Part 1
Nine Thousand Miles On A Pullman Train
AN ACCOUNT OF A Tour of Railroad Conductors
FROM PHILADELPHIA TO THE PACIFIC COAST AND RETURN
By M. M. SHAW
PHILADELPHIA ALLEN, LANE & SCOTT, PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS Nos. 1211-13 Clover Street 1898
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1898, BY M. M. SHAW, In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
TO THE TRUE AND LOYAL WOMEN OF OUR PARTY, THE BELOVED AND CHERISHED COMPANIONS OF OUR HEARTHS AND HOMES, THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED.
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS.
M. M. Shaw Frontispiece.
George W. Boyd, Assistant General Passenger Agent, Pennsylvania Railroad Face page 6
Broad Street Station, Philadelphia “ 12
A Pullman Dining Car “ 16
C. E. Wyman, Chairman of the Committee “ 18
A Pullman Sleeping Car “ 22
Sang Hollow on the Conemaugh, Pennsylvania Railroad “ 28
At Effingham, Illinois “ 34
Leaving Longview Junction, Texas “ 34
At Fort Worth, Texas “ 36
O. H. Bacon, Conductor Texas and Pacific Railway “ 38
A Group at Van Horn, Texas “ 40
Tom McDonald and Fred Beach “ 40
Myrtle Taylor on a Bronco “ 42
Residence of Jacob Hand, Sierra Blanca, Texas “ 42
Flooded District, Alfalfa, Texas “ 52
Wrecked by Train Robbers on Southern Pacific Railway “ 52
William J. Maxwell, of the Committee “ 56
Col. Si Ryan “ 60
Arizona Landscape “ 66
“Yuma Bill,” Indian Chief at Yuma, over 100 years old “ 66
The California Poppy “ 68
A Cluster of Navel Oranges, California “ 72
Winter in Southern California “ 74
Brookside Avenue, Redlands, California “ 76
San Gabriel Mission, California “ 78
Giant Palms on the road to San Gabriel “ 78
An Avenue in Pasadena, California “ 80
Great Cable Incline, Mt. Lowe Railway “ 82
Echo Mountain House and Car on the 48 Per Cent. Grade, Mt. Lowe Railway “ 84
Mt. Lowe Railway, California “ 86
Circular Bridge, Mt. Lowe Railway, California “ 88
Ye Alpine Tavern, Mt. Lowe, California “ 90
T. S. C. Lowe “ 92
George W. Brown, of the Committee “ 98
New Cliff House and Seal Rocks, San Francisco, Cal. “ 102
Parapet, Sutro Heights, San Francisco, Cal. “ 104
John H. Reagan, of the Committee Face page 112
Hercules’ Pillars, Columbia River, Oregon “ 120
The Columbia River “ 124
J. P. O’Brien, Superintendent Rail Lines, Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company “ 126
Mt. Adams, Washington “ 128
Mt. St. Helens, from Portland, Oregon “ 128
Multnomah Falls, Oregon “ 130
Along the Columbia River “ 132
C Street, Tacoma, Washington “ 134
Bridge, Point Defiance Park, Tacoma, Washington “ 134
Latourelle Falls, Oregon “ 136
The Hobo Passenger “ 138
Crossing Columbia River on the Tacoma” “ 138
Elevator A, Tacoma, Washington “ 140
Shore of Lake Pend d’Oreille at Hope, Idaho “ 140
Spokane Falls, Spokane, Washington “ 142
Spokane, Washington “ 142
W. B. Hale, Conductor Northern Pacific Railway “ 144
“Dan,” Salt Lake City Railroad Station, Utah “ 154
Grave of Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, Utah “ 154
The Mormon Temple and Square, Salt Lake City, Utah “ 160
Chas. E. Hooper, of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad “ 166
Bathing Pool at Glenwood Springs, Colorado “ 168
In the Pool at Glenwood Springs “ 168
Waiter W. Terry, of the Committee “ 174
Colonel and Mrs. Mitchell at Marshall Pass “ 178
The “Committee” at Marshall Pass “ 178
The Royal Gorge and the Hanging Bridge, Grand Cañon of the Arkansas “ 182
Ascent of Pike’s Peak by Manitou and Pike’s Peak Railroad (cog wheel) “ 184
Gateway to the Garden of the Gods, Colorado; Pike’s Peak in the Distance “ 186
On Pike’s Peak--Altitude, 14,147 feet “ 188
Bride and Groom at Balance Rock, Garden of the Gods, Colorado “ 190
Manitou Springs, Colorado “ 192
Bachelors and Burros in the Garden of the Gods “ 196
Who are we? Who are we? P. P. C.! Cooks, Waiters, and Porters of the O. R. C.!” “ 202
The “232.” McCook, Nebraska “ 202
INTRODUCTION.
