The record-union., 1896-08-10
TEE WATERMELON FUNCTION
Hheelmen Had a Great Time Of Il at
Stockton.
Sacramento Had About Eighty Rep
resentatives There-Parade,
Racing. Etc.

ard three ladies went to Stockton yes
terday to the Terminal City Wheelmen'
first watermelon rout. OF these only
nine went by rail, and of the entire par
ty fifty returned by wheel Captain
George Readman was in charge of the
run, and the entire party, while F. M.
Woodson handled the drill corps.
The wheel representatives present
were from Alamada, Vallejo, San Fran
cisco, Sacramento and Stockton's
three clubs, the latter turning
out in large numbers. Vallejo's
A. B. C. Club had very full ranks.
San Francisco was represented by ff-
teen members of the Road Club. There
We're scattering representatives from
half-dozen other outside clubs. The
largest turnout by an outside club was
from Sacramento.
The wheels in line numbered about
325. The Stockton wheelmen had sew
eral handsomely decorated wheels, and
charming feature of their showing
was dozen handsome wheel women in
pretty costume.
The terminal city wheelmen were the
hosts of the day, they having gotten up
and borne the burden of the affair. Their
club-rooms We're open to guests, and
there was evidently some lack of knowl-
edge just how to put visitors at ease ana
keep their attention interested How
ever there was generous efforts to
make visiting people feel at home, and
if every visitor was not sought out and
introduced to his hosts and to the other
visitors it was because it was not
thought necessary to do so in so broad
q fraternity as that of the wheel"
About 10 o'clock the procession
formed, headed by a good band and q
squad of police on wheels and marched
(wheeled) from the terminal clubs
rooms down Market street to Aurora, to
Weber avenue, to Ell Dorado, to Main,
to California, to and through the asylum
grounds, and thence to Good Water
Grove. En- route, however, the process
sion paused at Hunter Square and
formed on its four sides. Twenty men
of the Capital City Drill Corps, by re-
, quest of the Terminals, gave fortwenty
five minutes an exhibition of facings and
movements, according to wheel tactics.
The exhibition was very pretty, but not
so good as the corps makes at home. 1t
was the first appearance before strang-
ers, and two false movements resulted
from nervousness in the ranks. Never
theless it was, in too limited drill area,
a pleasing exhibition and resulted in
most of the other clubs members re-
solving to organize drill corps.
The value Of knowing how to move in
military order on the wheel was empha-
sized on the entire long march by the
Sacramento corps bearing the club en-
blem and the American flag leading its
club. That division was kept in very
a1i CIV
movements, following the corps orders
often, and presented military neat
ness in march that received applause,
while the unframed clubs struggled
good deal, and little success was had in
regularity of movement.
The wheelmen generally remarked
this, and about all resolved that here
after clubs should be sufficiently exer-
cised in drill to make professional
marches attractive and easy.
All along the line of the march the
several clubs greeted. cheered and COM
plimented each other and rendered the
verdict, They're all right
The people of Stockton lined the
streets. and evidently were much pleased
with the showy turnout of the wheel
men. The marshaling of the line by the
Terminals was very good and is much
to their credit. They We're very patient.
polite and solicitous to make all in the
line feel proud of it.
Arrived at Goodwater Grove sand
wiches were served to all 'to stay their
appetites,' and then the entire party
Was turned loose upon a thousand fine
watermelons. and for an hour there was
great merriment and much putting away
Of that which filleth speedily and still
leaves desire for more.
In the afternoon there were games
dances. music, races. sports and numer-
aus contests for prizes among the lean
and fat, and short and TALL and hand
some and homely, and so on. with short
bicycle races for prizes. These sports
were supplemented by the award Of
numerous prizes for various merits. such
as twenty-five pounds of ice to the most
popular married lady cyclist." and "a
bottle of Vino Kolafra to the wisest
wheelmen." and so on.
The festivities were kept up until
about half-past >. by which time the
Sacramento contingent had mostly set
out for home, few remaining over
night.
All in all, it was a pleasant days out
iEg. and being the first attempt of the
Terminal Wheelmen to manage such an
affair. stands fairly to their credit.
Those of the Capital City Wheelmen
who returned last evening came back
III a special car attached to the regular
train. arriving at s D. m. The local
wheelmen say they had a very enjoy