Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-02
COUNTY MEETS
ASMEMbE RS0F
ONE BIG FAMILY

Mammoth Picnic at Agency
Proves Biggest Event of
Kind Held There
The biggest event OF it's kind ever
held in Wapello county was staged
Wednesday when all of the county, in
GLIDING both the residents of the towns
and country, laid aside it's duties and
| enjoyed q solid day of amusement and
recreation at Whipple's grove, the spa
! cious and beautiful natural park a
! short distance northeast Of Agency.
Various estimates place the crowd at
more than 10000 Beginning early IN
the morning the pleasure seekers be-
gan to throng the scene of the days
activities, coming by special trains.
i autos, vehicles and on foot and by
! noon crowd reaching into the thous.
/ ands had gathered for the picnic din
ner which was one of the main feat
ures and attractions of the occasion.
In the afternoon, however, all previous
| figures Of attendance at former home
coming celebrations and picnics at
Agency were surpassed BY large
margin The grove was packed almost
to the limit with men, women and chill
dren, both white and colored, coming
from all walks and standings OF life.
These mingled with each other on
| common basis, and for once all social
lines and prejudices we're cast aside
and all enjoyed together the first big
| county picnic ever held, but which will
not, however, likely be the last one,
a. the success Of the undertaking and
the spirit displayed by all will I'M
doubtedly insure another and even big
ser outing q year hence. ..
The playing Of the First Cavalry
band under Leader Cleveland Dayton.
was one Of the main agencies toward
making the observance of the day
pleasure and success. Beginning i'm
mediately upon their arrival in the city
on the hill these talented musicians
played almost continuously until the
middle of the afternoon and their Sc
lections were agreeably received and
listened to with rapt attention by
those present The quintet. composed
Of Edward Blake, Arthur Griffin, Jesse
Smith, Ralph Lee and Edward Stellar
after singing My Mothers Rosary in
the morning gave, Don't Bite the Hand
That's Feeding You in the afternoon
and the loud cheering of the pleased
onlookers forced them to repeat part
of the popular song hit.
! The afternoons program was start
ed with an amateur vaudeville contest
open to all amateurs, given on the
platform prepared for the speakers of
the day. Miss Bertha Wormhoudt OF
! this city, who gave q beautiful vocal
solo, accompanied by the band, was
awarded first prize. 81 shirt waist.
Miss Regina Ward of Ottumwa took
second prize, ten gallons of gasoline
with clever reading and four year
old Ray Leach local boy. received
five pounds OF candy as third prize
for singing a short piece. Other num-
beers in this contest were a sparring
match between Ruby Spiwak and
Eugene Aldridge end a tenor solo. Ro-
mana by Edward Blake. The spelling
match went to Miss Helen Sirles OF
Agency. Mrs. !. M. Sirles. former
school teacher taking second and Miss
Maud Skirvin of Agency. third. The
prizes were s., SO and 81.
In the horse shoe pitching contests,
which we're In charge Of Felix Evans,
W. 8. Johnson and Robert Pickerel,
of west of Ottumwa. won the elimina'
ton contest, receiving a twenty-five
pound sack Of -four piece. and O. w.
Belden, of Ottumwa. and T. J. Thomp-
son, Of Hedrick, took the sweepstakes
event. the former coming into the pos
session of sweater coat and the lat
ter Of twenty-five pounds of sugar as
result.
I An amusing and pleasant part of the
program took place after the after
Moons speeches had been given when
number of prizes we're awarded on
the speakers platform. according to
the program. Mrs. Charles Wright, OF
near Batavia, was proclaimed the tall
est woman in Wapello county against a.
number Of competitors and was award
ed carving set. Mrs. Tom Agee. OF
Ottumwa, won the prize of $3.50
pair OF house slippers for being the
shortest woman in the county, with
out much serious competition.
The latest boy under 16 years of
age. was Francis Martin, of Ottumwa.
who Is z years old, weighs 30 POUNDS
and is three feet and two inches tall.
He was given a sweater. Mrs. c. e.
Norton, Of this city, won the prize
of ham offered to the woman having
the largest foot. AS no one disputed
his claim, George Hughes, aged 70
years, received side Of bacon for
being the oldest man in the county
to appear on the platform. .... .
A. E. Rifle. OF northeast Of Agency,
owns the Oldest looking automobile
in lWapello county and recognition
was made of this fact when he was
given one years subscription to the
Daily Review. Mr.. Rifles car bears
! serial number 10000, dated in 1908,
and no one has ever done a dollars
worth OF work on it since be bought
lit with the exception of himself, ac-
cording to his statement. John Brown
Of Batavia. told the best automobile
story to the crowd, according to three
judges and was awarded years sub
scription to The Ottumwa Daily
+, Courier.
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