The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-08-08
THE VENERABLE CUNNERs.
Latest Intelligence from Camp William
Porter Chase-For the Forty-Ninth Time
the Veterans are There-Great Doings at
Long Point, Cape Elizabeth.
Camp William Porter Chase.

tit uAo AIN udI OuIluS OIL IHo v 6H6ra DIE
Gunner Association and Propeller Club.
At least portion of us have been and
| the balance all wish they had so it's all
| the same.
| Forty-nine years ago today the i'm
mortal six" organized the most unique
organization in New England, and reg
ularly every year since have Etheir legal
| descendants dutifully and lovingly OBJ
served the sacred customs of the assoeia-
| tion.
| Each year brings if such thing is
possib BILE added pleasures andIenjoyments.
| and each year the final good byes are
said with in creasng regret.
This year is no exception, the clerk of
| the weather is kind, mature smiled
every thing is radiant-the Cunners's
| heaven is oni
THE DETAILS.
1t was happy and expectant party
| that assembled at Geo. SHAW & Co.'s
on Monday afternoon at o'clock, to en-
| bark for tne Cunner's Mecca. Chase's
| fine coach and four was on hand to con-
vey the company to the Cape shore, and
everything looked propltious for start.
but we were destined to disappointment.
Some men who, under ordinary circum-
| stances, are the best natured fellows in
| the world, the moment they get an Office
seem to change their entire mental and
moral makeup and become cranky and
overbearing kickers. l regret to say
this is true of Leader Fobes, the present
commmissary. AS an ordinary Gunner
he was simply lovable, but as chief offic-
er-well, he is simply different, that is
all. The moment he arrived at the
starting point trouble commenced. 1t
seems Chase's barge has had a new coat
of paint lately, and Leander discovered
it didn't have the Burgess. Fobes Com
pany trade mark, SO nothing would do
but Con Leach must go to work and
scrape all the paint off before Leander
would start. This consumed some two
hours and half, during which time
the members whiled away the time at
the neighhoring barber shops and pea
nut stands and cursed Fobes. Leach
swore eternal Vengeance, and is planning
to get some white lead into Leander's
food to get even.
When we finally did start, Leander in
sisted on stopping few minutes at each
street corner and exhi biting his gold
frying pan to the passing populace. His
honors have simply made him tyrant.
Fobes rendered the following song every
minutes:
I'm head officer Leander,
When issue propaganda
All the ordinary Cunners toe the mark,
IT they dare to disobey ne
/ Jhump them with "shilaleh"
And feed their shattered bonelets to a
shark.
Oh! / tell you Pm daisy
| just set the people crazy
I've deal of rich grey matter in my
head,
I've passed through many tussle
And won victory with my muscel
And made great escape from meath a
bed.
I was underneath in hiding
To escape my comrades Gliding
When / saw a fearful body at me fly.
But it struck me on my gall
And never hurt at all
tell you there's no green spots in my
eye!n
This ditty, while pleasing to Leander,
was rather facilitating to the rest of the
crowd, but as we were twenty-eight to
his one, we didn't make any trouble for
him out of magnanimity We were truly
thankful when we passed the Cape
bridge and Chase got his horses going
SO fast that he couldn't stop them, and
we soon arrived at the entrance to the
Gunner estate. Here the "grand entryn
procession was formed in the following
order:
Mr.. John A. Peabbles.
Mr.. John A. Peabbless Bull.
Mr.John A. Peabbless Big Dog.
Commmissary.
Potao Slicer
Watermen.
Firemen.
Secretary and Treasurer.
Gunner Club lin carriages).
Invited Guests (walking)
Camp Followers, Musicians. Boragers
Scavengers, Selectmen, Children,
and DR.. Fernald, in the
order named.
The spectacle presented as the column
| passed through the various Fcabbage and
beet fields was very imposing. and was
greeted with admiring cheers as it
passed in review before the cottage.
Caterers Dana and Frank D, Robinson
had preceded the cavalcade, and had
everything in apple pie order, including
the supper, which was Immediately de-
voured. The bill of fare was fine as pre-
pared by the commissary, and included
some very choice indigestion, but George
Raymond set up such kick that this
dish had to be thrown out, much to the
disgust of the connoiseurs. They say
Raymond would kick at pie, don't
believe, it as l saw him eat two today.
After supper, the evening, or the first
part of it, was most delightfully."- spent in
card playing and e lying match. In the
latter, John Miller of Boston easily took
first prize, but he ought to as he has
hads49 anniversaries" to get himself
perfected. Outside Of his propensity for
preyaricating, he is one of the very salt
of the earth, and no one receives a more
loving greeting at these meetings than
bo, rtr hal JnI