The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-07-11
Slnosou Correspondence.
IIUpsoN, July 7ih, 1860

of the "day we celebrate" passed OF IN
this lively little city, with much ectat, not
outstanding some things fell out unto
wardIy at IN early stage of the proceed
ings. In the midst of the prayer of "the
chaplain of the day." the platform on
which he stood, and which was also occu-
pied by the ''civic authorities" officers OF
the day, and others, gave way with a
crash, and down came the reverend gen
tleman, like a returning zenith-aimed ar
row, to the ground, maintaining fortu-
natcly, at once his gravity and pcrpeH-
dicular, while the others who were sitting
upon the staging, found themselves at
tracted to each other, and unceremonlous-
ly slid into a common vortex. Now, here
was hodge-podge which might be taken
as an omen, foresaadowing whether CT
not the fusion was practicable, which was
limited at by the Doctvr, (the President
of the day. when a few moments before,
he remarked in effect, that the spectacle
of such an assemblage on such an occa-
sion, convinced him that it did net need
a Bell, or Breckenridge, or Lincoln, or
Douglas to save this Union. A moment
served to show that there vas no real af-
fnity batwcen the bodies thus projected
together. Incontincntly they rushed
apart in all directions, and it is signifi-
cant fact that the Doctor in suffering by
means of the accident, dislocation of a
finger joint, was punished worse than any
other person on the boards. This state
however, with only the most kind .and
considerate feelings towards him.
After it was ascertained that no one
had suffered irreparabls damage, the dis
turbed dignitaries rallied and took their
places upon tie ground within the frame
which had (uot) sustained the platform,
casting however, now and then, distrust-
| full chances towards the boards which at an
elevation of some fourteen feet covered
the shabby structure. The exercises then
proceeded according to the programme,
and the Declaration of Independence had
been streuuously detained, with pref
ace not to be found in the national ar
| chiyes, when down from the roof came q
plank, hitting with the hard end upon
the respectable head of a much esteemed
citizen, and causing another speedy evac-
uation Of the clumsy shed, the demolition
cf which was thereupon ordered, and by
the Hook and Ladder boys in trice ac-
con,plished, and again the regular pro-
gramme was taken up.
II. L. Humphrey, Esq, the orator Of
the occasion, delivered spirited and APP
propriate address, the band played very
well considering that it has but lately
been formed. and they have had but little
practice together; the performances of the
choir were remarkably fine; the firemen
cheered Justify with liberal tigers, and call
went merry as a. Fourth of July should
even the casualties | have mentioned,
giving occasion mostly for cougratulaJion,
rs it was evident that their results were
much less serious than they might easily
have been.
The persons who undertook to construct
the staging, are certainly obnoxious to
blame, and q carelessress SO inexcusable
and which might naturally have cntailod
grave disaster, ought to be freely and
generally rcprimanded. In their work
they must have tried after the best man.
ner of tLe Circumlocution Office, chow
not to 10 it." On the night before the
| Fourth, few individuals, bewildcrcd in
the shadow of the coming events, got
awfullv drunk, and progro ,scd into q
ssrow," that eliminated in mill" one
good effect of which was that the parties
to it, one rs is supposed, from fear of ar
rest, and others on account of wounds OF
Disagreement, subsidod quietly during all
the next day. The 'Stillwater Guards"
on their way by water to st. Paul, on the
third, and on their return on the fifth
inst, landed here and paradcd in oul
streets. They made fine appearance,
are commanded by Capt. White, late o.
this place, and while here on Thursday
they manifested their appreciation of the
Press, BY saluting in fine style, both the
Star and Chronicle offices. Touching
politics, what is the use of fretting, since
it is stated by the N. Y. Times, and as
am informed, conceded by the N. Y
Herald, that LincoIn's election is morally
certain. ***