The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-07-17
The Great Picnic.
Editor Ths AI.iilniu:: Times

II YOU lItlt-U\'It liz DCISi = IsAs'' '''N~S
you were unavoidably detained from
attending the Salem picnic last Friday
and asked me to write it up for You, l
might have observed things more
closely, and been ID position to Go the
occasion more justice. | am sorry you
were NOT able TO be present. 1t was
certainly :; great occasion. and would
have inspired YOU TO write one OF your
best articles in describing 1t.
AS the public are perhaps aware: the
idea of having this big picnic oriSinat-
ed with Supervisor McFaddin, to celc
brace the completion OF the Black
River causeway on the new Salem
road. This road was projected some
two years ago. and about all of it has
been completed for more than year
except the causeway. Supervisor
Owens did :, good deal Of the work. but
the unpleasant task OF completing the
cauSeway fell to the administration OF
Supervisor McFaddin. The early part
/! of this wear the board OF county CON-
missioners concluded 70 have the WORK
completed by contract. to the lowest
responsible bidder, and let out the
contract, but the party failed to comply
with his bid, and Supervisor McFaddio
then conceived the idea that the best
thing to do was to take the chaiugaug
and keep them there until the cause
way was completed.
After this momentous task was I'm
ished he had commendable desire TO
let the people OF Clarendon know what
had been done, and nc better way sug-
gested itself than having u grand pic
mic celebration. He enlisted the ap
proval aud cooperation OF the mer-
chants of Manning in behalf of the
idea, and al hands agreed to close up
stores last Friday and go to the picnic.
Few men can see dollar further, or
conceive an idea to improve business
opportunity quicker than Billy" Jen-
kinson, one Of Mauning's leading mer-
chants, so he fell into the scheme heart
and soul, and through his energy and
efforts sufficient fund was raised 10
furnish ice cold lemonade and cigars
free for the entire crowd.
The picnic grounds were laid out IN
the grove on the hill of the swamp, on
the Salem, side. and the underground
had been cut away and abundant seats
had been provided, and q large hollow
square table erected. a magnificent
flow of artesian water at the foot OF the
hill, together with barrels OF lemonade
and Thames soda water apparatus,
furnished abundant refreshments to all
who were not otherwise provided.
Some of the crowd from Manning
went by private conveyances, while
many went on the train via Alcolu. as
the Alcolu railroad had agreed to run
special train for the occasion.
The crowd at the picnic is varlously
estimated at from one to two thousand
but should think there were from one
thousand to twelve hundred people
present. The Manning people took
great interest in the celebration with
the view of encouraging good telling
and promoting trade interests between
this town and the people of the Salem
section.
This northern prong Of Black River,
which is about mile wide atthls point
near Sardinia, bas always been 4 great
barrier to travel this way with people
on the Sumter side OF Salem, and the
completion of the new road saortens
the distance to Manning something
| like FIVE miles.
But 10 get back to the picnic proper
it was a great occasion. Billy Jen-
/ tkinson and r. D. Clark and Sam
Reardon and r. D. Cothran proprietor
of them gem calf'') were among those
on the lemonade committee, together
with Others from Salem who assisted
them, and they used every effort to
keep the crowd cool.
The dinner was one of your old time
spreads, and this writer thinks that II
anyone came away without getting a
plenty of cold drinks and good things
to eat, including barbecue, it was his
own fault. 10 fact this writer has only
one criticism TO make of the committee
of arrangements, and that is, because
they did not provide and take along
gross of mentholatum for the crowd, to
| kill the ''cheegers" with.
After dinner the crowd wanted some
speeches, and began to Cry Justify for
the different ''oracles'' of the occasion,
most of whom responded in fitting
terms of good feeling.
J. NJ. Woods, Esq, from one-horse
wagon as an impronptu stage, introduc-
ed the speakers. W. Z. jenkinson
brought to our mind what we had read
of Webster. one reason being because
he was clean shaven like old Daniel,
and he scored point when in his pero-
ration he took his eyes from his care
fully prepared manuscript that "he
mieht not be able to make 4 great
speech on such momentous occasion,
but that if you throw him behind the
dry Goods counter he would show how
he could speak.
D. Hirschmann was also called for,
and did not tire the crowd speaking at
great length. Little David played on
the harp only long enough TO thank