The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-16
l SUCCESSFUL PICNIC
WESTERN ROAD EMPLOYEES
 WENT TO TALLAssEE.
Special Train Was Provided by ths company-A Perfect Day and thes Best of Order
 Prevailed.

The first annual picnic of the em- ployes of the Western Railroad shops yesterday was great success, In es- cry sense of the term. The day was perfect, every arrangement was ob- served in the most systematic manner and the good order maintained by the big crowd was highly creditable.
 A little before 8 o'clock yesterday, morning a handsome special train con- sisting of six vestihuled coaches ..nd a baggage car backed into the Union station. There was 0 mass of people in tho station and in q marvelously short time after the special train backed in every one of the coaches was filled to its capacity. The crowd num- bered something over 800 people-em- ployes of the Western road and their guests intent upon getting everything possible out of the good time that Pres. ident Wickersham of the Western had generously provided.
 About o'clock the train pulled out of the shed. Conductors Callahan and Pearson in charge and Engineer Will liam Shaffer with engine 26 pulling 1t. The run to Millstead was made ln quick time and then the train took the Tallassee branch doing the seven miles from Millstead in good time. A half mile this side of the Tallassee station the train stopped and the crowd swarmed ont over the grounds. Those grounds are ideal for the purpose. Right on the banks of the river whosa roarings over tho rapids rival the dis tant roar of Tallassee Falls. 1t is proh- ably one of the most exquisite bits of scenery in Alabama or this section Of tho South. Great trees furnished a grateful shade from the rays of a sun which by this time was getting rather fervid. Altogether whoever selected the picnic grounds displayed excellent judgment.
 A large pavilion had been built in the shadiest part of the grounds and as a string band had been carried along. dancing was indulged In by good many all the morning. Others walked up the railroad track to the station and crossing the bridge--which had been made free of tolls for the daY--took a look at the falls and the new mills on the Eastern bank of the river. Others took carriages and drove to the town of Tallassee. something over a mile away in the hills. The people in charge of the grand old Whetstone place very courteously let everybody who desired it take a stroll over the grounds and gather flowers to their hearts content. Needless to say this hospitality Was eagerly taken advantage of for the old place Is famous and there are very few e-bellum homesteads in the South equalling this one of so many delight ful memories.
 Many who had never before visited TallaSsee were delighted with the beau< ties of the quaint rambling old town. and from many lips was heard a sigh for a summer home among those roli- ing hills, redolent with the scent of pine and indicative of health and hap piness.
 Winners of Prizes.
 After a most beautiful dinner, every one of the Western employees making himself a committee of one to see that every man, woman and child on the grounds was provided for, the con- tests in the different games began. The first one on the program was climbing the greasy pole, and from the shouts of laughter that echoed through the Elmore County hills, more amusement was derived from this than any of them. Boy after boy would suc- ceed in getting half way up the pole
 
 bare legs would become thoroughly soaked with grease. There would be & frantic struggle as the climber tried to find a foothold, and suddenly the little fellow would dart downward like lightning. Finally after repeated ef- forts,--and his persistency could profit ably be emulated by a good mauy grown-up persons-little John Councils reached the top and got the ham, The way he worked 1t was like this. He would get a boy to follow him up the pole and when he tired he would rest his feet on the head and shoulders Of this boy. His ingenuity won him the prize which everybody was glad to see him secure.
 MT. Albert Jones won the briar pipe which was the prize for putting the shot, and the sack race was won by Mir, Will Rite, a pair of socks. The peg pole was won by Mir. Peter Simp- son. the prize being half dozen hand kerchiefs The prize for the best lady dancer, a beautiful fan, was unani- awarded to Miss Adele Merriam. MT. Ocie Butler captured the prize' handsome scarf, for the best gentleman dancer.
 The hottest thing on the grounds except the weather-was the ball game between Montgomery and Tallassee. The Tallassee slab artist was pounded pretty hard, but the clean fielding Of his team evened things up and Tallas- see won out by a score of Il to 10.
 At o'clock the start for the return trip was made, and 1t was tired but delighted crowd that board ed the cars for Montgomery.
 The managers of the affair are to be and complimented on the great success of their efforts. Not the huge crowd there was not moment during the day that per feet order did not prevail. Not a syl- lable was heard on the grounds that could not have been uttered in the most exclusive drawing room. and not one single game of cards was seen on the Mir. Edwards, Chief Dis patcher of the local Western office, was on the grounds and he was grat- flied at the perfect management.
 The managers of the picnic desires through The Advertiser to thank Con- ductor T. A. Worrill, Engineer O. B. Bell and Fireman 8. B. Reneay of the Tallassee road for their assistance in turning and handling the picnic train.