The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-07
IMMENSE CROWD ATTENDS GLAD
 HAND FESTIVAL Joyous Funeral Service Held Over Remains of the Late
 "A. knocker"
SUMPTUOUSBARBECUE
 WAS SERVED AT NOON
Get-Acquainted Feature of the Day Was Big Success - Turner Beats Sibley in the
 Classic Race

That the Birmingham Spirit" was still burning with intense heat in the hearts of the members of the Cham her of Commerce was proved yesterday afternoon when an immense crowd turned out for the glad hand festival and get-aequainted meeting at East Lake park. The affair was held under the direction of the membership com mittee of the Chamber of Commerce, which had bought the concessions at the park for the afternoon, admitting all members of the Chamber of Com merce to the various attractions and amusements. For one whole afternoon the tired business men gloried in their freedom like school boys and drank the cup of jollity and good fellowship to the dregs
 The majority of the crowd was on the scene at 30 o'clock when the bar becue was served on the picnic grounds. Long tables had been arranged for the merrymakers and a host of walters brought on the Brunswick stew and barbecued meats. The feast lasted for over an hour until every man had his fill. At the conclusion of the barbecue, President Sibley mounted stand and with a short but brilliant speech pre- sented the retiring secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. Joseph B. Babb, with a handsome loving cup as mark of respect and esteem from the mem bers of the Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Babb was presented with beautiful silver platter In his speech of ac- eeptance Mir. Babb spoke of his work here in Birmingham and said that in his heart Birmingham would always stand first
 The Fun Begins
 Then the fun began. for Manager stafford had cleared away a race course measured to the inch to 2S yards Pres ident Sibley and Oscar Turner doffed their coats and prepared for the cham pionship race. After a great deal of discussion the two athletes were start ed and Turner crossed the finish line far in advance of his opponent. The crowd maintained that the race had been thrown and the men were called
  time the portly president was doing a heel and toe act down near the quarter pole when the genial Oscar romped across the tape. MT. Turner received a tie as a prize of his conquest.
 Volunteers for the other races on the programme were easily secured, and sprinters that the world had never heard of before appeared on the scene. Even Harry Jones entered the lists, and by the way ran away from the field in his event Besides the regular scheduled races a Greek marathon was run, the contestants all being na@ives of the land or Aristophanes. The fastest sprinters in the crowd, however, was group or small boys, who ran 100 yards for a prize of 50 cents. Although no time was kept in this event. 1t Is stated that all records were broken.
 A Joyous Funeral
 The feature of the afternoon was the burial of "A Knocker' In a shallow grave by the wayside. J. B. Babb, assisted by Undertaken H. E. Shaw and an army of pail bearers, brought the coffin down to the grave. The procession was headed by Nappis band, which harped 8 mourn ful funeral drge. MT. Babb, in short speech, said that A. Knocker was now where he ought 10 have been long ago Everyone threw a piece of mud in the grave, the band played 'Everybodies Dcin' It Now" and the crowd moved across the lake to the razzle dazzle and other amusements.
 All afternoon long the crowd swarmed throughout the grounds, rode the scenic railway or tried to ride the razzle dazzle. It was an afternoon that will long be re- nembered by the members of the Cham Der of Commerce. Although 1t looked Ike rain. the afternoon was perfect for the affair, and the managers were well pleased with the outcome. As a result of the festival the old members of the or ganization became better acquainted with the 200 new members, for each man wore a badge giving his name and business {; the Birmingham spirit was given fresh fuel and stronger stimulus, and the busi- ness man enjoyed day of fun, pleasure and frolic.
 The menu at the barbecue was as fol- lows, all of the products used being of the made in Birmingham" kind: Pickles, young onions, cold slaw, Brunswick stew, barbecued lamb, pork and veal la Brown, potato chips, peanut butter, bread and crackers, lemonade and coffee.
 The list of races was as follows:
 Starter, George B. Ward.
 Judges, James Bowron, Robert Jemison. Sr.. Sid J. Bowie.
 Times, Ed Herzog, F. M. Lynch. J. N. Rose.
 oS yard race. J. W. sibley. 2o6A; Oscar c. Turner, 227st; prize, one tie clasp. Long mans race 60 yards, open to those over six feet tall; prize, one tie. Short mans race, 51 yards, open to those under five and one-half feet; prize, one tie.
 Fat men. S6 yards, open to those over 22J pounds; prize, one tie.
 Lean men, 73 yards. open to those under 135 pounds; prize, one tie.
 Three legged race, M. w. Canister in charge prize, two ties
 Sack race. B. F. Crabbe in charge; prize, one pair silk socks.
 Boat race. E. B. Crawford In charge; prize, one pair 'suspenders
 Swimming race, J. A. Gorham in charge; prize one pair silk socks.
 old mems race, 20 yards; prize, necktie.