The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-27
POLICEMEN MERRY
At ANNUAL PICNIC
Bluecoats and Their Friends
Eat Stew and Have Lots
of Fun
uIlNDPEnC CLApE IN
HUNDREDS SHARE IN
DAYS ENJOYMENT
More Than Two Thousand Tickets
Sold and Scores Pay at the
Gates to Mingle with the
Minions of the Law.


Policemen and their friends spent
an enjoyable day at the State Fair
grounds Wednesday. II being the oc-
casion OF the annual picnic under the
auspices OF the Police Benevolent As
ISOLATION.
From 10 O'Clock in the morning
until after five in the afternoon there
was a steady stream of people going
TO the grounds to mingle with the
bluecoats. eat Brunswick stew, ham
and cheese sandwiches and crack
hard-sheli crabs.
Not In the history OF the police de-
partment has the annual picnic been
such n marked success, financially and
socially. Twenty-three hundred and
eighty-fve tickets were sold at 81
each. The most of these tickets were
used some time during the day, and
at the gates leading to the Fair
grounds scores paid money 10 enter
~ Hundreds OF Gallons.
% -Four hundred and ninety gallons
of Brunswick stew were made.
great iron boiler. four feet high and
about eight feet in circumference.
was placed4over a pit in the west side
Of the resort Tuesday afternoon. Into
this one hundred and sixty chickens
were dumped. about one hundred
pounds of veal. roasting ears without
number, tomatoes and other vege-
tables.
Babe" BEDFORD was the chef He
went to work at o'clock Tuesday
night and did not finish his labors
until noon of Wednesday. The stew
was pronounced by all to be the best
ever served at any picnic. And there
was plenty for every one. NO plate
was left unserved. covers on the long
tables being first laid for three hum
bred and seventy five Scarcely would
one man leave his Seat before an
other would occupy the place Po-
ta1o salad and chicken salad and
erab salad and olives and pickles We're
served as deifeacies.
Sandwiches were piled high upon
two tables nearby and the hottest kind
of mustard was in little bowls ad-
Joining the tables. sherry wine was
given to those who liked it ana foam
ing beverage was passed to the scores
who did not like sherry wine
Took Care OF Press.
Members of the press and Rih
Toler, the latter being the man who
4 conducts affairs In the office OF the
chief Of detectives and the chief or
police when either of these dignitarfes
= is around, ate at table in the rear
of the great auditorium building. They
were the first to he served, thanks
10 the graciousness OF Mr.. BEDFORD
and Sergeant Sherry and Policemen
AGREE and Johnson.
There was one kick" made. The
stew was too hot for Bill Toler. He
ordered a piece OF ice for the bowl
served him and an obiiging bluecoat
brought him a chunk as large as the
Rtt4 pIfl knnrkgA off 81
dropped the piece into his stew and
was eating away long before the doors
Of the building were thrown open
and the throng got In.
Have Lots OF Fun.
Early In the morning motor cycle
artists went TO the grounds and did
lot of racing Mr. A. p. Gentry made
the mile course in one minute and
twenty seconds and had kept the high
score until late in the afternoon
After o'clock the Automobiles
started to have some fun. 1t had been
their desire 10 turn on the high gear
in front of Justice John Jeter Crutch-
field, the man who liz an avowed enemy
of "scorcherg," but the One John
could not be present One autoist who
has twice paid heavy fines for running
his machine faster than the ordinance
permits protested q great desire to
take Mr.. Crutchfeld around the one
mile track II know, he won't jump
cat and when he has gone a mite In
about one minute he will better appre-
ciate the exhiliarating effect of what
he calls sscorching." said this autofst.
But the man who presides over police
court beat him to it," and did not go.
Mounted Policemen Crew and Wer-
ner rode around the grounds very
often. This was necessary for there
we're several who wanted to sneak In
without tickets. While 1t requires the
greatest amount of nerve" to try to
break into a police picnic. there were
several who attempted the impossible.
None were arrested and two or three
who said they had no ticket sand
wanted some brunswick stew were
allowed to pass
Glad to See "Dick."
Ex-Mayor Dick Taylor was one OF
the first to be at the grounds. He
Is personally acquainted with we'll
nigh all of the policemen as well as
with the great majority who went to
the picnic. and he was the center OF
q crowd for hours. But there was no
speech making. I'VE came out here
to have a good time; not to listen to
speeches" said Pop" Tate who cap
tanned the baseball nine from the
Second district
Sergeant '.Toots'' Sherry. from, the
First district. was manager Of the
ballologists from downtown. The
game was not played until late In
the afternoon.
Wrestling matches were the order
of the morning Mr.. BEDFORD, the
biggest man in the police department.
challenged all Corners. None could
meet around his waist, and he threw
them all with ease. 1t was said. un-
officially. afterwards that the police
men did not want to throw down the
man who had made such good stew.
but Mister BEDFORD declares ha is the
better man. physically and spiritually,
and can beat all OF them. stew to
the contrary Notwithstanding.
Mayor Richardson went out In the
afternoons. He was the special guest
of the department, and none enjoyed
the day more than he. Councilmen
and police commissioners !. were as
boys Dignity was left In the city.
No ladies were at this picnic. 1t
lcontinnsd On sixth. fags.l
49,