The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-09-14
THE GRAYS' CELEBRATION
OUTING At LAKE COMPOUNCE HOST
SUCCESSFUL EYER HELD.

Join I'm Celebrating tho Company's
Eighty-third Anniversary Games
and Dinner Heartily Enjoyed-Cap-
tain Townshend Presents Company
With Sum of Money.
The Grays celebrated the eighty
third anniversary of their organizat tion
at Lake Compounce yesterday. They
returned to this city at 7:30 last even
1ng' tired and weary, but jubilant and
happy, and a unit in declaring it the
| most enjoyable affair in every respect
they had ever attended They vented
their enthusiasm in a short parade
around the principal streets of the city,
during which they Joined arms and
sang songs in boyish abandon. With
them were many former members of
the company,-the veterans,-many Of
them quite aged, who took part in the
parade with the same spirit that they
had participated in the events of the
day.
The company assembled at the armo-
ry at eight o'clock yesterday morning,
and at half-past eight marched to the
depot, where they took a special train
for Plainville. They arrived at their
destination shortly after ten O'clock,
and here four special trolley cars were
in waiting to take them to the lake
1t was but short time after their ar
rival there before the games Of the day
were in progress The weather was
perfect for such sports and everybody
seemed to appreciate the fact, joining
in the different games with much vig-
or. The different events follow.
The sack race was most amusing
and was eventually won Private Val
entine. The three-legged race evoked
equally as much laughter, the efforts
of the men to swing their legs together
being most ludicrous. 1t was won by
Privates Pond and Welton, who each
crossed the tape. Private Amos r.
Barnes, he who was afterwards immor-
talized on the bill Of fare, was the win
ner of the seventy-five yards dash.
He was closely pressed by Private Will
son.
The swimming race was won by Will
liam A. Simmons, of Akron, o. His
feat was surprise to many, as it was
not thought that he could swim, and
whispers were heard that he had
walked part of the way. In considera-
tion of the long way he had come,
though, no demurrer was heard to his
taking the prize. The last event was
the 1ve-oared boat race, which was
won by the second platoon by half a
length.
The games were no more than fin u
ished before the rival baseball teams
took the field, intending to astonish ev-
erybody by their prowess. They might
have done so had it not been for the de-
cisions of Umpires Howard Webb and
Lieutenant Smith. These in all seri
business delivered some remarkable de-
so remarkable that the assis-
tance of the onlookers was necessary to
decide several of them. j. B. Cunning
ham, ex-alderman and councilman,
captained the veterans and proved the
life of the team. On one occasion they
had played half the inning in the field
before he discovered that they had gone
out again. The actives finally won the
contest by the score of IS to s, but eve
rybody agreed that the umpires had
settled "old scores with the veterans.
The makeup of the teams was as
follows:
Actives-Dr. G. A. Lawton, p; John
Shares, 1st b; Amos Barnes, C; Edward
Fox, 2b; Lew Hotchkiss, Sd b; Fred
Crabbe, rf John Perry, CT; Ralph Van
Name, 9f.
Veterans-A. William Sperry, p; Clar
ance Clark, 1st b. Lieut.. George Hall,
,; Clarence Wilson, End b; Lew Norton,
(I \, rf.
Cunningham, ss Herbert Bishop, CT;
James P. Earle, IT,
1t was we'll along in the afternoon by
he time the ball game ended and every
body felt hungry. Dinner was an
bounced shortly after o'clock and the
,all was responded to with a rush. The
menu was simple but substantial, and
30 well filled was each plate that but
'ew passed theirs twice. The feature Of
he menu was potatoes a la Barnes.
AS the coffee and cigars were brought
m Captain McCabe as toastmaster,
'alled upon the guests of honor for
peeches all of whom responded in their
Usual vein, wishing the company a long
ife and the greatest of prosperity. They
we're the following:
Congressman N. D. Sperry, General
Ierwn Lieutenant Governor J. D.
)ewell, Col. Lee, Col. Warren, Bridge
ort; Captain Townshend.
Captain Townshend's speech was
warmly applauded He is one of the
ldest members of the company, having
Celebrated the semi-centennial of his
aptaincy last year and he showed that
e still cherishes the memory Of the
ay when he was a member. He clos
d his remarks by presenting the COM
any with a sum of money, with the
1ish that it should be held in trust by
he officers of the company to be used
/ the purchase annually of a medal for
he active member bringing the great
st number of recruits during the year.
he medal is to be known as the Town
hend medal Captain Townshend's
III was received with cheers.
Dinner was concluded just before
clock The company gathered out of
oors once more and were treated to an
by some Of the talented
lembers of the company. Several
plendid selections were also rendered
y the Second Regiment band, under
1e leadership of Frank Fichtl The
was as follows:
Whistling SOlO-Frank Hamilton, Jr.