Etching by Jordan Murray

Rock Island Advertiser

In 1854, when the Excursionists came to Rock Island they probably found two newspapers in the city, the "Republican" and the "Advertiser". Both papers were politically biased, the Republican (democratic) and the Advertiser (Whig or Republican). The Rock Island Republican was started by F.S. Nichols and J.W. Dunham in October of 1851. Mr. Nichols eventually bought out his partner and then changed the name to the Argus. because a political party had assumed the name Republican. The Rock Island Republican officially changed its name to the Rock Island Argus in 1855.

In 1847, the Rock Island Advertiser came into the "possession" of Francis Benner but was sold to T. Raymond and O.P. Wharton. The Advertiser became the Tri Weekly Advertiser on December 3, 1853 and changed to the Daily Advertiser on September 13, 1855. The Advertiser sold out in 1857 as a tri weekly .but the daily newspaper, although it was printed in Davenport, Iowa, went out of business a year later, in 1858 due to lack of patronage. In May three years earlier, another daily, the Rock Islander, gradually assumed the "Advertiser's" market but merged into the Argus on September 6,1857. The Rock Island Argus continues to this day.

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Microfilm of the Rock Island Advertiser is available from the Illinois State Historic Library. The following transcription is by Jordan H. Murray, based on a photocopy also by Jordan H. Murray.

Tuesday Morning, June 6, 1854

The Excursion

The parties composing the great pleasure excursion given by the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad Company, arrived in this city last evening in two trains of eight cars each, with banners flying. A large crowd awaited them at the depot expecting "to see the lions" who were somewhat chary about exhibiting themselves considering the mud and rain of the occasion.

The five elegant steamers, Golden Era, Sparhawk, Lady Franklin, War Eagle, and Galena, were duly at the levee, with bands playing, steam whistling, and everybody else trying to make the occasion as joyous and noisy as possible. There was no necessity for much trial either, for the sight was enough to make a spontaneous feeling of exhilaration burst forth from every one who witnessed it. Such a sight and occasion has never been known in the west, before.-- There was the representation of millions on millions of dollars of capital--men who had furnished the funds to build the railroad, looking upon the production their money had achieved, and no doubt feeling proud that it had been so gloriously accomplished. There were five as gallant steamers as ever floated on any waters, anxiously awaiting their living freight, and restless to bear on to view the inner glories of our western world. There was the Great River so newly wedded to the Atlantic, rolling on the majesty of thousands of years and looking as placidly beautiful, and mighty to bear his burden of life as when the awe-stricken son of the forest first looked upon the glorious vision, and tremblingly pronounced the word "Mississippi". There was the magnificent Island, dividing his broad bosom, and crowned by the old fort, the name of which is classic in the history of red-man's wrongs, and the white man's "progress." There the magnificent cities on either hand, all mirroring their beauties in the bright waters which flow at their feet, the whole forming a scene upon which those unaccustomed might gaze with rapture and applause. It was so surpassingly grand and lovely that the company of distinguished strangers broke forth into a cheer that would not be restrained.

MILLARD FILLMORE, who was the prominent lion of the day, was called out for a speech and greeted with immense cheering. He spoke from the deck of the Golden Era expressing himself delighted with the welcome he had received, and the beauty and greatness of the west, which he had never before seen. He excused himself from a lengthy speech stating that he hoped to meet the people of this vicinity on a more befitting occasion We hope he will. He looks very well--well enough to make a President out of--and speaks with ease and fluency.

At night there was a grand display of fireworks at the old Fort, until about 10 o'clock, when the noble squadron of steamers got under way for St. Paul. Some thirty or forty eastern editors are in the party which will insure it sufficient publication without our further notice, and whose jubilations we expect to see and record for the benefit of our readers. There were also many "fair ladies" accompanied by "brave men," and we hope that altogether they will succeed in the making of the trip one of the most pleasant in their lives.

Ottawa Free Trader (weekly) June 10, 1854
(Ottawa is a city in Illinois on the railroad route from Chicago to Rock Island)

The Great Ch. & R.I. R.R. Excursion

One of the greatest Ralroad excursions that ever took plac in these parts, has transpired during the week, on the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad. The guests were composed of many of the most distinguished men of the New England, Middle and Eastern States. Among them are ex-President Fillmore, Hon. Geo. Bancroft, Prof. Silliman of Yale College and Thurlow Weed of the Albany Evening Journal W. Hmckling.

Our townsmen, Hon.J. D. Cator, Hon. T. L. Dickey, L. Leland Esq., Hon. Wm. Reddick and Hon. B. C. Cook joined the excursion.

The company passed here on Monday last. That evening they took steamboats at Rock Island, five or six in number for St. Anthony falls. They are expected to return today.

Ottawa Free Trader (weekly) July 1, 1854
(An anecdote on the excursion)

The Galena Jeffersonian relates the following accident to the eminate historian on the recent excursion, and remarks that Mr. Bancroft would not be Mr. Bancroft without his eccentricities and idiosyncrasies. The indulgeance of the former during the excursion, came near costing him his life. This is the story.

