Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-03-02
COME SEVEN 'LEVEN.
PIE EATING CONTEST AND CAKE WALK AT
THE MUSEE
Fun Galore at the Ball Given by the "Aris-
tocracy Of OolOrsd SOcisly"-Ihs Con-
tests and Winners.

Colored circles have been worked up
to high pitch of excitement for ten
days past, over the big dance, which
was given at the Musee last night, with
a pie eating contest and cake walk, as
stellar attractions. The event was
widely advertised, and a liberal use of
printers ink served to attract an audi
ence of several hundred people, the
greater proportion of whom were
whites. The big bills announced that
the "aristocracy Of colored society"
would be present, but this was indig-
nantly denied in Upper Tendon.
The ebony hued professor had q
steady and thankless job, tickling the
worries for the dancers during the early
evening. Toward midnight the crowd
swelled 10 such proportions~tha it en-
croached upon the floor space. 1t was
exactly midnight when Bill Turner's
majestic form lowered above the heads
OF the people on the floor, and his stem
toran voice announced that the pie
eating match would take place.
Some trouble was experienced in Sc
curing candidates for the prize, from
the fact that there was a delightful
uncertainty about what the aforesaid
prize would be. A number OF specta-
tors raised purse of 81, and two awk-
ward looking darkies, who were rousta-
bouts on a boat tied up at the landing,
consented to enter the contest, attract
ed no doubt, by the prospects of bet
ter meal than they were accustomed to,
and the bright samolian which was TO
be awarded to the winner.
Did they eat2 Does fish swim?
They mounted an improvised platform
in the center OF the hall, upon which
was collection of so-called pies.
The articles of pastry looked anything
but attractive, and few in the audience
would have masticated one Of them for
crisp 500 note. But the tastes OF
the darkies we're certainly not fastidi-
Gus. Each couRtenanCe wore hungry
look. and a broad smile. Their mouths
were suggestive Of the proposed Tenth
street tunnel. At given sig
nal they sailed in with venge-
ance and never did "punkin"
pies disappear so rapidly. The
larger OF the two darkies started out
like a winner, examining the pastry
through the hole n his face, at the rate
OF three per minute. But his opponent
had q cast-iron stomach, and be made a
Garrison finish, and won the contest.
The larger man threw up the sponge,
and the prize was awarded to his oppO-
nent.
Then came the event OF the evening,
the cake walk, for which Archi-
bald Johnson ana his lady
have been in training for
several weeks. Arch Flowed as how
dose Parkersburg niRgahs want a
goin' to take dat cake, and the crowd
was with Arch. Baz Miller, hourishing
a large cane, led the contestants, making
them execute difficult movements, the
most graceiullesi" walker TO take the
cake. Bill Turner, master OF ceremo-
MES, introduced the contestants. The y
were Ed. Payne and Miss Evans; Win
field Scott Bagby, pugilist and
champion cake walker, OF
Haneytown. and Miss Lou Evans;
Charley Weikert the unknown" and
Miss Roy; Charley Mccoy, MeKeesport's
pride, and his wife; Joseph WheatleY
and MIS-. Robert Thornton; Robert
Thornton and Mrs. VIM. Dennis: Arch
ibald Algernon Johnsing, champion OF
West Virginia, and the $4,000 beauty,
Elizabeth Evangeline Fletcher, better
known as Liz.
The crowd cheered its favorites lns-
tily aud johnson and bis lady received
a perfect ovation. Col. Noah Zane,
Tom Duff and Adam Schafer were
chosen judges The walkers we're urged
on By such expressions as Dot nigger'll
win" Come seyen," etc, etc. The
leader saved the stars unti the last,
and Arch came out arrayed in a dress