The writer is not sure that this work will give satisfaction to his many friends who have asked for it; the experience of one is not the experience of all, and many incidents will be remembered, undoubtedly, by different members of the party that are not mentioned in these pages, from the fact that they are unknown to the narrator, not having come under his observation. The difficulty lies in producing an account of our trip from personal notes that will meet the expectation of all. The chief object of this book is to furnish interesting information relative to the party’s whereabouts from day to day, giving the names of many kind friends who did so much toward making our journey an interesting and happy one, and who will ever be remembered with feelings of the highest regard by each member of the party. The writer has no apology to offer to critics. Geographical inaccuracies and grammatical inconsistencies can either be accepted or overlooked, at the pleasure of the reader, whom the author hopes will be charitable enough to believe that he believes what he has written, whether it is true or not.
Shortly after the meeting of the twenty-fifth session of the Grand Division of the Order of Railway Conductors at Atlanta, Ga., in May, 1895, a few of the Pennsylvania Railroad conductors running into Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, got together and started a movement toward the organization of a party to visit the twenty-sixth session, in Los Angeles, Cal., in May, 1897. Mr. Chas. E. Wyman was chosen president and manager and Mr. Wm. J. Maxwell secretary and treasurer of the club. It was known as the _Pennsylvania Railroad Conductors’ Excursion_. Meetings were held from time to time to complete the organization, formulate plans, and perfect arrangements, and George H. Holgate, Esq., president of the Association of American Inventors, kindly gave the use of his large, comfortable office in the Betz Building, on Broad Street, Philadelphia, for this purpose. A friend of Manager Wyman designed an unique and handsome card, which was submitted to Stephen Greene, Esq., who lithographed and printed several thousand and generously presented them to the excursion. The committee called at the clothing establishment of Wanamaker & Brown, Sixth and Market Streets, to purchase tourist caps for use of the party on the trip, and were liberally provided with all they wanted, free of cost, by the kind and generous members of the firm. The officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad looked with favor upon the scheme, and it was largely due to their kindly efforts and influence that the excursion was such a grand success. Mr. George W. Boyd, Assistant General Passenger Agent, interested himself greatly in our trip, and under his direction the Tourist Department outlined and arranged the itinerary, which was printed in neat form and presented to the party by Allen, Lane & Scott. This itinerary is published in these pages in its original form, and while the route was adhered to it will be noticed we ran about three days late, delayed by a washout east of El Paso.
Many of the illustrations in this book were prepared from photographs taken by members of the party, also from photographs kindly presented to the author by Prof. T. S. C. Lowe. We are also indebted to the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, Northern Pacific Railway Company, and Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Company for illustrations of scenery along their lines.
Our treatment by officers of the Pullman Company was extremely satisfactory, their generosity being highly appreciated. To one and all of these gentlemen who so kindly contributed toward our happiness and pleasure the Pennsylvania Railroad Conductors’ Excursion gives, through the writer, a rousing vote of thanks.
M. M. S.
DETAILED TIME-TABLE AND CONDENSED
ITINERARY
OF THE
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD CONDUCTORS’ TOUR TO THE GOLDEN GATE.
Miles SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1897. from Philad’a. Via Pennsylvania Railroad. Lv. Philadelphia, Pa. (_Eastern time_) 10.30 A.M. 354 Ar. Pittsburgh, Pa. “ 8.15 P.M. “ Pittsburgh, Pa. (_Central time_) 7.15 “ Via Pennsylvania Lines. Lv. Pittsburgh, Pa. “ 7.30 “
SUNDAY, MAY 9, 1897.
