John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, Page 56

[John Milton Binckley, June 1859 Travel Diary, page 56. Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source. This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.]

The other 3 passengers are half civilized barbarians. Mother calls them cattle.

A negro employe[e] on the train and barbarians aforesaid engaged in a vert amusing account of a negro pic nic [picnic] not very flattering to the good luck of negroes nor indicative of high respect to the black by the white element of the company.

By good deal of deviltry, I kept the spirits of the company up, and at last found the conductor & had a fire built. Off now, & better things.

Alas, but a hundred or two yards, & we stop to remove a couple of horses, left on the track killed by the train just passed past.

Mother's patience now gives out totally. Is of opinion "of all accommodation, that of 'accommodation trains" is the poorest, being a train of evils, disappointments & vexations only. I was amused to see her (or hear her) pun -- a thing very rare.

Mother admits that the fire is getting comfortable. Woman with the baby, mad at Mother's dislike of bawling brats, is glad to hear that anything is comfortable. Mother [to be continued.]

[John Milton Binckley (1831-1878).
Mother = Charlotte Stocker Binckley (1788-1877)]