TUESDAY, JUNE 8th.
Getting up this morning about 5.30, I find we are approaching Allegheny City. It is a wet, foggy morning, and the Ohio River, in sight of which we are running, is high and muddy. We had changed engines at Crestline during the night, and now have P. Ft. W. & C. engine No. 288, Engineer Geo. Hood, Fireman F. Eberly, Conductor E. W. Davis, Brakemen E. W. Simpson and J. W. Syms, who take us into Pittsburgh, a run of 188 miles. When we stop in Allegheny City at six o’clock quite a number are astir to bid Brother Haas adieu; five minutes later we stop in Pittsburgh and part with Brother Schuler. Brother Sloane also leaves us here, as he has business to transact in the “Smoky City” before coming East.
Time changes here from Central to Eastern, one hour later, and we leave Pittsburgh at 7.17 A. M. with P. R. R. engine 1631, with Engineer M. Daily and Fireman S. K. Dobson in the cab. Our conductor is N. E. Garber and Brakemen W. J. Maxwell and Frank Dick. This crew runs us to Altoona, a distance of 117 miles, where we arrive at 10.35. After a delay of five minutes in changing engines we start on our way again with P. R. R. engine 646, in charge of Engineer H. Funk and Fireman E. Wilson. J. R. Bockus is conducting the train, whose brakemen are G. H. Free and G. W. Miller. Our train stops at Tyrone, 15 miles east of Altoona, to allow Brother and Mrs. Matthews to get off. They are obliged to leave us at this point, for they had left their little four-year-old daughter here in the care of relatives until their return and are longing to clasp Baby Ellie once more in their arms. This is a busy day with the members of the party and an interesting one for the porters. In a neat and characteristic speech Brother Reagan, in behalf of the lady occupants of the “Marco,” presents Dennis Jackson with a substantial token of their appreciation of his kindness and courtesy toward them during the trip, they always finding him ready and willing to obey and oblige; and Dennis deserves their generous remembrance. Brother Sheppard, in behalf of the occupants of the “Milton,” holds up Dick Pettus in the same manner and for the same purpose, and presents him with a generous token of their regard. Physically Dick is a giant, and all who know him will testify that he is as good-natured and kind as he is big and strong. The residents of “Hogan’s Alley” (“Orchis”) surround George Custis, while Brother Denniston in an eloquent speech tells him how good he is and how his goodness has been appreciated by the restive but good-natured and harmless inhabitants of this noted quarter, who desire to show their regard for the service he has rendered them by giving him a token of remembrance. George is worthy of their generosity, and quietly accepts the donation, saying to me as I pass him, “I often thought of the warning you gave me the day we started out.”
Arriving in Harrisburg at 1.37 P. M. we bid adieu to Brothers Gilliland, Haefner, Smith, and their wives, also Brother McCarty, who leave us at this point, and changing engines for the last time we proceed on our way again with P. R. R. engine 296, Engineer H. B. Humphreys, Fireman J. Mahan, Conductor Dan. Harvey, Brakeman George Wilson. We are met in Harrisburg by a delegation from Philadelphia, composed of the following-named gentlemen, who constitute a Welcome Home Committee: Brothers John Mooney, Budd Roulon, George Stultz, Tony Hughes, Frank Vandyke, of West Philadelphia Division 162; J. Kelly and J. P. Anchor, of Camden Division 170; Trainmaster J. Thompson, Operator C. Devinney, and Baggagemaster Ed. Lynch, who accompany us to Philadelphia. They present each one of our party with a very pretty little white badge bearing the initials “O. R. C.” in monogram and the inscription “Welcome Home” in golden letters. We have a number of badges and innumerable souvenirs that have been gathered on the trip, but not one among them all will be more highly prized than the little “Welcome Home” badge that bears silent but eloquent testimony to the deep fraternal sentiment that rejoices in our safe arrival home.
We have had a most wonderful trip; have traveled almost 9000 miles; no one has been injured and no one seriously sick. A prairie dog and a jack rabbit, so far as we can learn, are the only victims that met death by our train. We have crossed eighteen States and Territories, encountered no train robbers, experienced no wrecks, not having on a car during all our journey so much as a hot box or flat wheel.
Brother Layfield has been diligently obtaining punch cuts of the conductors he has met en route, and succeeded in obtaining forty-eight. Had they all been equipped with their punch that he met he would have had many more. The Colonel has been collecting punch marks for several years, and now has three hundred and fifty, nicely arranged in an album designed for the purpose. We are pained to learn that Brother Charles Larue, of Camden Division 170, was thrown off his train yesterday and badly injured. He is a member of the Welcome Home Committee and had intended to accompany the rest to Harrisburg to meet us.
Our train rolls into Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, at 4.20 P. M., and we are warmly greeted by many friends who have gathered in the great train shed to welcome us home. From the station we are escorted to Odd Fellows’ Temple, Broad and Cherry Streets, by the Reception Committee, representing West Philadelphia Division 162, Quaker City Division 204, Camden Division 170, and Wilmington Division 224. Brother J. H. Mooney, of Division 162, calls the meeting to order and in a neat little speech welcomes the excursionists home. Fine music is rendered by the Philharmonic Quintet, composed of the following gentlemen: Ed. Volmer, J. R. Whitely, Sol. Ecksteine, Chas. Genso, and Robert Crawford, ably led by Prof. Jo. Allen. Brothers Wyman, Sheppard, and Shaw are called upon for remarks relative to the trip, and they respond with short addresses. Songs and recitations are given by J. Conlin and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes, and the guests then repair to the basement banquet hall, where refreshments are served. At 7.30 the meeting adjourns, adieus are spoken, and we go to our several homes, feeling that we have had an extraordinary picnic in the thirty-two days of our outing, and hoping to meet again at the first anniversary of the Golden Gate Club one year hence.
[THE END.]
| Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber: |
|---|
| give satistion=> give satisfaction {pg 3} |
| in these mighty hils=> in these mighty hills {pg 122} |
| Hank claims=> Hanks claims {pg 151} |
| will ever forget out trip=> will ever forget our trip {pg 158} |
| laughter could be hear=> laughter could be heard {pg 169} |