Via Pennsylvania Lines. 728 Ar. Indianapolis, Ind. (_Central time_) 7.00 A.M. Via Vandalia Line. Lv. Indianapolis, Ind. “ 7.10 “ 968 Ar. St. Louis, Mo. “ 1.40 P.M. Via St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway. Lv. St. Louis, Mo. (_Central time_) 8.15 “
MONDAY, MAY 10, 1897.
Via St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railway. 1313 Ar. Little Rock, Ark. (_Central time_) 7.10 A. M. 1458 “ Texarkana, Tex. “ 12.35 P.M. Via Texas & Pacific Railway. Lv. Texarkana, Tex. “ 1.05 “ 1711 Ar. Fort Worth, Tex. “ 9.24 “
TUESDAY, MAY 11, 1897.
Via Texas & Pacific Railway. 2326 Ar. El Paso, Tex. (_Central time_) 9.25 “ (At El Paso Central time changes to Pacific time, two hours slower.)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1897.
Via Southern Pacific Company.
Lv. El Paso, Tex. (_Pacific time_) 8.00 A.M. 2414 Ar. Deming, N. M. “ 11.00 “ 2638 “ Tucson, N. M. “ 7.00 P.M.
THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1897.
Via Southern Pacific Company.
3008 Ar. Indio, Cal. (_Pacific time_) 7.00 A.M. 3138 “ Los Angeles, Cal. “ 12.00 NOON. Train to be sidetracked for occupancy.
MONDAY, MAY 17, 1897.
Via Southern Pacific Company. 3138 Lv. Los Angeles, Cal. (_Pacific time_) 2.00 P.M.
TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1897.
Via Southern Pacific Company. 3585 Ar. San Francisco, Cal. (_Pacific time_) 10.00 A.M.
THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1897.
Via Southern Pacific Company. Lv. San Francisco, Cal. (_Pacific time_) 7.00 P.M.
SATURDAY, MAY 22, 1897.
Via Southern Pacific Company. 4357 Ar. Portland, Ore. (_Pacific time_) 7.00 A.M. Train to be sidetracked for occupancy.
SUNDAY, MAY 23, 1897.
Via Northern Pacific Railway. Lv. Portland, Ore. (_Pacific time_) 8.45 A.M. 4501 Ar. Tacoma, Wash. “ 2.00 P.M. Train to be sidetracked for occupancy. Lv. Tacoma, Wash. “ 10.30 “ (At Hope Pacific time changes to Mountain time, one hour faster.) Stop at Spokane two hours.
TUESDAY, MAY 25, 1897.
Via Northern Pacific Railway. 5283 Ar. Helena, Mont. (_Mountain time_) 7.00 A.M.
Via Great Northern Railway.
Lv. Helena, Mont. (_Mountain time_) 12.00 NOON. 5355 Ar. Butte, Mont. “ 3.00 P.M. Train to be sidetracked for occupancy. Via Montana Union Railway. Lv. Butte, Mont. “ 10.00 “ 5362 Ar. Silver Bow, Mont. “ 10.20 “ Via Oregon Short Line Railroad. Lv. Silver Bow, Mont. (_Mountain time_) 10.30 “
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1897.
Via Ogden Short Line Railroad. 5752 Ar. Ogden, Utah (_Mountain time_) 11.00 A.M. Via Rio Grande Western Railway. Lv. Ogden, Utah (_Mountain time_) 11.00 “ 5789 Ar. Salt Lake City, Utah “ 12.00 NOON. Train to be sidetracked for occupancy.
THURSDAY, MAY 27, 1897.
Via Rio Grande Western Railway. Lv. Salt Lake City, Utah (_Mountain time_) 9.00 P.M.
FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1897.
6080 Ar. Grand Junction, Col. (_Mountain time_) 8.30 A.M. Via Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Lv. Grand Junction, Col. (_Mountain time_) 9.00 “ 6169 Ar. Glenwood Springs, Col. “ 12.00 NOON. Lv. Glenwood Springs, Col. “ 2.00 P.M. Ar. Minturn, Col. “ 4.10 “ “ Leadville, Col. “ 6.00 “ Lv. Leadville, Col. “ 6.40 “ 6319 Ar. Salida, Col. “ 8.30 “
SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1897.
