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The Messenger Boys
New York Times, July 5, 1873
The hundreds of messenger boys connected with the offices of the
American District Telegraph Company yesterday celebrated the Fourth of
July in a unique and pleasant way. At 7:30 o'clock in the morning they
assembled at the Thirty-eighth District office, and to the sound of
music marched down Sixth-avenue to Thirty-fourth-street, and down
Broadway to City Hall Park.
After a marching salute to the Mayor the column, about 300 strong,
passed down Broadway to the foot of Whitehall-street, and took the
Staten Island boat for Clifton Landing. A considerable number of the
friends of the messengers accompanied them on the excursion, and every
provision was made for their accommodation.
A train of platform-cars was in readiness at Clifton Landing, and the
boys speedily getting on board, it steamed away for New-Dorp, the
destination. Upon arrival there the boys again formed in marching
column, and, preceded by the band, footed it about a mile through the
deep sand to the race-course, where the picnic was to be held.
The boys immediately separated into squads, some of which went in
swimming; others indulged in games of baseball, still others climbed
cherry trees and appropriated the tempting fruit. At 1:30 o'clock lunch
was served, which was partaken of with eager relish by the lads, whose
appetites had been sharpened by their exercise of an hour or two.
Then came the races and games, which were looked forward to with
interest by the boys from the different districts, who are naturally
clannish. The first race was for a red rosette and a bat and ball, and
was open to the messengers from Districts Nos. 1 and 3, the distance to
be a half-mile. There were fifteen entries. It was won by Wm. C. Curtis
in two minutes fifty-four seconds.
The second race of half a mile was open to messengers from the Stock
Exchange, the Gold Exchange, and District No.6. Nine started. The race
was won by Frank H. Bland in two minutes fifty seconds.
The third race between the messengers of Districts Nos. 15, 19 and 24,
was won by Wm. E. Golding in two minutes and forty-seven seconds. The
fourth race, between the messengers from Districts Nos. 28, 31, 35, 38,
41, and 44, was won by Phillip Brady. Then came a sack race, in which
the contestants were enveloped in great bags, up to their necks, and
obliged to make the best of their way to a goal fifteen rods distant.
The prize was a lavender rosette and three days' vacation, with pay.
Patrick Tynan won it.
Then came the fifth race between the parties who came in second in the
four first races. The prize to be a leg of ham. John Henry Hill carried
away the bacon.
Then the sixth and last race was run, between the winners of the four
first races. One of the boys declined to enter, and of the three who
ran Wm. E. Golding came in first, thereby winning a tri-colored rosette
and a week's vacation, with pay.
Then came “Boring for Provisions,” in which Stanton E. Drew was
successful. The judges in the various games were Wm. H. Sawyer, Geo. F.
Durant and Henry W. Pope, prominent officers of the American District
Telegraph Company.
Mr. E. B. Grant, Vice President of the company, was also on hand and
took general charge of the entire affair. After discussing. clam
chowder the entire company returned to New York, much pleased with the
result of the excursion.
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