The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-16
THOUSANDS WENT AWAY.
Four Excursions That Left the City
Saturday Were Well Patronized by
the People Of This City.

Scranton was smaller in population
last Saturday than it has been for
many years. Four excursions to as
many resorts, near and far, drained
the city to the amount of probably
1000 persons. This is very low es-
innate and the actual count including
those who are away on summer So
journs would swell the number to over
10000.
1t was an ideal excursion day. The
factory hands dropped their bobbins
and got a glimpse of heaven at Lake
Ariel; the shop workers threw aside
their hammers and with wives and
families spent a few hours under the
trees and on the bosom of Harvey's
lake; at Farview the miners drilled
holes in the rocks for prizes and glory,
and another crowd, comprising all
classes, went to Lake Poyntelle for
some fresh air. and boat ride. The
weather knew all about 1t and behaved
as If he were friend of the masses.
Fate was not so kind for the Poyntelle
excursionists came home with one dead
body-Michael DENNIS, of the North
End, who was drowned in the lake. An
account is given in another column.
Without a doubt the greatest of
Saturdays big four was the factory
girls outing at Lake Ariel The en-
ployes of the Sauquoit Silk mill We're
given a free excursion by the mill
operators. 1t proved to be the best
patronized undertaking that has ever
originated in this city. Forty car loads
of people, numbering over 3,000 were
carried to the lake in four trains over
the Erie and Wyoming Valley road.
OF this number 1000 were employees of
the factory and 400 more Travelled on
free tickets, distributed by the mill op-
orators through w. Fl. Davis, superin-
tendcnt of the Sauquoit mill.
The money obtained by the sale of
tickets to outside persons was used by
Mr.. Davis in purchasing refreshments
given to the employees at the lake.
over 300 checks worth cents each
were distributed at the park. These
checks presented at the numerous
stands were exchanged for Ice cream,
confections or lunches.
Incidentally 1t may he said that
Peter Zeidler proprietor of Zeidler's
cafe, dreamt of checks Saturday night.
Mr.. Zeidler was at the lake as also was
Chief of Police Frank RobIing and a
hundred others who contributed with
their money to the success of the out
ing. Naturally the factory girls were
very, very anxious to secure those
nickle checks and Chief Robling point
| ed out Mr.. Zeider as the only man in
| the park who had the checks. Mr..
| Zeidlcr was the centre of a swarm of
| petitioners. He finally escaped in q
boat and across the lake to where
| John j. Gaffney was monarch of little
| st. Helena. This was only one of many
amusing incidents.
Bauer's band played for dancing dur
ing all the day and the big pavilion was
| too small for the crowd. The attaches
of the park say that there never was
a bigger and more lively crowd at the
| lake. The engineer of one Of the small
steamers at o'clock was complaining
| that he had not had time to eat his
noon-day meal. When evening came
two long trains emptied the park OF
It's humanity and the great day was
over.
The philanthropic spirit of the mill
operators found a good medium in Su'
perlntendent Davis. For weeks past
he has worked night and day toward
the success of the excursion, At the
park ne was everywhere, working for
the comfort of his boys and girls. His
popularity was q matter of general
! comment.
Marquette council, Young Mems In.
stitute, of the North End. went to Far.
view for their outing. 1t took % cars
to carry the crowd. The day was very
pleasantly spent. one of the features
being q rock drilling contest by miners
The first prize was won by Harry Jones
and William Nichols; second prize by
John Baxter and David Richards,
Tho estimated number at the park was
1,i00 people.
At Lake Poyntelle twenty-eight car
loads Of people under the direction o.
the order of True Ivorites of the Nortf
End passed day that was marred only
by the accident mentioned.
The Delaware, Lackawanna an(
Western Mutual Aid association haC
their excursion to Harveys lake. Tn,
train numbered Is cars. The featur,
of the day was swimming contes
between Campbell. Of the North End
and a man named Evans from Wilkes
Barre. The Scranton man won.