PULLMAN PACIFIC ©

  

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Vol. 1.

Omaha, Neb... May 26, 1870.

 

 

 

 

Ghe Grans-Continental,
Published Daily on the Pullman Hotel Express,
Between
Boston and San Mrancisco.

W. R. STEELER, Editor.

CHICAGO'S WELCOME.

 

It was supposed when our excursion-
ists started upon their grand jaunt from
the Atlantic to the Pacific that no stops
except for wood and water would be
made before reaching Omaha. As the
train approached the State of Illinois,
however, the Chicago Board of Trade of
Chicago, which numbers many warm
friends of Boston among its members,
were, with that spirit of generous hospi-
tality which characterizes them, on the
alert to devise some means to greet their
friends in a fitting manner on arrival.
Telegrams flew back and forth between
old friends who had met at the different
commercial conventions, and the offi-
cers of the Board of Trade and the execu-
tive committee of the excursionists ; the
despatches to the latter urged a stopofa
day or two in Chicago, and the Board
were anxious to meet their eastern con-
temporaries, and also that they should
have an opportunity of witnessing the
march of progress that has been made
of late years in the Queen of the West,
in which eastern capital has played an
important part. It was found, however,
that the longest stop that could possibly
be made was to pass Tuesday night at
Chicago, leaving at noon the next day,
which course was accordingly deter-
mined upon, although urgent solicita-
tions were made by our Chicago friends
to prolong the visit.

When the train reached Michigan
City, about two hours’ ride from Chicago,
it was met bya special train, bearing

 

S. H. McCrea, Pres.; Charles Bardolph,
Secy.; and about thirty members of the
Chicago Board of Trade.

Hearty greetings of old acquaintances
took place, and the party were straight-
way marshalled into the first car, where
all were formally presented to Hon.
Alex. H. Rice, President of our Excur-
sion party, H. A. Hill, Esq., Secretary of
the Board of Trade, Mr. Kinsley, Col.
Denny, Capt. J. W. Bliss, Hon. J. B.
Brown, and others. Mr. McCrea, in an
eloquent and spirited speech, welcomed
our party, and extended, on behalf of
the Chicago Board of Trade, an invita-
tion to pass the night and breakfast, and
the following morning to take a ride
over the city in carriages, which would
be provided for the party, taking occa~
sion, in his remarks, to pay many hand-
some compliments to the ‘Hub and its
representatives.” Mr. Randolph, Sec. of
the Board, followed, giving the details of
arrangements that had been made, &ec,
Hon. A. H. Rice, in response, expressed
the gratification experienced by the
party at the courtesy extendeu, accept-
ing them in afew well-chosen remarks
gracefully expressed. On reaching Chi-
eago our Excursionists found carriages
in waiting, and were quickly whirled
up to the Sherman and Tremont Houses,
and after a good night’s rest and break-
fast, found their attentive friends at
the door of their hotels with carriages,
in which they were driven over the city
and through many of its attractive and
beautiful avenues, parting with many
regrets, at noon, for the continuance of
their journey to the far West.

The arrangements, although necessar-
ily very hasty, were completely carried
out, and this pause to our flight has
been a most pleasant episode in a thus
far more agreeable and delightful excur-
sion. The attentive courtesies of the
Chicago Board will certainly strengthen

those bonds of friendship which already

closely united the “Queen City of the

West ’ and the ‘‘ City of Notions.”
$$ —__—_

CURIOUS FREAK.

 

When near the crossing of the Grand
Trunk Railway, west of Detroit, a crazy
man juinped upon the platform of the
ear St. Cloud, while the train was in
rapid motion, a thing a sane person
could hardly have done, and pulled the
bell, which signalizes the engineer to
stop the train. He then jumped upon a
brake, and thence bounded upon the
top of the cars. He then commenced to
throw off his coat and vest, and to de-
claim in the wildest manner, imagining
himself in command of a Fenian army.
By this time the train had stopped, a
ladder was procured, and after some
effort, he was taken down and secured
by several men, who put a straight.

jacket upon him. He was being taken
to a mad house, and seeing our train

 

going past, by a desperate effort he es-
caped and jumped upon it.

——_—_—¢ep>—

At Detroit, George F. Bagley, Esq.,
Ex-President of the Detroit Board of
Trade, met our party and accompanied
us to Chicago, as a delegate from that
body to escort us through the State of
Michigan. While presenting their salu-
tations and welcome, he expressed a
strong desire to have us visit their city
on our return, when we shall have more
time and opportunity to inspect its won-
derful growth.

+ op

—Those of our party who keep their
watches running on Boston time will
find them three hours and twenty-eight
minutes too fast on reaching San Fran-
cisco, as in going west we change our
apparent time one minute for every
fifteen miles of longitude traversed.