The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-25
$4,000
Biggest Picnic in the History
of Kansas
Is Going On at Garfield Park
Today.
GROCERS & BUTCHERS
Entertain the People of Topeka
and Vicinity.
Seven Steers, IL Sheep and
Many Pigs Roasted Whole.
Thousands of People Fed at the
Barbecue Tables.
THEY ARE WAITED ON
By Fifty Pretty White AprOned
Young Ladies.
Picnic Will Last Late Into
the Night.
Thousands of People Fed at the
Barbecue Tables.
THEY ARE WAITED ON
By Fifty Pretty White Aproned
Young Ladies.
Picnic Will Last Late Into
the Night.

Topeka is taking holiday. The gro
GERS and butchers have monopoly, ana
no one else is supposed to do anything
hut enjoy themselves at their expense,
and they are doing it.
There are, it is believed, at least 15,Oeo
people at Garfield park. They crowd al
most every nook in the enclosure. They
began coming soon after daylight, put
the great rush came about IL O'CLOCK
Just after the big parade filed into the
park. The gates were too narrow 10
admit the people as fast as they came
and it required the efforts of ex-Chief
of Police John Gardiner and half dozen
assistants to keep a passageway cleared
and the people in order
Teams were not allowed in the
grounds and this fact resulted in hun
dreds of people being turned away
Many who went to the park in convey
ances left their rigs on the outside, but
others drove home. IL turns out that
this provision of the committee was
wise one. for the buggies and wagons
would have added to the crush ana IN
creased the danger of accidents
When the Retail Grocers' association
first suggested picnic they had no idea
that it would be more than quiet ar
fair in which the grocers and Their fam
lilies would participate, but as 1hS plan
progressed it grew in Importance until
the grocers and butchers who We're ad-
mitted into the compact realized that
they would have the whole city 10 en-
tertain.
it would require more than half dozen
beeves to feed the hungry multitude,
and that is why force of men was put
to work two days ago to roast seven
and a half beeveS in the old fashioned
way Even with the foresight of Mr..
Wolff 1t is doubtful if the supply or
meat will last longer than half the aft
ernoon, for it is not often that Topeka
people are treated to taste OF barbe-
cued beef fresh from the Goals.
Garfield park is veritable Midway
Everything is there, from Otto kuehne'S
Streets of Klondike' to the steam
merry-go-round and the man who sells
balloons and red lemonade. They pay
for the privilege of being present, of
course but a member of the executive
committee said when he saw the
crowds of people forcing their way into
the grounds: This is more than we
figured on. The committee sold these
privileges too low The association
might as well have doubled the price,
and then we would have had all we
could accommodate"
The committee made arrangements to
have the road in the rear of the park
sprinkled, but the effort was failure.
The sprinklers belonging to Mr.. kac-
zynski went over the ground repeatedly,
but when the advance guard arrived
the dust was ankle deep except at the
entrance, where it had been transform
ed into thick mud.
The participants in the parade walked
the entire distance to the park, and as
MarShalls band filed into the park they
played Annie Laurie" The march
ers were hot and dusty, but they were
still full of enthusiasm.
The Grocers' and Butchers celebra-
tion is the largest picnic in the history
of the city.