf like
roads ON the sides Of the canyon,
with Il view of the sharp drop Of
hundreds of feet at the further
. edge Of the roadway. The burros
are sure footed animals, however
one lady in the party. Dr. BIann re
ported. was 50 thrilled on the down
ward trip that she had to be blind
folded to make tho upward climb.
The members Of the Elks' party
stopped at Pueblo. COL. where about
ten days previous the floods had
been dong great damage. They could
, see where houses had fioated down
the street. AT the station restaurant
there was (; mark : IL feet high on
. the wall where the water had reach
cd during the food. The streets
were covered wit sediment washed
there by the food tides.
The New England EIks were gone
IS days from Boston. The trips to
and from California We're made on
special express trains. From Cleve-
land TO California Il noticeable fea-
t1lrc of the travel were the oil burn
ing engines. All along the trip the
party WAS met by other Elks and
were entertained by them At the
various stops lunches were served by
lIjks to their brothers headed for
the convention. The ladies in the
Marty were also presented with large
bouquets of flowers. There were
about 1900 Elks at the convention
which was held in the big municipal
auditorium, and it was estimated
mat there were about 100000 EIks
in Los Angeles during the days OF
he sessions.
With the closing Monday of the
state ~ Boys Camp at Lake Cob