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} |