Via Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. By D. & R. G. special train. Lv. Salida, Col. (_Mountain time_) 8.00 A.M. Ar. Marshall Pass, Col. “ 9.40 “ Lv. Marshall Pass, Col. “ 10.20 “ 6369 Ar. Salida, Col. “ 12.00 NOON. Lv. Salida, Col. “ 1.00 P.M. Ar. Royal Gorge, Col. “ 2.45 “ 6511 “ Colorado Springs, Col. “ 6.00 “ Train to be sidetracked for occupancy.
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 1897.
At Colorado Springs and Manitou.
MONDAY, MAY 31, 1897.
Via Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Lv. Colorado Springs, Col. (_Mountain time_) 2.00 A.M. 6586 Ar. Denver, Col. “ 6.00 “ Train to be sidetracked for occupancy.
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1897.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1897.
At Denver.
THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1897.
Via Burlington Route. Lv. Denver, Col. (_Mountain time_) 12.01 A.M. (At McCook, Neb., Mountain time changes to Central time, one hour faster.) Ar. Lincoln, Neb. (_Central time_) 3.05 “ 7124 “ Omaha, Neb. “ 5.00 P.M. Lv. Omaha, Neb. “ 6.30 “
FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1897.
Via Burlington Route. 7632 Ar. Chicago, Ill. (_Central time_) 9.15 A.M. Via Pennsylvania Lines. Lv. Chicago, Ill. “ 5.40 P.M.
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1897.
Via Pennsylvania Lines. 8100 Ar. Pittsburg, Pa. (_Central time_) 6.10 A.M. “ Pittsburg, Pa. (_Eastern time_) 7.10 “ Via Pennsylvania Railroad. Lv. Pittsburg, Pa. “ 7.15 “ 8454 “ Philadelphia, Pa. “ 4.20 P.M.
LIST OF PASSENGERS.
MR. G. W. BROWN Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. G. W. BROWN “ MR. P. J. BARRETT Bristol, Pa. MISS ANNA S. BARRETT “ MR. J. N. CLIMENSON Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. J. N. CLIMENSON “ MR. I. M. COHEE “ MRS. I. M. COHEE “ MR. J. B. CRISPEN Renovo, Pa. MR. JAMES DOUGHERTY Trenton, N.J. MRS. J. DOUGHERTY “ MR. T. J. DENNISTON Jersey City, N. J. MR. G. W. DALE Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. G. W. DALE “ MR. R. T. ELDER “ MRS. R. T. ELDER “ MR. R. J. FOULON “ MRS. R. J. FOULON “ MR. C. E. FOSTER “ MRS. C. E. FOSTER “ MR. J. W. GOFF Camden, N. J. MRS. J. W. GOFF “ MR. T. B. GILLILAND Harrisburg, Pa. MRS. T. B. GILLILAND “ MR. M. M. HOUSTON Norristown, Pa. MRS. M. M. HOUSTON “ MR. W. A. HAAS Allegheny City, Pa. MR. H. R. HAEFNER Columbia, Pa. MRS. H. R. HAEFNER “ MR. S. W. HORNER Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. S. W. HORNER “ MR. S. N. KILGORE “ MRS. S. N. KILGORE “ MR. T. J. MCKERNAN Jersey City, N. J. MRS. T. J. MCKERNAN “ MR. E. A. KALKMAN Baltimore, Md. MRS. E. A. KALKMAN “ MR. HUGH LEARY Norristown, Pa. MRS. HUGH LEARY “ MR. J. T. LAYFIELD Wilmington, Del. MRS. J. T. LAYFIELD “ MR. J. M. MATTHEWS Norristown, Pa. MRS. J. M. MATTHEWS “ MR. W. J. MAXWELL Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. W. J. MAXWELL “ MR. J. H. MOORE Manasquan, N. J. MRS. J. H. MOORE “ MR. C. J. MCCARTY Columbia, Pa. MR. C. R. MATTSON, M.D. Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. C. R. MATTSON “ MR. W. H. MORRIS Wilmington, Del. MRS. W. H. MORRIS “ MR. ROLAND MITCHELL Baltimore, Md. MRS. ROLAND MITCHELL “ MR. W. H. POST Philadelphia, Pa. MISS ELLA L. POST “ MR. J. A. REILLY “ MRS. J. A. REILLY “ MR. J. H. REAGAN “ MR. J. J. RESTEIN Delmar, Del. MR. C. L. SPRINGER Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. C. L. SPRINGER “ MR. L. E. SHEPPARD Camden, N. J. MRS. L. E. SHEPPARD “ MR. M. M. SHAW West Chester, Pa. MRS. M. M. SHAW “ MR. C. H. SLOANE Philadelphia, Pa. MR. J. G. SCHULER Pittsburgh, Pa. MR. C. F. SMITH York, Pa. MRS. C. F. SMITH “ MR. D. R. SPARKS Camden, N. J. MRS. D. R. SPARKS “ MR. W. W. TERRY Philadelphia, Pa. MRS. W. W. TERRY “ MR. H. H. TAYLOR Trenton, N. J. MR. C. E. WADDINGTON Philadelphia, Pa. MR. OSCAR WILLIAMS “ MR. C. E. WYMAN Moores, Pa. MRS. C. E. WYMAN “ MR. H. L. WILSON Glassboro, N. J. MRS. H. L. WILSON “
