Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-08-13
LARGE THRONG
ATTENDS PICNIC
AT TOWER PARK
Arsenal Employees Give Successful
Days Outing With Splendid
Continuous Program.

At noon yesterday 5000 arsenal
employees and guests were gathered
on the grounds of Watch Tower
park. At 8 o'clock 1900 were
there, and by 8 O'Clock in the even
ing more than $4,000 persons had
paid war tax at the gate, according
to the statements of the gatekeep-
ers.
The biggest and most successful
picnic Of any organization this
year was held yesterday, when
practically the entire arsenal force.
their families and friends attended
the outing of arsenal workers.
Games galore and some form of
amusement for every visitor, to-
gether with plenty of just solid
comfort were provided for and
found. The program of events
was nicely planned and filed up
the time logically and agreeably.
Athletics started at 10 a. N. as per
schedule and the last number, the
horseshoe throwing contest, con-
cIuded during the last hour of
light, vacations at noon and at 6
O'Clock being taken from the events
for meals. This precise arrange
ment was noted in all parts of the
affair. Everything was taken care
of in detail, down to bringing from
the arsenal sufficient ice to fill a
number of large tanks of water
at advantageous points about the
grounds.
Compliments Arsenal Workers.
The two chief features of the day
were the address by Colonel H. B.
Jordan and the baseball game, the
first two events of the afternoon.
In his speech the colonel paid
many high compliments to the ar
sena1 force for their part in win
ming the war He also spoke at
length on subjects interesting to
them ali and concerned with the
conduct of routine at the arsenal,
urging them to keep up to their
present high standard Of workman
ship.
The baseball game was not es-
pecialIy fast or exciting, though
many old hands at the sport pro-
nounced it a good game" The
spirit of rivalry was not strong
enough to bring out the best efforts
Of the players, and the play was
good natured all through. The
chief element of excitement was
the frequent flying of ball into
the thickly packed crowd about the
diamond. Although the ball bare
" missed assassinating someone a
score of times, there was no injury
inflicted to any bystander. Nc
knights team Of picked warriors
from the arsenal workers defeated
the opposition gloriously to the
tune of to 2 His battery was
Kennedy and Condor, working
against Thomas and Irrig The
game was marked by superior field
ing and mound work. although the
batting was not especially good.
Uniformed Officials.
Arsenal fremen and policemen
in full regalia controlled the
crowds and patro11ed the grounds
all day. Both afternoon and even
ing such an immense crowd gath
cred to see and hear the six acts
of hippodrome vaudeville being
presented in the outdoor shell that
many went away disappointed in
this respect, from being unable to
see over the throng. Concessions,
which were not taken over by the
arsenal, had q big day, and the
various chutes, merries and coast
ers were kept warm with exertion.
At the gate 10 cents and a cent for
war tax was charged. All money
taken in above expenses will go to
the sick benefit fund of the arsenal
aid association The dancing in
the pavilion was very popular, ami
the floor was crowded early in the
afternoon and in the evening.
Whites orchestra played.
Official sanction for shutting
down the plant on this occasion
was not secured nor asked for. as