Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-28
10000 MASONS AND
FAMILIES ATTEND
CARAVAN OUTING
OUTING YESTERDAY AT STARVED
ROCK PROVED GALA EVENT
AND DREW PEOPLE FROM ALL
FOUR POINTS OF THE COMPASS.

Between 1900 and $1,000 people
attended the annual picnic given at
Starved Rock yesterday by the La
Sale County Caravan club. 1t was
family picnic and there were repre-
scntatives of every age present at
the big outdoor affair. 1t was as
large if not larger than any picnic
held at Starved Rock this year and
for the great number of people pres
ent the men in charge did wonderful
work in managing the affair.
The program was not supposed to-
start till p. m, but at 10 n. III. there
were 2l2 cars on the grounds and at
| p. m. the number had increased to
$40 \ steady stream OF autos dur
ing the afternoon and evening brought
the total number OF cars up TO 2,17S.
After p. N. the automobiles came
in so fast that she men, keeping |
check could not count them. 1t isl
estimated that 500 cars came in dur
ing a very short time. In as much
as no check was taken on the autos
that came in on the river road the
officials estimate that as many as s.
600 ears We're on the grounds ves-
terday The men who kept the check
put the number Of people in attend
ance as high as $4,000
John G. BOYLE, of DeKalb, Ill., state
superintendent Of parks, was on the
grounds and working with Dr.. J. S.
Geen, of Utica, general chairman Of
the Masonic committee. took person
al charge and was on the job all the
time. 1t was due 60 the work the
committee, Mr.. BOYLE and the en-
ployes of the park that there were
no accidents. This is very remark
able when the size of the crowd is /
considered. Tho only trouble during
the whole picnic was q fire on top
of Lovers Leap. The fire was ap-
parently caused by cigarette stub
and it cost Park Custodian Pat White /
an hours work putting it out. The
fire occurred near the spot where F..
the Geneva high school boy was
drowned this spring.
TO give some idea as to the mag
nitude of the crowd the refrcshment
committee used six truck loads OF
supplies in addition to the regular
amount used by the refreshment con-
Ccssions. The committee gave free
$50 gallons Of orangeade, 40 gallons
of ice cream, and 5000 cones. They
also gave away balloons, horns, paper
caps and numerous other novelties, |
to the sWarms of children.
Chicago sent a delegation of over
800 while the attendance from Joli-
ct was slightly larger. Springfield
also sent few automobile loads and
the registration books showed visit
ors from Nebraska, Missouri. Iowa, |
Wisconsin Michigan, Indiana. Ohio
and Florida
During the afternoon the Shabbona
band of Joliet gace a concert and
some fancy drills were given by the /
TryHarWin boys of La Grange, and
4 team from Chicago, under the per-
sOnal charge of Frank Milard, grand
master OF the Illinois Boy Builders |
Many pleasing selections were given
by girls glec club of Streator, Ill.
The ottawa committee was repre-
sented by Lester Naierhofer presi-
dent of the local Shrine club; Charles
Gciger, secretary; Charles Grover,
chairman of publicity; Sidney Weiss,
chairman of refreshments and fire
works committee, and Al F. Schoch
Greatest enthusiasm prevailed dur
ing the sports program, there being a
big field OF entries. The events were
decided and prizes awarded the fol
lowing winners:
FiftY-yard dash for boys under IL
Carl Dobel, Streator, first; Walter
Eastman, Utica, second; Ogden Peter
son, Chicago. third
Egg race for girls under 12-Velerie
Gasser. Ottawa. first; Helen Wogte
nick La Sale, second; Marjory Mason.
Peru third.
Boys soda drinking race-Delmar
Bo2zclman, Utica, first; Norman Helm
sen, Chicago, second; Willard Nichol
son of Ottawa, George Childers of
Utica and Melvin Mason of Peru. tied
for third.
Girls soda drink contest-Alta Rett,
Continued ON page 81.