Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-08-22
.GRO(ERS' Play DAY
Two Thousand Excursionists
Participate In Annual Picnic
At Clear Lake.
Three Trains Haul the Picnicker.
to the Scene Of the Day'c
Festivities.
Largest Excursion Ever Taken
From the City-..Business
Houses Closed.

The grocers, the bakers and other bus
mess makers, with their families, en-
ployes and friends including a number
from the surrounding towns and coun-
try, are at Clear Lake today, participat-
Ing in the pleasures arranged in con-
junction with the second annual picnic
OF the MarshalltowniR Retail Grocers' AS
ISOLATION. Two thousand people Joined
in the trip to the lake and they were
hauled in three special trains on the
Iowa Central.
Business in the city was quite gener-
ally suspended, all the grocery ctores
and numerous other places OF business
closing for the day to give the employees
an opportunity to enjoy a brief outing.
The committee representing the grocers,
in conjunction with the Iowa Central
passenger department. have labored
long and hard to make this annual play
day success. and while the crowd was
not quite up to the expectations, 1t was
the largest ever taken out of this city
and the largest ever run by the Iowa
Central. 1t eclipsed the Oskaloosa
point almost two fold, and when the
crowds left this city they were antlci-
pating day of pleasure, as an attrac-
tive program had been arranged and
there were many other attractions at
the popular summer resort.
The first section OF the excursion train
left Marshalltown promptly ate o'clock
a. M, and there was q grand rush to
get aboard this train, owing to the
anxiety to reach the lake as early as
possible. Conductor Frank Chapman
had the first train in charge, and En-
gineer Oscar Green, with engine 40,
pulled the train thru to the lake. This
section consisted of eleven coaches and
one way car, which We're completely
filed. some passengers preferring to
stand rather than wait for the depart
ure of the other sections. There We're at
least $50 passengers on board this sec
ton. At Mason City the transfer was
made to the Milwaukee and the excur-
ssionists were landed at the park.
The second section, consisting of the
same amount of equipment left the city
at $780,, in charge of Conductor Clifford,
with Engineer Jim Elder at the throttle
of No. 107. This train was comfortably,
filed, none having to stand, but every
seat being occupied. Eight hundred pas
gers were aboard.
The third section was held until
O'clock, to accommodate the late corners
and those from distance. The early
morning shower that came just as the
excursionists were gathering caused
some to abandon their trip, however,
and the third section did not carry
more than 300 people. aside from the
Fifty-first regiment band, which furn-
ished the music for the day. Conductor
John Conley was in charge of the train,
which was piloted to its destination by
Engineer p. r. McCosh, with engine
10S.
The Central passenger department
was represented by General Agent III.
L. Laird, of this city, and Travelling
Passenger Agent George Martin, of Os-
kaloosa, and these gentlemen looked af-
ter the comfort and wants of the excur-
sionists en- route to the lake. The
coaches We're side tracked at Clear Lake
where the crowd could have access to
them in case of rain. Arrangements
were also made for checking and storing
the edibles and other effects of the ex-
cursionists.
For the necessary equipment of
thirty-six cars the Central drew upon
the Milwaukee and the Minneapolis h
st. Louis The first section ID due to
leave the lake at $3.50 this evening. and
the others will follow at intervals of
half an hour.