The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-08
THREE THOUSAND SMITHS.
JOLLY FAMILY REUNION ON THE
BANKS or THE R1RITAN.
smiths from New York, smiths from Cali
fornia, smiths from the Roads, smiths
from kmilhNiIle, Smiths from the Summif.


smiths from New York, smiths from Cali
fornia, smiths from the X Road DIS, smiths
from smithViiIe, smiths from the summit.
On Wednesday last, near Peapack, n. j.,
assembled some three thousand Smiths, with
their families aud lunch baskets, all bent on
having a right good time, and anxious to be-
come acquainted with at least few of their
widespread family. The beautiful grove near
Peter Z. Smiths house, and In the picturesque
valley of the North Branch" Of the Raritan.
had been the scene OF busy labor for days, and
on the eventful morning Its results were seen
and appreciated in the form OF EMPOWERED
srbors, speakers and band stand, tall
liberty pole, many ranges OF benches, and long
lines OF substantial tables, all draped with flags
bunting. and ever0reens. The multitude gath
cred In response to the following call:
Grand tentennlal picnic by the smith family An IN;
o cGa Tso Se snI n nsy and c
uana Smith ms wife, and Their chldren's sons ana
named persons were born aud brought up ia Reading
ton township Huuterd1p county n j. Ana De !, iur,
the present generation, hereby invited and required
% SEPT g. sS S o T@ of ne
tee, to holo Centennial smith picnic and 1t was re-
the iar% Of feier T. SMITH, formepy owned By zcGs
Pespsek. Somerset county. n. j.
NS% me custom IN hese sSca f o
themselves and some to spare for their friends, they
plt"tt w ~ VI .nlr VVthriVn.
committee on tea aud coffee.
As early as o'clock In the morning, Smiths Of
all ages and conditions In life began to appear
upon the scene: Journeylng from every d'rec-
ton and In all conceivable conveyances, from
the broken old farm wagon aud its spawned
horse TO the stylish buggy with Its handsome
span. Then began one OF the funniest series OF
roductions ever seen. MIR. smith from York
State was made acquainted with Smith of Cali
fornia. He Of BROOKLYN and lie OF the * Roads
found pleasure each others society, linked
by the bonds Of Smthship. Local Smiths we're
smithville, smith from Summit smith of Pea
pack. or all smith gatherings lever held, this
was the most peculiar In one particular only
one OF the John smiths was there, and be was
nearly overlooked, being always addressed by
his middle name.
Smiths, bashful smiths and Smiths who hirted
desperately with Smiths Of the opposite sex,
rough boy smiths and shy little girl Smiths with
great capacity Tor cake but among all the
many hundred smiths there we're no drunken
| or rowdyish Smiths, and no disturbance OF any
| kind marred the enjoyment OF the day.
At ii O'Clock a smith business meeting was
called. and permanent Smith organization
| President, Abraham Smith Of Peapack, Vice.
President. and Oscar Smith OF the Branch. Sec
rotary ana Treasurer. II was also decided to
| continue these reunions OF the family, to hold
| them annually In the same place, aud always on
the first Wednesday In September.
This meeting at an end. the COMPANY locked
to the great long tables. which actually bent be-
real business OF the day was begun. For the
next hour rounds Of beef. hams. iDnumerable
sandwiches, huge losves 81 bread, pyramids Of
marvellous rapldlty. After the hungry multi
tude had become satisfied, and the band par
| by the Rev. Charles Woodruff of Duneen. In
| opening he referred to the teautiful meal Of
| which they had Just partaken, and related the
anecdoie Of the colored parson who, In explain
| Ing the miracle Of the lnaves and fishes to his
sand loaves aud seben tousand Dishes. an de
| twelve pos les ate em all up an de miracle wss
h d hsnn a .S sr.si ,yh fwv tSe1s Sl
setn Died. aud closed by hoping that the same
spot might witnEss many siml ar reunions.
| Then followed short and pleasant addresses
| by Dominies Woodward, Fgels, Shears, Meade,
| RunyaD. Craig, aud Anderson, which, alternat-
ing with music, occupied the afternoon. By
six o'clock clouds Of dust rising above the hills
In every direction, marked the departure from
the festive scene Of the long lines Of teams and
their IN ononamed occupants. Everybody went
home fully satisfied that no picnic had ever
been so successful or had given such satisiac-
ton as the great Smith family picnic at Pea
pack.
loneed the festivities far into the night, by q
grand coon hunt among the mountains. They
started about9 O'Clock FROM Peter Us house
about half a mile where two OF the boys. with
old & rio tue coon dog started up the noun
tain side IN search OF cornheld known to be-
the fayorite resort OF coons. The rest were tC
wait on the road until Old Carlo gave tongue auC
could tree tue game. Ia less Tia III half an huu
voeherous BARKING was heard far up the noun
tain side and they Knew that I" cooney was W
tree. AfterA Dreathless CUmD uD the steel
ascent, struggling bhnaly through the under
| brush IN the dense darkness, the tree wa
reached. and Carlo was found springing at To,
trunk.
Great hres were at once started, and all eyel
searched the leafy depths Of the tall oak, but nS
coon was TO be seen nor did repeated NOileys o
stones and sticks disturb him in the least. A
length, however, Charley Van Arsdae climbed
the tree. and discovered Mr.. Coon lying low OF
the far end Of "A slender branch. y circle "a
formed about the base OF the tree, and. ArmeC
with clubs, the men below called to Charley /,
snake him down. lhis was more easily sDukei
OF than accomplished, nut at length dow
tumuled the coon, cras hing through the rancho
ana landing WITH a soft thump ON the ground
here rush OF men and dogs, CRANE
flourish Of sticks. aud like flash the coon Ia,
escaped anu was half way DOWN the hill, Will
the dogs In hot pursuit. Then there
scramble, rs the excited group tore down TIA
precipitOus and heayiy-wooded slope, rolling
sliding, and crashing down, led by the merr
notes Of the dogs. They soon freed hIm again IN
little elm on the bank of the branch ana ner
his struggle for NE wos ended by Leke Smith
who, 10y the lght II a big bonfire, WAS enaule
to brius hin down from his perch with Il charg
. OF swan shOt. Toe coon's dead body gracsd
trlumI Lal procet SION Of smiths.
NIAON'S RISE FROM THE GRAVE.