The San Francisco call., 1899-06-22
LAID ASIDE THEIR
PUNCHES FOR PLEASURE
CONDUCTORS ENJOYED A MUCH
NEEDED OUTING.
An Ideal Day and a Picked Crowd
Made Their Initial Picnic Bril-
liant Success-Wbo Were
Present.

There was a dearth of railway conduc-
tors on the various divisions of this State
yesterday. Every ticket puncher who
could get away from his duties without
danger of tying up his line gathered his
family and capacious lunch basket to-
gether and hied himself to Sunset Park
to attend the initial outing of the mem
bers of his calling given under the aus
pices of El Captain Division No. lis. The
Knights of the Punch sat back in up
holstered cars, through which it is their
wont to pass in the collection of paste
boards, and calmly handed their printed
slips to one of their tribe, and half pitied
the latter for being compelled to work
on such an auspicious day.
If there was ever a success achieved
by an organization on its first venture
in the picnic line, the railroad conductors
are entitled to their share of the laurels.
Their picnic proved one of the most de-
lghtful held in Sunset Park, or, in fact,
any other park, in some moons. per
feet day, select crowd and not hitch
in the arrangements made the outing
memorable one.
Representatives from the surrounding
bay cities were there in numbers, garbed
in their coolest apparel. laden with the
good things that make picnic pleasant
and without a care but to have good
time. And they had 1t, too, II crowded
dance hall is criterion and If beaming
faces and merry laughter in other poT-
tions Of the beautiful park are slgnlf1-
cant.
Fourteen cars carried the conductors.
their families and their numerous fr1ends
S:45 a. m, and the heavily loaded train
stopped at various points along the route
to take on more Near Mount Eden the
cylinder blew out of the locomotive and
Jerks and jolts the engine was started
and hurried on to San Jose without fur
ther mishap, but there gave way to an
undamaged locomotive. The picnickers
arrived at Sunset Park shortly after noon
and Immediately spread themselves about
the grounds and feasted on the good
After luncheon dancing was inaugurated,
and until 5 o'clock Richardson's Sausa-
Ito band discoursed popular music FOR
the graceful ones. Strolls down by the
babbling brook that courses through the
grounds were taken by numerous parties
and along its banks were chiluren and
grown people dangling their ''Trilbies'
Among the familiar faces in and around
the dance hall during the days festivities
were genial Sam Davis, one of the mar
Phelps, A, B. Murray, J. d. Moffitt; J. G.
Frelling, George l.. Colegrove, w. d.
Hartley, A r. Holbrook and w. H. Eng
WIGHT, Of the Southern Pacific Company;
w J. Hunter and j. K. Smith of the Cali
fornia and Northwestern.
W. j. Hunter made an efficient floor
manager and the other members of the
committee of arrangements, consisting of
Thomas Billingslea, Charles D. Phelps, j..
p. Dillon. George L. Colegrove and
George f. Smith, also did valiant service
An instance of the thoroughness in
which the railroad men conducted their
outing was shown on the return journey,
when it was learned by telegraph that
twenty-three picnickers were left on the
grounds through no fault of the COM
mittee, but due to the twenty three being
in the canyon when the signal was given
to depart. Without minutes hesitation
the committee ordered a special engine
and car to the park and the belated pic
nickers Were whirled home in style. Such
courtesy won further words of approval
for the conductors and was a fitting close
to jolly outing.