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
C. E. WYMAN, _President and Manager_. WM. J. MAXWELL, _Secretary and Treasurer_.
GEORGE W. BROWN, JOHN H. REAGAN, WALTER W. TERRY.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD CONDUCTORS’ EXCURSION TO CALIFORNIA.
SATURDAY, MAY 8th, 1897.
The hands on the large clock that denotes the standard time in the great corridor of Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, point to the hour 10 A. M.; an unusual commotion is noticed in the mammoth train shed, which in any hour of the day or night is filled with trains loading and discharging their cargoes of human freight, ever presenting a scene of hustling, bustling activity. The unusual commotion referred to is caused by the departure of the _Pennsylvania Railroad Conductors’ Excursion to California_. Fully one thousand friends and relatives have gathered on the extensive train platform to see them off; thirty minutes of promiscuous kissing, hugging, tears, smiles, hand shaking, and good-byes, then “all aboard,” and at 10.30 A. M. the five-car vestibule train rolls out over the elevated tracks bound for a journey of 9,000 miles. The notebook crank and the kodak fiend are aboard, and it is hoped that it will not be regretted that they have come. The kodak fiends are Bros. Ed. Foster, Joe Ristein, and Billy Haas, who succeed in getting some very good snaps at the train before starting, and the Lord only knows what else was snapped at, for the snapping was kept up almost continually for the next thirty-one days. The notebook crank is the writer, who, with the ever-present notebook in hand, starts in after the train starts to make an inventory of the outfit.
The first person encountered is the good-looking and gentlemanly train conductor, W. E. Bostick, who volunteers the information that the train is running as second No. 25 over the Philadelphia Division, Philadelphia to Harrisburg; that it gives him great pleasure to run the train, for he considers it a mark of honor. We are drawn by P. R. R. engine No. 31, in charge of Engineer J. Stroh, and fired by C. B. Lewis. Next to the engine is parlor combined car No. 4808, with baggage end loaded with sixty-two pieces of baggage, two barrels, and thirty-two cases of nourishment, in charge of George H. Anderson, the colored janitor of the conductors’ room in Broad Street Station, Philadelphia, who, because of his well-known character for faithfulness, honesty, and good nature, is taken along, and placed in the responsible position of baggage master and general cork extractor. The smoking end of the car is furnished with twelve movable parlor chairs and two tables, and the floor is covered with Brussels carpet. The Pullman dining car “Lafayette,” in charge of Dining-car Conductor Mr. Tom McDonald, comes next.
Introducing myself to Mr. McDonald, I find him a very agreeable gentleman, who kindly gives me what information I want, also a bill of fare. The latter makes my mouth water in anticipation of what I may expect when the dinner hour arrives. This is what with keen appreciation and fast increasing appetite I read:--
ORDER OF RAILWAY CONDUCTORS’ SPECIAL.
_EN ROUTE_ TO LOS ANGELES AND RETURN.
PULLMAN DINING CAR SERVICE.
May 8th, 1897.
DINNER.