Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-08-06
THE MAMMOTH PICNIC.

Ehe GREAT &. a. E&s GatnefAmS at SAWAn
Rock Yesterday About sixteen
Thousand People-An Parts of the
State EkepresenIed-TheG Games and
Contests-The sharpe Races-The
Drawing of Prizes-Omc1al List OF
the Lucky Numbers-A sad Accident
"A Woman Run Over by the Cars
Carriage Smashup-The Illumina-
ton Ofthe Cottages.
Thousands of the friends of the Grand
Army of the Republic advanced on Savin
Rock yesterday morning and they contin-
ued to flow in until late at night. The
occasion was the picnic of Admiral Foote
post of this city. Picnics that preceded yes
terday's sank into insignifcance when COM
pared with it. The day was beautiful one;
the rays of the sun were tempered by cool
breeze from the water and the combination
put the thousands of people in the best of
spirits. The long and arduous labors OF the
picnic committee of Admiral Foote post
were amply rewarded. The crowd COM
menced to pour into Railroad Grove from
the city as early as o'clock a. m. At that
early hour crowds began to gather on the
corner of Church and Chapel streets waiting
for transportation to the Rock. Every de-
scription of carriage, bus or car was brought
into use, and up to late hour last night, or
rather an early Eour this morning, were still
in use. The horse car companies ran from
three to ten cars at time, having secured
all the extra cars in the city.
One batch of cars early in the day consist
ing of seven carried down 7S0 people in one
run Every train that ran into Union depot
deposited scores of soldiers and their fami-
lies and friends who were quickly carried to
the Rock. At the West Haven station Dan
bury's throng of 700 people alighted and
helped to swell the multitude. They were
under the auspices of James Moore post OF
Danbury. 1t was estimated by good judges
that at least Is, 900 people visited the Rock
during the day. The American band began
the exercises of the day with an overture
from the new band stand in the grove at 10
O'Clock, and afterwards throughout the day
at frequent intervals the band rendered Sc
lections.
At 1890 Vice Commodore Coe of Admiral
Foote post formed the line for twenty
minute parade. Only about two hundred
6. A. R. men took part in this. The line
moved from the grove down to Skeeles',
back to the Human House, frem there past
Comrade Twitchells Massasoit House, and
from there to the grove where it was dismiss
ed The rest of the morning was spent by
the G. A. r. men in social intercourse.
Just west of the entrance to the grove a
commodious tent was located, which was
headquarters for Captain Frank M. Lovejoy,
the chairman, D. S. Thomas, secretary, D.
W. Sharp, treasurer and the remainder of
the committee on arrangements.
+ In the front of and inside the tent the
prizes to be drawn were exhibited. Mrs. G.
w. Hemingway, Mrs. Ida Beeoher and sever
al other members of the Women's Auxiliary
corps presided over the prize department..
Up to noon over 10000 tickets for the
drawing were sold at fifteen cents each or
seven for ST. and they were still going rap
idly.
Dancing began at the pavilion at 10 o'clock
to music by the American band. The con-
tests began at l O'Clock in the grove with an
obstacle race. The contestants had to climb
two eject fences and crawl through four bar
rels. The entries were John B. Welch, AT.
Nichols, James Hislop, jr:, E. g. Hubbell
and Fred Nottingham. The latter was vic
torious by one yard lead, winning in 81 sec
onds, with Nichols second. The first prize
was silver butter dish and the second a
statuette. Four G. A. R. veterans entered
for the wheelbarrow race, CIV. Shepard, j I.
Hslop, J. R. Brown and George Barnes. His
lop trundled around the 800 yards course
first in ~ seconds, with Barnes wheelbarrow
close behind. Hislop won a clock.
The next was an egg race. There were six
contestants from the Sons of Veterans only,
F. A. Burton, E. g. Schlotter, E. 6. Hub
bell, F. H. Coombs, j. B. WEIGH and ]. F.
Otto. They were required to pick up eggs
two feet apart and place them in basket
one at a time without breaking. Otto &C
complished the task first and won $40 gold
pin.
The sack race followed and created much
merriment: The entries were j. Norton, b.
Lee, o. B. Nichols and I. Otto. The two
latter hoped and ambled to the finish, neck
and neck or sack and sack. On running OF
the tie Otto fell when within q few yards of
the tie and Nichols took the pickle castor.
George Barnes and J. r. Brown were the
contestants in the duel upon the water. Both
handled their weapons skillfully, and for tf-
teen minutes worked desperately to knock
their opponent overheard. Finally Barnes
weapon became disabled and the contest had
to be abandoned. The judges gave the
prize, valuable set of carpenters chisels, to
the men with instructions to divide the tools
between them Perhaps the most amusing
of all was the tub race between Hugh Nor
ris, Fred Barton, George Barnes and j. Z.
Brown. Barnes was the only one that made
the full course of two hundred yards, all of
the others being plunged into the water soon
after starting.
The sharpe race was very exciting. 81. @.
Rowe's steamer served as stake boat. There
were Eve entries, the Emma, Fanny, Ian
ders boat, H. CARROTS boat and Fred
Barnes boat. The Emma won the first
a minute and half. The Emma reached
the return point at 4:4S, the Fanny at 1885.
Mr. Let Rowe built both these boats and he
sailed the Fanny, while his son, Captain
Fred Rowe, sailed the other. VIM. Il. Brad
mack, of 80 Blatchley avenue, is owner of
the Emma. The Fanny belongs to Mr.. Geo.
Potter and is newer boat than the Emma
The latter is three years old. A good many
thought that the Fanny would beat and there
were several bets as to the result, and Cap
tain Fred Rowe and Mr.. Bradnack were
quite elated over the Emma's sue
cess, The first prize was $18, second SO,
third pennant, fourth a box of cigars, fifth
50.
At S O'Clock the thousands of people in
and about the grove crowded around the
prize tent to listen to the numbers as they
were announced. The list of prizes awarded
and the numbers which drew them are as fol-
lows:
2 Box toilet soap, 1850.
5. Half dozen dessert spoons 6,71s.
6. Pitcher, 1920.
T. Saw, ,828.
g. Half dozen coat hangers, s,117
9. Oil stove 1918.
10. Embroidery frame, sass.
12 Bushel of CLANS, 1869.
49, The Diver" 4,416
IS Travelling bag, 3,579.
&c. Box toilet SOAP EST.
H. One years subscription to Register, 7,70S.
10 Gold PLAGUE and easel, 4,5s5.
49, Can varnish, 10, 54s
81 Box confectionery, 6.s41
% Mems slippers, 1864 800
90 Hubbards newspaper directory, l'sos
"a Cage and linnet, 1884,
25. Card receiver, 515
26 Ebony cane, II :267.
81 Boys suit, 1885
% Rug, 1856.
80 Basket of tea, $3.50:
30 Willow rocker, Spy.