A Trip to the Rockies

by B. R. Corwin

The ever-watchful reporter was on hand, and the following description from the Brooklyn Standard-Union was a very good report of our car and company as we left Jersey City, September 23d.

“A large party of Brooklynites crossed Fulton Ferry early this morning, most of the men carrying gripsacks and the ladies satchels. It was evidently a party of tourists; and the wide-awake wage-workers, who were crossing the ferry at the same time, recognizing some of the best-known people of the ‘City of Churches’ in the party, wondered what was going on. They dismissed the subject from their minds eventually, arriving at the conclusion that they were a small party off on a little pleasure trip. In one respect they were right. The party was off on a pleasure trip, but it was not a little one. In fact it was a very large one, and the Standard-Union reporter learned all the particulars. He ascertained that the American Bankers’ Association hold their annual convention at Kansas City on Wednesday and Thursday next, and the party who started from Brooklyn were bound for there. Among the party were Ben Blanchard, President of the Empire Loan and Trust Company, of Hutchinson, Kan.; Hon. Darwin R. James and Mrs. James; Hon. John Jay Knox, President Bank of the Republic, late Comptroller U. S. Currency, accompanied by his two daughters, Miss Carrie and Miss Bessie Knox; Edward Merritt, President Long Island Loan and Trust Company, and Mrs. Merritt; Hon. D. O. Bradley, President Tarrytown National Bank, and Mrs. Bradley; Capt. Ambrose Snow, President New York Board of Trade; Frank W. Shaw, M.D.; Crowell Hadden, President Long Island Bank, and Mrs. Hadden; Miss Louise I. Shannon, Miss Jeanie S. Corwin, Miss Jennie S. Brush; Major B. R. Corwin, Eastern Manager Empire Loan and Trust Co., and Mrs. Corwin, and others.

“They went in Mr. Blanchard’s special car, the Dalmatia, which was attached to the fast express of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The elegant car was most magnificently decorated with silk flags and flowers, and every possible provision was made for not only the comfort but royal entertainment of the tourists. An excellent library, beautiful portfolios, dainty note-books bound in Russian leather, checkers, chess, dominos, and other games, and in fact every thing that could possibly be thought of to fan the leaden wings of time, were placed at the disposal of the party. One of the sets of dominos that were in the car was made of genuine shell pearl, and is the costliest set in the country. They are the property of Mr. Blanchard, and have accompanied him on thousands of miles of journeys. The flag decoration of the car was done by Fred Aldridge, of this city, and the floral decorations by Florist Weir, of Clinton Street. The party left Jersey City at 9 o’clock this morning, expecting to arrive at St. Louis Tuesday evening, and Kansas City Wednesday morning.”

As our party entered the “Dalmatia” there were expressions of delight from all. It was a perfect bower of roses. We laid aside our wraps, had a moment to say good-bye to friends and then our train rolled out of the depot and rushed on westward bound.

We were very much disappointed that E. H. Pullen, Esq., Cashier of the Bank of the Republic, and Mrs. Pullen could not go with us,—we could not have both the president and chief executive officer. We would have included Asst. Cashier Stout if possible. James P. Stearns, Esq., Cashier of the Shawmut National Bank of Boston, and Mrs. Stearns, and John A. Nexsen, Esq., Cashier of the Fulton Bank of Brooklyn, and Mrs. Nexsen, General C. T. Christensen and Mrs. Christensen, Wm. H. Hazzard, Esq., President of the Fulton Bank of Brooklyn, and Mrs. Hazzard, and Mark W. Stevens, Esq., President of the Schoharie County Bank, and Mrs. Stevens, were among the invited guests, and were detained by circumstances that could not be controlled.

The day was beautiful. Our party were charmed with their surroundings. The morning hours vanished all too soon, and lunch was announced. It was our first introduction to the cuisine of the “Dalmatia,” and one that will not soon be forgotten. Speeding along at sixty miles an hour, seated in a luxuriantly appointed vestibuled Pullman palace car, surrounded by a party of congenial friends, enjoying a lunch second to none, is an experience peculiarly well fitted to make one in good humor with himself and all the world.

At Philadelphia the railroad officials met us at the depot to see if any thing had been forgotten that would add to our comfort.

The afternoon flew away from us fully as fast as we were flying from New York. Dinner was called. Such a dinner! We spent over two hours enjoying it, and only stopped to take a view of the ruins of Johnstown. It was dark, but the electric lights and the many torches of the workmen gave us a weird view of the desolation never to be forgotten. We crossed the Stone Bridge of dreadful memories safely, and soon after retired to our comfortable sleeping apartments, and slept soundly while we continued our journey at undiminished speed.

At Indianapolis we were met by the General Passenger Agent of the Bee Line, who extended to us every courtesy. After holding the train nearly an hour for us, that we might get a glimpse of Indiana’s capital, he gave us a rapid run to Terre Haute at a mile a minute gait. After a beautiful day we ran into a heavy shower just as the lights of St. Louis came into view across the Father of Waters. After crossing the wonderful structure over the Mississippi, second only to the Brooklyn bridge, we rolled into the St. Louis Union Depot exactly on time. “What crowds of people!” was the exclamation from each of our party. The General Agent of the Missouri Pacific Railroad came with us from Indianapolis and had our car attached at once to the fast express on this favorite line to Kansas City. After a second night’s refreshing sleep, morning found us steaming into the city five minutes ahead of time.

We were to attend the convention of the American Bankers’ Association. At the depot we were met by the committee, ex-Governor Crittenden, and leading bankers. The convention was large, and its discussions were interesting.