THE TRAVEL DIARY OF IRA MONTGOMERY….AN ANTI-MORMON
THE TRAVEL DIARY OF IRA MONTGOMERY….AN ANTI-MORMON
The travel diary of Ira Montgomery from his home in Indianapolis, by vaious railroads, to San Diego, California and back. Content rich and written in three parts. Part 1 being his commencement on the 24th day of September. Part 2 being the two weeks which he and his brother spent sight-seeing with his mother in the San Diego area. Part three being his travel events on his way back to Indianapolis.
The presentation on the ffep states “Dedicated to Mrs Emma Montgomery By her husband Ira Montgomery. As a new years present, Jan. 1, 1891.” The diary is titled A TRIP TO OUR WESTERN COAST AND BEGINS with Part 1:
(Pg. 1-2.) “A long desire to visit our western country was fully realized during the Autumn of 1889…. Every thing being arranged, on the 24th day of Sept, I bade the folks at home good bye and commenced my long journey to San Diego….The ticket was purchased of the Vandalia Agent for $100.00 and going covered the Vandalia ____ Pacific, Southern California and Santa Fe Lines. Returning by the Southern Pacific, Texas Pacific, Santa Fe, ______ Pacific and Vandalia lines.
Full of rich content with exceptional detail, Ira writes about all of the beauty and history of the areas he is passing thru. (Pg. 11.) “…...but Northward our train turns and is whirling up toward Denver. The prairies seem to meet the skies in all directions, range cattle dot the hills as far as eye can see. Many sod houses are in sight. They are small and low. Many of them have a nice finish and look to be a comfortable dwelling.”
(Pg. 17-18) “At one o’clock we are back to Pueblo and have a stay of 30 minutes. Will notice some of the peculiarities of this place as seen from the car windows. Here as in all other cities the rich and poor dwell together. One would almost wonder why it is that there is so much difference in the distribution of this worlds goods. Entering Pueblo from Denver the hovels of the poor and needy are seen on every hand. Mud houses, holes dug in the side hills, old cross-ties set on end, with some on top to form a roof, slab shanties, tents and every conceivable kind of shelter. Have just passed a village of this kind.”
Pgs 28-40 gives an amazing anti-Mormon account of the Salt Lake City area. “….. we are passing through a section and among a people who have by their crimes and practices forever blackened the pages of our American history. ….yonder is Salt Lake City. The station is announced and there is an outpouring of passengers who glance around with a curious gaze as if to see some Mormon having in charge his numerous company of wives and children…...the first impression was not a good one….. I was on a tour of sightseeing in the city of Mormonism. The first object of interest was the great temple in course of construction. ….High up over its great door ways are inscribed in golden colored letters these words “Holiness to the Lord. The House of the Lord. Built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints. Commenced Apr. 6th 1853. Completed _______ to be supplied.” “ On the west of the square stands the Old Tabernacle, oval in shape there being no carriers inside or out. It is 250 feet long and 150 ft. wide said to be the largest self supporting roof in America, entirely of wood.”
“Entering a side door I saw in the West end near the great organ a priestly looking official, who beckoned me forward. I went up, feeling it to be strange ground. Told him I was simply a tourist and my business was to look and see…..there was no other building equal to this in its acoustics and it was wonderful a room seating 8,000 people & empty, with such qualities.”
“For a moment I stood on the platform where Brigham Young and other heads of the church had stood instructing and guiding thousands of ignorant and deluded followers to deeds of wickedness and crimes to horrible for even a midnight assassin.”
“Leaving the Tabernacle the next places of interest were the tithing stores where one tenth of all Mormons products or income are turned over to the Authorities. Everyone of the Mormon faith is held strictly to the tithing system.”
“ A quick survey of the surroundings showed not a very inviting place, so I went out into the pure and free air of Heaven feeling that the worst kind of deviltry under lies all these rotten institutions, It is to be hoped that the decayed appearance of these buildings is significant of the downfall of Mormonism.
Passing along in the same block the lion and beehive houses were passed. These are two large dwelling houses in times past occupied by Brigham Young and his many wives, now occupied by his widows. At the South East corner of this residence block stands what is called “Eagle Gate” an arch resting on four stone pillars and spanning the street…..”
