The Forrest City times., 1911-08-04
BARNES ' BIRTHDAY BARBECUE
t'enial Travelling Salesman Royalty Entertains Party of Friends at His
 Plantation Near MhitmOre.

"
 A number Of citizens of Forr est City received by mail last week the following invitation:
 In celebration of my birthday am going to entertain few of my friends at an old time Georgia barbecue. at my plantation at Whitmore. Artao- sas. on August |. and wish to laint,e you to be present.
 "WM II. BARNES.
 ''St. Louis. July D, I9ll :"
 Through the courtesy of the Rock Island officials couple Of coaches were sidetracked here Monday night August lst came as did also a severe and continuous rain, yet notwith- standing the unpropitious weather, hfty guests were waiting at the de- pot. The two cars were to have been attached to the regular II o'clock eastbound train, but that train being several hours late, the railroad officials again showed courtesy by ordering the switch engine and crew to take the two coaches to Whitmore. And right here let us say that Conductor Ramsey and crew entered into this service as though they mad been running Pullmans all their lives.
 The rain still continued to fall and when the train arrived at Whitmore, station fourteen miles east of the city. MT. Barnes plantation lies on Blacktish Bayou, little over a quar- ter of mile from the station. and the Toad thereto is anything but asphal- tum, but bit of mud and water couldn't keep the crowd away from the cheer which awaited them at the other end of the line, and in wagons and afoot they made the trip, and an Evansville" welcome accorded them by Mr Barnes made them for get all their troubles.
 It was intended to have the barbe- cue i'll the grove adjacent to the house. where tables and seats were arranged. but the rain fell incessantly. so the feast was served in the house. All did justice to the barbe- cue and Brunswick stew, which was cooked to the Queens taste under the supervision of MT. Jack Davis.
 After the feast and during the smoke, MT. Otto Rollwage, on behalf of the guests, in a happy vein, extend ed the wishes of all that the host may celebrate many birthdays.
 MT. Barnes stated that he was but a poor speaker except in selling goods, and asked MT. John Bell, of Memphis. to reply, which that gentleman did in a manner which won for him the en- core of the crowd.
 Mr, Barnes then remarked that the speaker had accredited him with all the good things of the feast, but had forgotten Capt. Jack Davis to whom all were indebted for the best cooked barbecue of the season. Calls were made for Capt. Jack, who arose and thanked the guests for their appre- citation of his efforts He said the proof of the pudding was in the eating thereof, and as he watched the disappearance of the barbecue and stew, he felt it was proof enough that he had succeeded. He said it was pleasure to him to cater to the tastes and pleasures of everybody, but age had warned him, and probably this would be his last effort, and he was pleased that he had succeeded.
 Perhaps twas we'll that the weather was indictment, for judging from the appetite of the guests, of which there were about seventy, had the weather been fair the host would have been 1 impoverished
 While MT. Barnes in his invitation did not state his age, his joyous manner set his guests to guessing, and the concensus of opinion placed his age al somewhere between forty and sixty years.
 Bill Barnes birthday celebration was certainly success, and The Times joins with his many friends in wishing him many returns of same.