The San Francisco call., 1897-09-10
PICuICKING OF
THE ARG0NAUTS
The Pioneers Celebrate
Admission Day at Ell
Campo.
A Poem Composed for the Ocoa-
sion Praises the Early Set
tiers and James Lick.
The Young People Make Merry All
Day in the Dancing Hall, and
the Outing Was Perfect.


brated the forty-seyenty anniversary of
the admission of California into the Union
yesterday at Ell Campo with basket
picnic, dancing and literary exercises.
TIE steamer Ukiah and the grounds at Ell
Campo had been engaged for the exclusive
use of the Argonauts and their friends
About 1000 people took part In the les
tivities, and the old-timers say 1t was the
finest weather they ever had for their an
nuai outing.
The bear flag foated over the picnickers
and Blum's orchestra kept up the spirits
of the crowd with music. The dance
hall was crowded to it's full ca apacity from
the arrival of the big shipload of merry
makers at IL O'Clock in the forenoon till
the last boat left at nearly in the after
noon. r. Vandercook was the master OF
ceremonies on the dance platform and he
kept the young people at high pitch OF
enthusiasm by setting the example OF al
most contin uous dancing himself. The
musicians considered him quite severe
taskmaster. Whe never he got partner
he loved to dance with which was very
often. he would be sure 10 blow his whistle
for an encore.
President John H. Jewett delivered the
opening address. The orator of the day
was General n. p Chipman. He opened
by expressing his gratitude for the oppor
tunity to look in the faces of so many of
the survivors of the heroic pioneers of
half century ago. A skeleton account
of the evolution of California followed,
and there came comparison OF this
State in 1850 with what it is In 1897. In
closing he gave an eloquent appeal 10 the
fhAr, cnIr
of the splendid heritage left them by the
enterprise and courage of the early set
tiers. "Tbere lies before you," he said,
"and the countless thousands you are to
attract around you, one of the grandest
fields Tor intelligent enterprise ever spread
before mortal man. Will you be faithful
10 the trust?
DR.. Washington Aver was the poet of
the day, and he hes occupied this post of
honor for number of anniversaries. He
read an original pastoral-historic poem
which he had composed for the occasion,
and closed with an epilogue called The
Argonaut's Dream" in which he pays
tribute to the memory of James Lick, the
great benefactor OF the society. The clos
ing verses of the poem are:
Utopian land of the olive and vine,
Where memories cluster of "Old Lang Syne,"
And stars look down from the b ue-vauted nave
And chant The praise OF the old and brave
All mellow wi; h owe from he great supreme.
truition of all of the Ar.onaut's dream,
Prophetic theme of pleasures yet to be-
md fruitful scenes beside the sunset sea,
And far beyond appeared promise bow,
The golden fringe OF life's bright aftergow.
While shadowy forms beckonea his way again
He awoke inspired with love for his f-llowmen
And freely gave of his bounteous store
That made the world his debtor DER and o'er
His spirit will live In eeds manifold
To tell the story of the days of gold;
With soul enshrined in a casket of love
Tor "A ixryai in hriu hi roo oIrynoa aharra
No brighter wreath is known to fame
Than twines around his honored name
wreath to memory ever dear,
Inwoven all with smiles to cheer.
With prncely gifts to store the mind
To fill with Joy and bless mankind;
A wreath of gems bestowed with care,
In thoughtful beauty grand beyond compare
ant-Governor Romualdo Pacheco. There
were estimated to be something less than
a hund red of the old pioneers on the
grounds. The old mem bers of the society
are now about 800 all told, and there are
some 300 juniors.
The old argonauts are dying at the rate
OF about five per month. The readine-
room at Pioneer Hall that used to be well
filled, now only musters about a dozen
readers. These are mostly men who have
lost their families. Among the old faces
most Familiarity known were Judge Niles
Searls, DR.. James Sim pson, John Kelly.
who for so long kept the Brooklyn Hotel.
Judge Robert Thompson, Judge 1. Bel.
cher, Judge Aylett Cotton, William Doc.
little, Benjamin Haynes. B. L. Latham.
Fred Lutz, A. A. Moore. B. 4. Hendrick,
son, William G. Badger, president of the
Bunker Hill Society, and Colonel A. S.
Hubbard, secretary of the Sons of the
Revolution.
The committee in charge of the celebra.
tion was composed of E. T. Kruse R.
Vandercook, William Ii. Pratt, James D.
Phelan, Peer Tiffany and J. F. Pinkham.