“The grave of Brigham Young was visited all others dead except the great leaders wives are excluded from burial in this cemetery. At present five wives lie in these grounds sacred to the memory of the Mormon head. No costly shaft marked this place of the dead, no monument of any kind only the name Brigham Young carved on an immense slab covering the grave. I could but think of the many crimes and cold blooded murders originated and carried out by the commands of the one who lies beneath that marble slab. It being noon I hurried back to the hotel in passing along a last look was taken at the buildings previously ______ summing up the whole matter one would conclude that Mormonism was fast becoming an institution of the past. …...But alas for these poor deluded people who are filled with remorse and disappointment at the spectacle of to day. Not long could they enjoy the solitude of these unknown lands for the empire of state was making rapid strides Westward. Her iron bands and electric wires were rapidly reaching out toward the Rockies…...Altogether Salt Lake City is a most beautiful place in a favored land, with a pure and healthy climate, with broad streets and running streams of water.”
After leaving Salt Lake City Ira went to Ogden past the Great American Desert, Elko, Wells Station and on to Humbolt. He passed Cape Horn, thru Emigrants Pass, to Colfax, California. On October 4th he arrived in Sacramento and then on to Los Angeles and finally to his destination of San Diego where is boyhood home was “but the farm is gone along with father”.
Part 2:
Part 2 consist of the two weeks which he and his brother spent with their mother in and around the San Diego area. (Pg. 1.) “It was now 2 o’clock P.M. Oct 5th when my trip to the little home by the Sea was at an end.”
(Pg.8 - 9) “On our way home we drove through China Town. These people are of a lower order of being in the sense that they have never been Americanized or Christianized. They live to themselves in illy constructed shanties as pigs in a pen – wear their uniform dress an very cheap article – their chief pride being in wearing the “Pig tail”. “They care nothing for an American only to get his money. Of these orientals several hundred live in one corner of San Diego. Thus ends the day.”
(Pg. 16-17) “….Will and I spending part-the day at “Sweet water” dam and vicinity….. This Reservoir one mile ….is an artificial lake of 700 acres. The dam a mammoth structure of stone work is 90 feet high 200 feet long and twelve feet across the top affording a broad walk, either end is placed in a natural bed of rock 70 feet of water rests against this mighty wall…… Going down a flight of stone steps we were at the base of this great wall looking and following the immense water pipe running down the canon. Farther on is located one of the few manufacturing industries of this country. A stone crusher great in size and powerful. The crushed stone is used in paving the streets of San Diego, there being no gravel in all this region.”
(Pg. 19-20) “The great attraction here is the “Hotel Del Coronado”. This Hotel stands on the Sea shore, at times the waves reaching up into the yards of the buildings. Some idea of its grandeur may be had when we learn its cost. So have been one million dollars. It is all constructed of wood. What Coronado will be in a few years for richness and beauty no one can tell – provided no tidal wave comes along and sweeps the place from existence. The highest place not being more than 40 feet from the sea level.”
(Pg. 31) “After a wandering of five hours over a distance of eight miles we were at the station and soon aboard the waters on our way to the Mexican customs house at Tijuana, situated farther inland . At this place we had 20 minutes rushed over the line to customs house – a low flat building. Pacing in front on his beat was a big-burly-greasy Mexican with a brace of pistols swinging from his waist. On the porch stood a worse looking Indian in rags and filth. Inside were three clerks at their desks one of them well dressed and genteel. Our time being short and no business only to see – we felt it as safe to be in our own beloved lands”
Part 3: Ira’s trip back home to Indiana.
In this part 3 Ira is going through Tuscon, Deming, New Mexico, El Paso, Fort Worth, Gainsville, Texas and on toe Indianapolis. As already stated his thoughts and views on others are quite opinionated. He writes on pg. 10-11 “At Tuscon a squad of Negro soldiers boarded our train and things were somewhat lively. Our car was now filled up with a motley crowd of Mexicans – Indians – cowboys – Negroes with more cheek than the far famed mule in the same service – and a few Americans. After some loud talk and show of authority by these men of color – all was quiet and settled down in quiet. We have often read of the Mexican border now we see some of it and when a cow boy enters the car and tells of the scalping of one his comrades I began to think the border was near.”
A most fascinating and detailed diary of a trip out west at the turn of the 20th century. A total of 120 pages clearly written in a 6 12” x 8 ½ inch book. The heavy cardboard covers are chipped and loose, but the diary itself is in very good condition.
$3575.00