Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-24
THE GREAT PICNIC.
City
eure-seeking Mod.
'oodmen.
CALDWELL'S GROVE SCENE OF JOY
This is Picnic Day for All the Modern
Woodmen Of Southeastern Iowa
w. w. Epps Delivers the Adj
dress of welcome.

There are 5000 people in attendance
4 at the fourth annual picnic of the
Southeastern Iowa Picnic association,
which is being held at Caldwell's
grove in the West End today, under
the auspices of Woodland Camp No.
1 lob and Glenwood Camp No. 1T4O, NJ.
w. A., of this city, The threatening
rain storm early this morning pre-
vented many from coming, and had it
not been for that it is probable that
| the above number would have been in
| creased by 1000. AS it was, all the
morning trains brought large numbers
| of Woodmen and their friends. The
4 special on the Santa Fe from Fort
Madison brought 200 or more. A spe-
cial on the Iowa Central from Oska-
loosa brought fully that many, and
by the time the parade was started
there were several hundred Woodmen
in line. The city has been given over
to the visiting Wood Choppers and the
Merry Foresters. All the business
houses on the principal streets are
decorated with banners bearing the ak,
beetle and wedge, emblematic of the
order that is being entertained. Many
of the residence houses throughout
the city are also decorated with the
banners of Woodcraft.
| The forenoon was devoted to re-
ception of the visiting Neighbors. At
II o'clock the parade moved from the
hall OF Woodland Camp No. 1903, and
marched to the grounds, where a pic
mic dinner was the next thing in or
der. The grounds are beautifully dec
GRATED, and provided with an abund-
ance of water. The speakers stand is
surrounded with seats for the accom-
mediation of several hundred people,
lend there are numerous refreshment
| stands throughout the grounds. The
afternoon is being devoted to pro-
gram of addresses and music.
The Parade.
! The parade moved from Noodmen
| hall, corner Court and Second streets,
| promptly at 4 o'clock. John Gray,
captain of the city police force, and
Officers Frank Harris, William Malo-
ney, John Pasnau, j. T.. Kent, NJ. Nor
rissey, Levi Noah, L. p. Copple and
Tom O'Brien headed the procession.
| The Wapello Chief band came next,
followed by members of the order,
both of the local and visiting camps.
| The Batavia band headed the Batavia
camp in the procession, and with the
| Wapello Chief band assisted in the
musical program at the grounds in
the afternoon. The parade was officer
ed by the following persons:
Marshal-William N. Evans.
Deputy marshals--W. A. Stevens and
| William Berry.
The officers Of the association who
participated in the parade and assisted
int the reception off the visiting dele
cations are:
4 President-P. C. Palmer.
Secretary. S. Hammersmith.
Treasurer-Dr. +. NJ. Arenschield
| The line of march was east on Sec
ond street to Jefferson street, south on
Jefferson street to Main street, west
on Main street to Court street, north
on Court street to Second street, and
west on Second street to the grove.
At the Grounds.
After the arrival at the grounds,
picnic dinners were the order of the
hour, until 1:aO, when President p. G..
1 Palmer called the assemblage to or
der, and after brief address, intro
dueed Hon. w. w. Epps, of this city.
who delivered the following address Of
welcome:
W. w. Epps' Address of Welcome.
l Mr.. President, Neighbors, ladies and
! gentlemen, have been commissioned
| by the committee of arrangements to
extend to our visiting neighbors and
friends on this occasion a hearty and
cordial welcome, on behalf Of the
camps of NJ. w. A, of our city and of
| the citizens generally. The hospital
lily we feel for you in our hearts at
| this time merits more eloquent lips
| than mine to express it; nevertheless
/ most cheerfully accept this trust
and proceed to extend to you, one and
all, a warm fraternal and heartfelt
greeting.
In selecting this our city, as the
place of holding this your fourth an
nual picnic, you confer an honor upon
us which we keenly feel and highly
appreciate. Ottumwa, as you all know
is situated in one of the most fertile
and productive sections of the state of
Iowa. Nearly every industry and en-
4 terprise known to the state fourishes
here. Her surrounding fields are
among the most productive; her Or
chards and gardens yield abundantly;
| her mines are among the richest; her
railroad facilities are ample; her
wholesale, retail and jobbing interests
are not surpassed by any city of her
size west of the Mississippi river. Our
religious, educational and charitable
institutions are the pride of our citi-
zens, her various resources are mex
haustible. But l must say this to any
of you older Neighbors, who may have
brought your big sons with you, that
you have made no mistake iniso doing,
for Ottumwa especially prides herself
in having more attractive and heauti-
full young ladies according to popula-
ton than any other city in the state.
| The words, or rather name, Modern
Woodmen of America, is not n strange
one totouI~citizens. This organization
| is well known among MS, not only by
its name, but by the works and deeds
of its members. A part of the mis-
sion OF the Modern Woodmen of Amer
lea is to uplift mankind. to make men
better, to elevate the race, to lead u
helping hand to distressed humaAity,
to guard the interests of its men beers,
TO assist in stemming the current of
| life, to assist in bearing each