Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-04
ANNUAL SHAD DINNER
INSURANCE MEN SPEND DAY AT
MARSHALL HALL.
Presentation of Testimonial to Ex.
President Wells-Prizes to Con-
testants-Musica1 Features.

The annual outing Of the fire insurance
men of the District Saturday was a most
enjoyable social event at Marshall Hail.
great interest having been taken in the
program of outdoor sports which had been
prepared by the committee on arrange
ments. Being in its spring garb Marshall
Hall had an inviting appearance, and it was
not long after the Manchester touched at the
wharf before the two hundred members of
the board of fire underwriters of the Dis
trict and their friends were roaming over
the lawns and participating in the various
sports.
If the party had not broken away from
the boat with such alacrity and scattered
far and wide over the place the photog-
rapher. who was in readiness for a snap
shot, might have transferred to his plate a
large number of the pleasing visages Of the
representative men of the District.
A base ball game was quickly arranged
between the eighty per centers' and the
average clausers, and when the dinner
bell sounded the score stood 8 to 3 in favor
of the former-that is according to some OF
the players. The score. however, will not
be allowed to go on record without pro-
test. However, this difference of opinion
did not affect the appetites of either those
who took part in the game or those who
undertook the hazardous duty of serving
as "bleacherS."
There was a contingent which tossed the
nine-pin balls and another which twirled
the quoits, and to each of these was at
tached an audience of more or less en-
thusiaStic partisans.
Unanimous Verdict.
There was no difference of opinion as to
the planked shad, the clam chowder or the
other accessories that constitute a dinner
on such occasions, and everything went
"a eh IA 10 nf
Mr.. Charles F. Nesbitt, who, as chairman
of the committee of arrangements had the
assistance of Lem Towers. jr., and c. Mar
tin Brand. Owing to the death of his
brother Mr. Towers did not go down to
Marshall Hall.
Mr.. Nesbitt served as POSTMASTER when
the time came for that feature of the exer-
ciSes. Seated at one side of the toastmas-
ter was the president, c. W. Howard, and
at the other the former president Henry
Wells. Commissioner Macfarland as the
guest of the association, was also placed
near the POSTMASTER.
popular feature of the dinner was the
vocal music by Charles Roberts He gave
with fine effect the strains of I'm the Dun
geon Deep and other popular melodies,
and when he came to THE Good Old Sum-
mer Time the diners helped him out in the
chorus with a heartiness that sent the
strains floating across the river to the Vir-
ginia shores OF course, Mr.. Samuel Cross
sang that ever-popular song, THE Sword
of Bunker HILL for had he not the day
would not have been, in tl|e opinion of the
insurance men, success. So Mr. Cross,
who is very obliging, gave the song, as he
has on so many previous occasions, and
was rewarded with a continued DEM
onstration of the approval of his asso-
ciates.
Testim onial Presented.
A pleasing incident was the presentation
to the former president, Mr.. Wells, of a
handsome vase, which was appropriately
adorned with the figure of shad. In pre-
senting the testimonial of the regard and
esteem of the members of the association,
Mr.. Nesbitt took occasion to refer to the
valuable services performed by Mr.. Wells,
who was at the head of the organization
during period Of storm and stress, CIV
ing his time and ability freely, Mr.. Mes
bit said, in the service Of the association.
The gift was received with an expression
of Mr.. Wells sincere appreciation and graf
itude.
The prizes to the quot players were award