The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-17
Ran With the Hose in
the FiftieS.
EXCURSION TO SHELL MOUND.
Annual Picnic Over the Bay
Yesterday.
MYSTERIOUS UNKNOWN sPRINTER
Showing How Some of the Old Fire.
Fighters Have Increased in
Weight With Years.

A mysterious unknown, minus an eye
and with whiskers streaming to the
breeZes like the adOrnment of a retired
lodge goat, played 1t low down on the vet
eran fremen at Shell Mound Yesterday.
He Struggled himself into the race for vet
Grams over 60 years of age in his soft
insnuating way and then he did them.
He was 90 If he was day." said Secre-
tary w. Ii. Miller, but he ran like thief
aud left Billy Smith and Bob Avery as il
they were tied to post Then he floated
up for his prize, an order for a case OF
champagne. and fled with it,"
There were fremen at the picnic who
rau with the hose when Goat Island was a
kid and the Twin Peaks were as yet IN
born. They were on the head set in the
palmy days of '49. some of them, ana many
more battled with the flames which de-
StrOyed the tumbIe-down landmarks of an
epoch of golden rust on the ruins of which
have since risen the Doblest structures of
San Francisco.
There was something in being a volun-
teer fireman in those good old days, when
the call to duty was merely the forerunner
were cracked and human caret flowed to
pr0miscous taps. There were no nickel
plated steamers or water towers in re-
pOusse work in those days, but they got
there just the same, and what was left of
them, pretty healthy yet. was out al Shell
Mound on the big annual picnic of the
Veteran Volunteer Firem ems Association.
The whiskers of some had grown gray
and there were pauD ches ia evidence that
showed lack of training, but the old boys
were nearly as frisky as the second and
third generations with them.
AT 9 O'Clock in the morning, blue ribbons
and silver helmets on their breasts, the
veterans lined up at the Market-street
ferry, and. preceded by their own band,
under the leadership Of j. Hernandez,
marched aboard the Newark They took
possession Of the boat and made things
hum in the good old way as the boat
crossed and the cars carried them to the
beautiful park. The band stationed itself
in the big pavilion. and the crowd, about
$50, scattered itself in all directions over
the beautiful grounds.
The weather was all rightwhen the pic
nickers arrived and for a couple of hours
afterward, but about noon rain began
dropping and Increased in volume until
the grounds We're abandoned, about 5
o'clock in the afternoon.
EThe races en- the programme seemed to
create most interest, ard the majority of
the picnickers took up positions along the
track to watch the contests.
The first event, a race for girls from to
10 years of age. had four entries, and was
won after an exciting run by little Nellie
Hayden. who was presented with three
dozen boxes of candy as prize. Johnnie
Carroll won similar race for boys, and is
now the possessor of a rubber football.
Ed REM won against FIVE competitors in
the race for boys, 10 to 10 years. In the
race for girls of the same age pretty little
brunette captured the first prize, but re-
fused TO disclose her name to the Judges.
There were four entries in the race for
fat ladies. Miss Hayden, who tips the scale
at ever so many pounds of adorable femi-
ninity, succeeding in capturing the golden
apple. which contained an order for five
pounds of tea.
Five young ladies from Is to 90 years of
age were in the next race. but Miss Nc
Greeyy proved the fleetest of the sweetest
and won first money.
| lined up, the pistol used in starting proved
untrue to its trust, and Starter John S.
Marshall agreed to air his voice to propel
the winners from the tape. Frank De-
jung, John McGreeyy, w. II. Miller, John
Lynch and Robert Avery lined up for the
word. 1t was given and some of them
few down the track, but Miller and De-
jung were the only ones who came out at
the other end. McGreevy was left at the
post, and Lynch and Avery were side
tracked half way. There was a kick, on
the claim that Marshalrs voice failed TO
reach McGreevy. The starter said that
might be true, as he had failed to have it
trimmed as usual in the morning, and il
was finally agreed the race should be run
over again. Things worked all right the
second time, McGresvy winning In a can
ter. Miller second. Lynch third. No time.
The ninth race for fremen over 90 was
participated in by the mysterious unknown
Smith, Peter Gianniui and Avery, and was
the swiftest of the lot.
William Robinger. 300 FOUNDER, sprint
ed for dear life In the fat veterans race
and beat Steve Bunner by a whisker.
Chris Bunker was third, roll and half
of fat ahead OF Captain Burns, fourth,
Tom Sawyer also ran. and was presented
with bootjack by a large concourse of
lady friends.
Young John McGreevy won the last race
for young men and will get a box of cigars.
There were no timers and all kinds of
starters, but the races were swift.
Ninety-fve beautiful presents ranging
from assorted perfumery 10 tons of coal
were given away in the dancing pavilion
to holders of tickets. the awards seeming
to give general satisfaction, Douglas
Whites little daughter acting as the good
fairy.
The day. notwith standing the do wnpour,
was most enjoyable one, and the veter-
ans and their friends have been too often
at fires to be damaged by little water.