Evening journal., 1913-08-01
CITY GROCERS
SPEND HAPPY
DAY AT SHORE
Forgetting Store Duties, They
Measure Fun This Time
by Barrels
1000 MERRY MAKERS
ON THE JOY RIDE


body, known as the Retail Grocers'
Exchange, gave an excursion to At
lantic City. 1t was the first annual
excursion of that organization, and
was attended by about five hundred
people, which at that time was con-
sidered a large crowd. Each success
sive year since then an excursion has
been given to the popular seashore
resort, with an increasing attendance
each year. The climax, however,
was reached yesterday when 1000
people, comprising the grocerymen,
their wives, children, sweethearts and
friends, enjoyed the outing.
The attendance, in fact, was so
large that the railroad officials were
compelled to divide the excursion into
three sections, comprising thirty-two
cars in all. Ten cars went on each
of the first two sections and twelve
on the last. The first section was
in charge Of f. o. Willis, the second
in charge of A. L. Carey, and the third
was directed by William z. Skel-
lenger.
The grocers. who six days a week
measure potatoes and onions in
quarts, pecks or bushels, measured
y y
fact that the grocers carried their
families along with them only served
to make the outing more enjoyable,
and if any one started on the affair
with a crouch he lost it long before
the day was spent. The committee
in charge. consisting of E. X. Thomp-
son, chairman, VIM. f. Skellenger,
Secretary; E. o. Willis, Charles
were given credit for the able manner
in which they handled the affair from
start to finish.
On the way to the beach the ex-
cursionists received a number of gifts
of an advertising nature. The Huber
Baking Company Of this city dis
tributed beautiful fans to every per-
son on the cars, and fans were also
distributed by S. Peterson, repre-
senting a Chicago firm. J. S. WINS
& Son, the Philadelphia baker, dis
tpibuted delicious cakes and crackers,
neatly tied up in small packages, to
each excursionist.
The only known accident that oc-
cured to mar the pleasure of the triI
was that a sudden gust of wind car
ried away a new hat of Mr.. Skelleng
".
Ne was passing from one car into an
other. Not having very much hair
Mr.. Skellenger was in pretty bad
shape until another hat was rounded
up for him. Charles T. Wolhar won
the prize, a package of salt water
taffy, for having the largest family
represented.
1t was Grocers' Day for fair at tbs
beach The tide was running out il
the ocean when the party reached
their destination, but after severa
dozen Of the Wilmington grocerymen
weighing on an average of about thre,
hundred pounds, had donned theil
bathing suits, which, as they were
hired fitted unlike the paper on the
wall, and entered the brimy deep, the
water rose up four inches. causins
several of the. life guards to think
that the tide had suddenly turned anC
was running in.
James c. O'Neal, president OF the
Exchange was on hand with his pleas
ant smile. but unfortunately his fam
fly was not able to accompany him tC
the beach. Members of the Exchange
quickly appointed a committee to keel
tabs on him.
At / o'clock a number of the gro.
cerymen and their wives enjoyed din.
ner at a hotel on Virginia avenue, neal
the beach, which was attended by th'
following: Mr.. and Mrs. S. P. Nei.
ser, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. H. Craig, Mr.
and Mrs. James Clark, Mr.. and Mrs
william r. Dare, Mr.. and Mrs. Z. X
Thompson, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles l.
wilkins, Miss Helen Blackiston, Mr.
and Mrs. William E. .Skellenger. Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Griffith, Mr.. anC
Mrs. ]. A. Brackin. Miss Mary
Brackin, Miss Florence Brackin, Mr.
and Mrs. Clarence Fraim, Miss NJ
Jackson, Mr.. and Mrs. John Donohue
Walter Sillitoe, Harry Hinkson, S
Jackson, Jr., Joseph Davis, James
Hand, Mr.. and Mrs. Steven jackson
and Mr.. and Mrs. l.. Griffith.
NJ. Dare was POSTMASTER of the oc
casion, and he spoke of the beginning
of the Exchange and of the wonderful
progress it had since made. This pro
gress he declared, was due to the fac
that the grocers had always included
their families in all of their merry
making. Mr.. Skellenger, who at thu
banquet at the Hotel DUPONT, las
winter, delivered Casey At the Bat,
attempted to give the same recitation
but he found that he had forgotten
the opening lines. After the dinner
the party, with hundreds of other ex
cursionists, adjourned to the Steeple
chase Pier, where several hours o
enjoyment were spent
Adam Grubb proved himself a rea
hero, when he rescued a beautiful
young blond from the rolling barrel
when she had lost her balance.
When Ed. Thompson, who weigh
something less than a quarter of tor
attempted to slide down the down an
out" chute, about half way down h
turned over and stuck fast, necessitatin
considerable effort to extract him fror
the uncomfortable predicament. Richar
Lowell, who is very light, happened {
get in front of the air machine, whic
blew him about ton feet away. II
weighs only about SEQ pounds.
Fred Riley took his annual dip in tn
ocean. Fred has ae,cnded all the out
ines since they were started, fiftee
years ago.
On the return trip to Wilmington
Samuel Nciser. who by tho way. has
very high forehead, WAS seen to carr
his hat in his hand Mr.. Neiser ha
spent several hours in the surf and fol
gotten to wear n bonnet or carry
parasol hence his forehead was too ter
der to bear tic weight OF hat. II wa
colored rosy rcd.
p ]. Sh7- lay said sonc things abor
6.32 l-2 o'cla,x last evening. The las
section Of the train left the station a
Atlantic City ut $50 o'clock NJ
III