Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-25

banks were too steep to climb. The managers
concluded to 60 farther up the river about a
mile and half to Union Grove. The
whistle was blown, but many Of the little
boys had been too quick for the managers
and ran up the bank and off up the
hill. The bell continued ringing. and soon
stream of little black boys came running
and rolling down the steep embankment
LIKE so MANY -CRIcKETs
and causing endless laughter. At last all
were on board again, and the steamer soon
! dropped the plank at Union Grove, where
the William Walls Fishing Club, OF the
Twenty-seventh ward, are in camp.
The children scrambled ashore and rolled
on the grass, or rather weeds. until they
were tired. There was little else but weeds
on the grounds and no place to play ball or
other games, but the children did not seem
to mind it and there was not an unhappy
countenance among them. The following
verses, selected from a poem written for the
occasion by Mr.. Nichols, of Gusky's, and
printed on a neat gilt card, which was
| given to each child, describes as well as
words could probably portray something of
the pleasure INDUCED in by the little or
phans:
oh, those sweetly smiling faces,
Chubby hands and sparkling eyes
Oh, what mischief in your chtrpings,
Shouts OF glee and laughter. signs
Oh, what running, skipping, jumping,
Games and prsnks in harmless plays;
What heap of fun's exploded
During childhoods sunny days.
Bless your merry, happy facesi
Bless your nimble footsteps, gay
Laugh and chatter-sing and frolic!
Huge enjoy the spread OF good fhngs-
Show the world what 'tis to be
Full of youthful animation
Young America set free
But, when through your fun and laughter,
And you come to disembark,
Once more to your studies buckle,
Firm resolved to make your mark.
Nor forget, before retiring,
This small tribute lay away
Twill excite a fond remembrance
Of Gusky's orphans picnic day.
SOME REPoRToRIAL FUN.
No little excitement was caused at one
time by the announcement that it was feared
Walter Cooper, a son of one of Gusky's en-
ployes, had been left at Wild Rose Park,
and lost or drowned. A reporter started out
in a rowboat to find the boy, but soon after
he turned up all right with smile on his
face. About 4:30 the bell was rung, the
children all again put on board and the re-
turn trip commenced. AT Wild Rose Park
the reporter was in waiting 10 get on board.
The steamer could not get near
enough to throw the plank to shore,
and the reporter waved frantically
at his friends of the quill on the steamer
and rushed into the water over his ankles as
the steamer backed of. It went little
farther up the river, and the stranded re-
porter rushed about with a wild stare, and
falling into the arms of his friends cried
frantically, "Give me a cigarette, for
heavens sake"
The steamer backed of, the cigarette was
forthcoming and all was again serene. The
children now turned the tables for awhile
and became the entertainers. The boys of
st. Joseph's Schools give an exhibition in
calisIhenics with canes. The girls
then went through another drill of the same
kind. Songs were then sung and recitations
given by different children for some time.
At last little darky appeared from the
lower deck with hunk OF watermelon and
all else was forgotten until the large pile
was gone. When the last melon had been
cut, the peanuts were brought forth and
dealt out in hatsful. The wake of the
steamer all the way to the city was filled
with melon rinds, peanut shucks, wooden
plates and remains of the feast.
BEGINNING OF THE END.
At Thirteenth street, Southside, the st.
Michael's children.were put ashore and the
boat proceeded past its own landing to Lo-
Gust street, Allegheny, where the children
from the Home for Colored Children were
placed once again on dryland. The boat once
more cleared the shore and made for its own
wharf. All the way from Locust street fire.
works were shot of, making a trail of
sparks in the steamers wake, and at $50
the plank was thrown ashore at the foot of
Water street and the day was done.
The picnic was complete sue
cess in every particular. Not the
least thing went wrong to mar the
pleasure of any or all, and at the con-
clusion of the day old as well as young had
nothing but pleasant remembrances of the
day. All declared that they never had
better time.
Mr.. X. Solomon and Mr.. K. De Wolf had
entire charge of the excursion and with
their assistants had arranged every detail so
that nothing went amiss. Mr.. Abb Veatch,
in charge Of the Mayflower for the owners,
gave the boat up entirely to the
children and the management of the
picnic. The Monongahela Navigation
Company gave the lockage free. Mr.. Solo
mon said that the trip cost about 81, 500, but
it was worth it to see the pleasure of the
children. The provisions were plenty and
of the best. The children had all
they wanted of everything, and if some
of them are not sick from eating so much it
will be a wonder. A box of candy was
given to each child as it left the boat, and
as each party landed it gave three cheers for
Gusky's orphans picnic excursion.