The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-20
THEY HAD A RAINY DAY.
Picnic of the Santa Fe Middle
Division Employees
At Ottawa Was Somewhat
Spoiled By Showers.
The Train Came Through from Nick
erson and Carried 1000 People
Incidents of the Day.

With the rain descending in sheets,
accompanied at intervals by flashes of
lightning and peaIs of thunder, turn
ing the graveled walks into miniature
streams and the drives into quagmires
of mud, one thousand employees of the
middle division of the Santa F'e crowd
ed together in the tabernacle and As
sembIy hall at Forest Park, Ottawa,
Saturday, and called the occasion
picnic. 1t would have been most sue
cessful one had not the rainmakers in
terfered.
If Prof. Moore and his assistants in
the manufacture of the weather know
a good thing when they hear it, they
will steer clear of that portion of the
Santa Fe between Emporia and Nick
erson. Revenge rankIes in the bosom
of many a strong man along that di-
vision. The prediction sent out by the
weather bureau Friday called for fair
weather Saturday.
Trusting in the foresight of the wealth
er men, the excursion train started ear
ly from Nickerson, about o'clock in
the morning. At that time a heavy
rain, which had started the evening be-
fore, was still falling, and many an ex-
cursiOnist was comfortably soaked be-
fore reaching the NickersOn depot. Six
ValOrOuS section men from Sterling,
eight miles away, came through the
drenching rain on a hand car to board
the excursion train. They were very
wet, but looked on the humorous side
of their misfortune. However, Ottawa
was IFS miles away, and the train con-
sisting of four coaches and baggage
car, pulled out of the station with 200
good natured people on board.
The train was in charge Of Conduc-
tor Al Monroe and Brakemen J. J. Cash
train officers could not have been bet
ter had they been contesting for a prize
on amiabnity. To the numerous ques-
lions. many nOnsensical, put to them
by the occupants of the train, they
found ready and satisfactory answers.
Engineer F. P. Becker formerly of To-
peka, and Fireman Edmond Leslie, pre-
sided over the engine which pulled the
train. To beat the rain if possible"
was the admOnition Engineer Becker
received at starting, and this he en-
deavored to do, making excellent time
through to Ottawa
At Hutchinson the first stop was
made, forty persons, including HoIo-
days Military band, 25 strong, which
had been engaged for the day, board
ing the train. At Newton six coaches
were added to the train, the delegation
from that point numbering 300 and from
Wichita so. At Florence another coach
was added with 100 excursionists, and
at Strong City the party was increased
by a similar number.
At Florence a heavy rain was still
falling, but before entering Strong City
the train passed the rain belt into fair
weather. This was the signal for gen
eral rejoicing, and with prospects of an
enjoyable outing before them, the good
humor Of the party reached it's height.
At Emporia four coaches with 200 oc-
cupants were awaiting the train, and
at that point it was divided and run
through to Ottawa as two sections.
Conductor William Failor of Argentine
and Brakemen G. w. Frey and E. E.
Brown took charge of the second sec
ton. Conductor FaiIor is that sort of
a railroad man whom it is a pleasure
to come in contact with, and aids in
sustaining the acknowledged reputa-
ton of Santa Fe conductors.
When the excursion train reached Of
tawa at IL o'clock the sun was shining
bright the park grounds We're in
splendid condition from the rain the
night before, and the prospects never
appeared better for picnic day. Din
ner was declared first on the pro-
gramme, and a few minutes after the
train pulled into the station, the park
was dotted with white tablecloths sur
rounded by picnic dinner parties.
But the two hours of sunshine dur
in which the picknickers dined was
only a respite. It was the one kind
act during the day. About 1 o'clock
scurrying clouds blew up and it grew
shOwery. 1t was only a shower. but
sufficient to put the race track and ball
grounds into slippery, muddy condi-
ton unfit for use. The races and ball
game were declared off. They were
the sports which were to have formed
by far the most interesting part of the
days programme.
The members of the Nickerson ball
club, composed of railroad men and
consisting of Messrs. F. Monroe. z.
Howell, E. Howell, Lamb, Clark, Shaw,
Struby, Hall, Dewitt, Finch, Pearson
and Miller, walked to the ball grounds
in knots of two and three, gazed on
the diamond where they were to have
vanquished the Ottawa team and dis
consolately turned away. The contest
ants in the bicycle, sack, three-legged
and tub races looked over the fence
into the race course, sighed and re-
turned to cover. The prizes could stay
in the shOplzeepers' windows; no laureIs
could be won that day.
The history of the remainder of the
day was rain, nothing but rain. The
shower was but the fOrerUnner of wha
was to follow. For over an hour it
rained at intervals; from that time on
it was a steady, continuous dOWnpOur.
In Assembly hall a dancing master
from Nicl1erson was operating a dance
at 10 cents a couple per dance, with
an orchestra of one fiddle and an or
gan. His patronage was not large.
over in the tabernacle Holidays
band was dispensing music to the ma
jOrity of the excursionists.
The members of the band are to be
complimented on their playing. Mr..
Holiday should not fail to bring his
band to Topeka and enter the Fall
Festival contest He is liable to take
back with him a prize. Marches, selec-
lions, patriotic airs and popular tunes
nOated out into the moisture laden air
and died away. But it didn't stop the
rain.
In one corner a man with flowing
Si0eWhiSkerS debated 70 financial