The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-07-06
The Fourth.

Sale At this ONCE.
The Fourth.
The Fourth Of July, 1859, Was great day
in Keokuk. Certainly in the last Eve years
no celebration Of Independence Day BY our
citizens Was equal to this. The day rose fair
and handsome, and kept clear and cool
throughout. At an early hour the streets
were shronged with multitudes Of citizens
and people from the country and nsighboring
villages. The day was ushered in by the
sound of bells and cannon. Soon after six
O'Clock the Earthquakes made their appear
anoe. They numbered about City, and with
the exception Of the musicians and very d.
lapidsted and seedy, but fierce looking drum
major, they were mostly mounted on apollo
gies for horses and mules. They were equip
ped in the most variegated, fantastic and
grotssque styles Of dress that the fancy Of
man could invent. They we're Of oil sizes,
shapes and colors, and burlesqued Turks,
Indians, returned Piks's-Psakers, soldiers
Yankees, woolly heads, imps Of darkness.
politicians, and other notables too numerous
to mention. With their owl-heads, woolly-
heads, eagle-beaks, forked- tails, high and
sharp appointed comes Of hats, horss-tail caps,
immense spears and cleaning swords Of tin,
and other indisoribable sccoutrements, they
were about ~ fearful and hideous - Chin
ese army. In panorama 80 varied, the At
tempt to give details 10 almost useless, and
comparisons is odious." We thought,
however, that that poor old horse, mounted
by ragged and half-starved man and his
wife returning from the Peak, Was the most
successful bit. They de6led through many
OF the streets, playing their fantastic tricks,
and amusing the crowds Of people, and es-
pecislly the children. till after O'Clock.
The grand procession Of the day Was not
formed till about 10 O'Clock, having been de-
layed, We believe, by the late arrival Of the
Warsaw RiHemen. But when it did march
from Johnson, up Second to Main, and then
out on Main, it presented . very fine appear
ance. First came the Keokuk or Emmett
Guards, then the Warsaw Rifemen, followed
by the Keokuk Jaegers. These military
companies oil looked and performed WE'LL
They were followed by the Hook and Ladder
wagon, the two Fire engines and the Hose car
riagc, oil Of which were dressed up and deck
ed out with evergreens, garlands and flow
ers, in tho most beautiful manner. This was
q sight for which We were not prepared, and
far exceeded anything of the kind ever seer
in this city. The members Of the Hook AND
Ladder, and Young America, deserved an.
received great praise for their enterprise ant
the good taste which they exhibited.
We were sorry to notice that the citizen
generally, regardless Of the programme, and
the example Of the Mayor and some few gen
;. tlemen who supported him, took their owl
independent line Of march to the grove. Ha,
they fallen into 6le, - was intended, the pro
cession would have boon immense.
Leighton's grove was thronged with
crowd Of several thousand people, scarcel
half Of whom could get within hearing dist
ance Of the speeches. Those who did, speal
highly Of the musical performances Of D
Wolf's choir. They executed several pc,
riotic and other pieces in most masterl
manner, and we're loudly applauded. Th
Grafton was delivered BY Gibson Brown, Esq
and Was : well-written and highly -fnishe
production. Several passages we're said I
be beautiful and elected great applause.
After these proceedings, the procession r.
formed and marched down 70 Main street,
The people scattered about wherever the
sweet Wills inclined them to go-some le
town, but most waited to see the balloon q.
cension. At Eve O'Clock. Two balloons wol
sent up and assembled gracefully. The thil
got tangled in . rope and took Ere. II
fourth was found too weak for ito weight ar
did not ascend ct Ill.
At night the city was made luminous in o
cry direction, by sky rockets, roman candl
and other Ere works.
The day passed of pleasantly, and !
heard Of no accident whatever, except q
breaking Of glass by the firing Of the oann,
u on the corner Of Main and Second, and &
loss Of his bottle and its contents by
mounted "fantastic."
We believe every body Was we'll pleas
and was thoroughly satisfied that the be
way for city like ours is always to have
own celebration.
OF the amusements in the evening at Ro
gers Hall, the Leighton House, and 9th
places, No are not able to speak from perso
al observation.