Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-12
A LUTHERAN REUNION.
About $4,000 People Gather at Idle
wild Park Yesterday.
THE PLEASURE SPOILED BY RAIN
And the Pretty Costumes Are Bedraggled
and Hestroyed
MAYOR GOURLEY TICKLES THE CROWD.

Upward of $4,000 people, the bulk o
whom were dressed il white, attended tn
Lutheran picnic at Idlewild Park yester
day. The great crowd went from Pittsburg
Altoona, Johnstown, Indiana, Uniontown
Connellsville, Scottdale, Greensburg an,
other points in Western Pennsylvania Th
gathering was cosmopolitan. The banker
with his wife and daughter and his domes
tic and her beau, were there in great mum
bers, and all mingled together in an almos
fruitless effort to get some little enjoymen
out of decidedly disagreeable day. Enough
rain fell in Idlewild Park Yesterday almos
to float the Little Bill across the continent
and each drop as it fell brought distress ant
discomfort to every soul in that immediate
neighborhood.
The clear skies of the bright morning
taxed the Pennsylvania Railroad in carry.
ing the picnickers to the park, but the ad'
vance guard of the great outpouring had
just arrived at the delightful resort when a
furious rainstorm dampened their ardor,
bedraggled their airy costumes and made
them weary of the world in general
Crowded the Accommod ationS
There is an abundance of shelter in the
magnificent grove, but as one special train
followed another and dumped their bur-
dens into the park, the sheltering places
became crowded, and those who came late
were forced under the trees for protection,
which was little, if any, advantage over
positive exposure.
1t was dinner time when all the special
trains had arrived, and the lunch baskets
were opened up to dull and uninteresting
appetites Instead of all gathering about a
regal feast supplied by dainties from every
Lutheran household in this end of the State,
each family took their own contribution to
the best shelter obtainable and ate and
lodged the rain and thought unpleasantsand
uncomplimentary thoughts of the kind of
weather supplied them. Not few of them
abandoned their lunch baskets altogether
and went to the Ligonier hotels for their
dinners
Mayor Gourley, who was the principal
speaker of the occasion, arrived at the park
just before noon. He did not abandon his
tram, however, until he reached Ligonier.
He dined with friends at Franks Hotel and
was about to declare his engagement for the
udN Ou MhSH ClOuuS DTOhe AWAY anu
bright sun burned out like mothers smile.
The mayor hurried off to the park where a
committee of ministers and the Greensburg
band awaited his coming
Mayor Gourley's Warm Reception.
While the reverend gentlemen greeted
His Honor the band played an old italian
melody and the woodland rang out JOYOUS
welcome. The Greensburg band is admit
fedlr oOa of tha hast rnucioo1 oroo nj
in the State and their concerts during the
afternoon went for toward making the day
bearable.
The reception to Mayor Gourlev at
tracted and centralized the great crowd
about the dancing pavilion and the exer-
cises of the day were opened by the gather
ing uniting in singing hymn. The band
OF 20 pieces led the singing. Rev. Alex
ander McLaug ghlin, who was introduced as
an Irish Lutheran, announced the hymn.
Rev. NJ. L. Cutler, of Apollo, offered
prayer. Rev. A. L. Yont, of Greensburg,
made the first speech. Rev. j. w. Miller,
of Leechburg, announced the second hymn,
and Rev. J. X. Melborr, of Freeport; de-
livered the second address. Rev. G. W:
Crist, of Jennertown, announced the third
hymn and Rev. j. II. Muellor, Russian,
of Altoona, delivered a short address IN
German. Then Mayor Gourley was in
troduced. There was shuf1ing about in
the vast audience when the Mayors
name was mentioned He was introduced
as ''the Governor of the Smoky City," and
liberal round of applause was accorded him
as he bowed with the air of Chesterfield
TO the sea of anxious faces that were turned
to him.
Bou und to Have a Speech.
The Mayor said he had prepared speech
for the occasion. He had hoped to be the
first speaker, but as he had been put off to
the last he would reserve his little talk for
some other occasion. go on; go on" some
one in the audience shouted. "No, will be
the Mayor replied. ''You have
been punished enough already" he con-
cluded, while the expansive pavilion fairly
shook with applause. He did go on, how
ever, and for fully 30 minutes he held the
largest audience ever seen in Westmoreland
county in deep concern for his every word.
He was frequently interrupted by applause,
and the audience seemed to inspire him to
eloquence He told of the great occasions
and the great men in the world history,
and he concluded by an interesting review
Of the life and works of Martin Luther. He |
said Luther, like all the great men of his |
tory, was child of poverty, and he asserted |
that the works of the great religious re-
former were the noblest of his race.
The Mayor had scarcely concluded his |
talk when the sun sank back behind cloud |
and q lively rain storm followed The |
crowG was stampeded by the elements and |
all the people scattered about for pro-
lection. 1t was we'll into the evening |
when the last train left the park, and most |
of the people had been fairly drenched be-
ore they got away.
Had to Ride on the Engine.
When Mayor Gouriey arrived in Pittsburg
short y after o'clock last night, he was
worn out. The crowd was too /
much for him. In leaving the park he was
Unable to board the train on account of the |
,rowd. He was finally given a seat in the
,ngine until he arrived at Latrobe
II am a very tired man" the Mayor said
asst night at his home AFTER made nv
peech during the afternoon 1 spent three
lours wandering about that great park in
earch of seat but 1 was unable to find
me. With their shelter and protection
covering acres of the grove could not find
DOM enOugh h for a seat for myself and
ould get consolation only in seeing thou
ands OF other people in the same predica-
nent L have not been at a picnic for five
ears until to-day and / can now saw with
ONE authority that 1 am not likely to go
o another for five years to come. The oc-
aston would have been a grand one had
hey been blessed with favorable weather."