The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-08-31
IOWANS HAVE
MERRY PICNIC
SPEND THE DAY ON NEAL CREEK
Brass Band, Songs and Speeches,
Dinner is Spread Beneath
the Pines.

Thursday, August "a, was great
day for Hood River Hawkeyes. They
picniced that day under the pines ON
the banks of Neal creek, and many of
them declare they never had better
time in their lives. There was some
dust on the road to be sure, but un-
der the shade Of the pines, the day
was perfect. No thunder storm or cy-
clone disturbed the merrymakers
Somebody forgot to supply the roast
ing ears, but the women all brought
baskets overflowing with good things
to eat, and after short program of
speeches, singing and music by the
band, the tables were spread on the
carpet of pine needles, when all did
justice to the dinner laid before them.
Something over $50 people were
present. W. f. Laraway was chair
man of the day. lie waited at some
length for several who had promised
to take part in the program. One of
the solOists was absent, but Miss
Blanche HARRISON and sisters Hester
and Ruth kindly volunteered, and
without any previous preparation
sang Good bye, Little Girl, Good
bye," 80 beautifully that Il generous
encore brought them to the platform
second time.
Mrs. W. f. Laraway was then intro
duced and read very interesting pa
per descriptive of the great state of
Iowa. Mrs. Laraway was listened to
attentively. The paper was instructive
alike to Hawkeyes and Oregonians.
Little 9-year- old Emma Noble re
sponded to call from the chairman
for a recitation. She was encored
enthusiastically. Telephone Talk"
was the subject of her first piece, and
Bachelor Sale, 4" the second.
Louis lsenberg very kindly enliven-
ed the occasion with one of his hui
morous stories, and was roundly ap-
plauded.
Chairman Laraway called for the
first one in the gathering who had
left the state of Iowa for Oregon.
Amos Underwood stepped to the plat
form, and announced that Ee came in
1852 No one disputed this honor un-
til Roswell Shelley came forward and
stated that he left Iowa in lS48. The
two pioneers shook hands. Chairman
Laraway then announced that he had
reserved the best for the last and in
troduced Mr.. Shelley, who held the
attention of the audience for 20 min
utes.
Mr.. Shelley spoke of the good
state of Iowa and her wonderful re-
sources, following with an eulogy of
the pioneers who braved the rayages
of the Indians to carve for themselves
a home in the Oregon country. Mr.
Shelley crossed the plains when little
more than an infant. His grandfa-
ther while on the hard trip across the
plains fell victim of cholera and was
buried ON the banks of the River
Platt. When the party arrived in
Lane county, ten miles above Eugene,
there was no flour in the country.
What little they used that winter was
ground in coffee mill.
AS one of the many Iowans present,
Mr.. Shelley was glad he had come to
Oregon, and in his opinion this coun-
try Is destined to become famed as a
community of prosperous and content
ed farmers.
After dinner an Iowa society was
formed with W. +. Laraway, prCsi-
dnt; M. r. Noble, vice president :;
Mrs. M. M. Hill,s secretary; Hans
Lage, treasurer. 1t was voted that
the picnic of the Iowa society should
be an annual affair, the date for the
next one being left with the executive
committee.