A Whole Ox on a 30-Foot Trench: The Butchers' Free Feed for Ten Thousand

Today the butchers will celebrate with a regular old Southern barbecue at Madison Street park. Preparations have been made for 10,000 people — appetites large or small — come one, come all, and the butchers will serve a free dinner of the choicest kind.

Hundreds of people were at the park last night looking at the long trench in which the big ox and many quarters of beef and carcasses of mutton were slowly roasting. It was a sight worth seeing, and as operations went on Samuel Snyder, the hero of more than twenty barbecues, assisted by his sons Thomas and James, would put on a finishing touch here and there — little things that to the ordinary observer appeared useless, but which had much to do with getting the big dinner ready. Mr. Snyder was greatly put out yesterday morning when the weather took a bad turn, but his son Thomas hustled around and in about two hours the 30-foot trench in which the cooking is done was covered over with a good shed.

The trench was the chief center of attraction last night, for here, over bright coals brought at frequent occasions from furnaces close at hand, there were being roasted the quarters of six beeves, sixteen sheep and one whole ox. Two other long trenches were at hand, but they were not in operation. The ox was strung on a long pole over the coals, but the other pieces of meat were laid out on grates over the coals.

Mr. Snyder is positive he will have all the meat cooked ready for the table at 1 o'clock today, when the big feast begins. After the cooking the meat will be taken to the mess tent and served to the guests on pasteboard plates. In addition to what has been mentioned there will be provided 45 boiled hams, 7,500 loaves of bread, 32 gallons of pickles and at least 500 pounds of vegetables. Twenty-five waiters will serve this immense amount of food.

Frank Chamberlain, chairman of the committee on arrangements, who has successfully managed the preparations for this immense affair, said last night that he expected about 1,500 people from Tacoma, and a good representation from all the other neighboring towns.

Among the sports of the day will be a ball game between the Nonpareils and Arlingtons, chase after a greased pig, walking a greased pole after a pig, 100-yard swimming match, walrus hunt, twelve-foot dive through a hoop and foot racing. In the afternoon the First regiment band will give a concert on the grounds, and inside the pavilion the vaudeville show with the Mexican orchestra will hold forth. From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. there will be a dance, and also another dance from 7:30 until daybreak.