Arrived at St. Paul, great difficulty was felt in procurring carriages for the party, All sorts of vehicles were pressed into service. Mr. Bacroft determind not to be left behind, took seat on the roof of a coach, and for a while entred into the spirit of the adventure, with the zest of a man having two score less years on his head. Gradually the novelty of the thing wore off, and he drew from his pocket a copy of Dante's Inferno. In that he buried himself, seemingly unconscious of the beauty of the scene around him, and careless of the uplifted hands and loosed tongues of his companions, as they made their approach to the Falls. At length one of the forward wheels dropped into a rut, and away went our historian topsy turvey, heels over head to the ground. Gathering up his hat, spectacles and Inferno, he clambered back to his place, unhurt and thoroughly cured of the tit of untimely studiousness that caused his fall.

An Excursion

It is in contemplation, to have an excursionof the officers and invited guests of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad Company the party to meet in Chicago on the 5th of June and proceed by railroad to Galena and St. Paul.—One of our best packets has been engaged for the occasion idea is a good one, and we hope it will be carried out, as originally planned Few of the eastern men who are assisting to build our ailroads have an adequate idea of the vast extent of cpuntry on which those roads open, the moment they touch the great connecting thoroughfare,the Mississippi. A trip to thefalls of St. Anthony by steamboat will give them a faint idea, and indeed but a faint one,of what they are so much interested in knowing.

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Rock Island

Wednesday Morning, June 14, 1854
(Official County, Post Office, and City Paper

THE GREAT EXCURSION

The stock and bond holders, the officers, and the invited guests of the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad returned from St. Paul on [sic] Saturday last. The magnificence of this excursion and the admirable manner in which it was managed we cannot characterize in terms of too high praise. Over a thousand ladies and gentlemen have been carried off, free of any expense to them, by railroad and steamboat to a distance greater than from New York to Liverpool, fed and cared for in the most elegant and sumptuous manner and safely returned to their homes, without the slightest accident or disturbance of any kind.

At Galena we were met by the whole population and welcomed by the firing of cannon and waving [sic] flags, hearty cheers, and eloquent speeches. Carriages were furnished by the Galena people for all who desired to visit the mines. At Dubuque people were out in great crowds and capital speeches made. At St. Paul there was an innumerable throng, the church bells were rung, flags waved, and loud cheers from the multitude. Teams were in waiting and nearly the whole party visited the falls of St. Anthony and returned by Fort Snelling. After the party returned, all went on board and were taken to Fort Snelling by the river. In the evening a grand reception came off in the capitol.—Hon. W.A. Gorman, Governor of the Territory, occupied the chair and made the welcome speech. He was replied to by Ex President Fillmore and Hon. George Bancroft. After the ceremony, Gov Gorman led the way to the spacious ballroom where those who wished, "tripped the light fantastic toe." All the excursionists were provided with free tickets by the generous people to St. Paul. At 12 o'clock Thursday night the party left St. Paul and arrived in Rock Island early Saturday morning, where special trains of cars in waiting to convey them to their homes.

The importance of this excursion to the West is incalculable. It was composed of the learned, the wealthy, an active influential men of the east,--men who have invested their money in western railroads and desired to be convinced of the safety of their investments and of the propriety of future operations. All return with the highest confidence in the bondless resources of the great West, and we presume it will not be long before the iron horse will make it appearance in St. Paul. A road from St. Paul to Oregon, and another to Lake Superior would follow as a matter of course.

The excursion is important in another view. The elite of the east were among the company, and go home with the most enthusiastic admiration of the magnificent scenery of the West. We heard Prof. Silliman in a public speech on the boat, going up, say that "the scenery of the upper Mississippi reminds him of the Rhine,--only it was more beautiful, grand, varied and sublime." He only expressed the universal feeling of the whole party, and all go home to the east to send their friends on a summer tour to the Falls of St. Anthony instead of wasting their time in the insipid scenes of Saratoga and Newport.

To the railroad king, Mr. Farnam, to the officers of the road, and to the excellent officers of the various boats, the company expressed their highest obligations. Among the notables present we find a long list in the St. Paul papers, from which give a few names merely to show our readers the character of the whole company.

Millard Fillmore, Ex-President of the United States, son and daughter

Gov. Matteson, wife and daughter

George Bancroft, the historian

Edward Bates of St. Louis

Ex P. M. General, N. K. Hall, Buffalo

Hon. John A. Dix, New York

Judge Parker Prof Law, Cambridge

F. P. Blair, Jr., Missouri

Hon N. Edwards, Illinois

Hon John J. Jervis, New York

Hon A. C. Flagg, New York

Henry Farnam, Chicago

Hon. N. B. Judd, Chicago

Prof. Silliman, Yale College

Prof. Hubbard, Dartmouth College

Hon. Preston King, Ogdensburg

Ex-Governor Baldwin, Conn.

Ex-Governor Barry, Michigan

Hon John C. Wright, Schenectady

Hon. M. [sic] Colley, NY

Miss Sedgewick, the authoress

Moses Kimball,Boston Museum

Rev. Dr. Spring, N.Y.

Rev. Dr. Kennedy, Albany

Judge Grant, Davenport

Eba Cook, Davenport

The above names are a fair sample of the whole company.

The daily St. Paul Pioneer gives the following list of editors present but says it is very incomplete, but as accurate as the confusion incident to the arrival of so vast a crowd permits us to make. Gentlemen of the Press whose names are omitted will appreciate the reason, and accept our beforehand apology. [sic.]

Col. Fuller, New York Mirror.

H.L. Tobey, Kingston Journal.