The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-10-25
ssrcat Turnout at Fairfield I!
AN ARMY WITH BANNERS -!
$4,000 rEcrI.E In COUNCIL
1000 Wide Awakes in Uni
form,


The Republican meeting at Fairfield, ON
Wednesday last, was grand beyond the
power Of description--a glorious success
the largest and fncit demonstration, by all
odds, ever witnessed in Iowa. There were
fullv $4,000 people, and 5000 Wide Awakes
in attendance Professions miles in len 9Th,
with flags, banners and music, came in by
the numerous roads; the entire population,
men, women, and children orJelferson coun-
ty, seemingly we've there, and trains Of -
to II cars, densoly crowded, met at noon
from the east and west
The scene on the arrival OF the trans, at
which point the spectacle opened upon our
vision, was the most brilliant and imposing
we ever Witnessed. The levi prairie south
Of the Depot grounds, an immense extent of
open space level as a floor, and covered with
green sward, was literally covered with the
multitude, on foot, on h lrse. back, in wagons,
and over them waving in the breeze thou
sand banners, brilliant in colors, and multi
furious in design. The day was bright and
beautiful as ever shone on the beautiful city
Of Fairfield, and if there wasn't some cx-
element then and there, we are no Judge of
the article
BIT fthe excitement was intense at the
meeting of the long trains from the east and
west, it was entrel y irrepresSibIe during the
progress of the interminabc procession Of
Wide Awakes, Minute men, Lincoln Rangers,
companies Of ladies representing the states
and hundreds of wagons, around the city,
The city was alive with people, and the en-.
thusiasm was unbounded.
To give some idea of the crowd, it is only
necessary to say that there We're % compa-
MES of uniformed Wide Awakes, averaging
probably rs members, each with band,
/ flags, banners, transparenc;es, and de, ices OF
every kind and description there were pro-
cessiOns from Birmingham of 800 wagons
and over 1000 persons, from Libertyville,
! from Abingdon and Brookville, large Swede
delegation, delegations from Brighton, Rich
land, Germanvile, Glasgow, and from Fair
field and vicinity and other places. There
was wagon dawn by Is yoke of oxen-
There were numerous very fine teams drawn
by six and eight horses. There were over
1000 Wide Awakcs in procession, some 100
minute men Of 1860, with Lady equestrians,
Lincoln Guards numbering with Ladies,
about 200, nearly 600 horseman, and 500
wagons. The number of wagons in all was
estimated at 1900 The procession must
have been four or five miles long when on
the march from the Depot to the Park.
Arrived at the Park, the Wide Awakes
were marched off by the citizens to dinner.
Democrats, much to their credit, aided their
neighbors in meeting this extraordinary de-
mands upon the Inequalities Of the place.
All were provided for, and sumptuouSly so,
as general thing. Fairfield maintained
most nobly her reputation for generous
hospitality on the occasion. Private houses
were thrown open, and all were made wei
come.
After dinner, from several stands in the
Park, speeches were made by Gov. Grimes,
Gov. Kirkwood, Senator Harlan, Mr. Thomas
son, Rankin Of Lee, kasson, Kramer, and
others. The speeches were able but cannot
be noticed in detail in this connection.
In the evening the Wide Awaes parallel,
and the exhibition was the finest ever seen
in Iowa. The city was one universal blaze
of light, and to the blaze Of 1000 torches were
added a fine display Of fire works.
At the close of this portion ofthe proceed
ings, about nine, the Wide Awakes who
were to leave by the trains, were escorted to
the Depot, where theil departure was greet
ed by voclerous cheering, after which the
remaining Wide Awakes, some 1900, march
ed back to town, and most of them went
into quarters for the nj ght Some however,
spent the better part of the night giving adj
ditiOnal expression to their enthusiasm. A
ball was going off at the same time, in Wells
Hall.
In the morning the city seemed still alive
with Republicans. The Park was surround
ed, AMI the street filed with crowd of some
1000, Wide Awakes and others. whose en-
thusiasm was perfectly uncomfortable. 1t
exceeded anything of the kind we ever wit
resscd. Everybody seemed 10th to leave,
and at one time we thought they were de-
termned to make another day of it, but about
Q O'Clock they were mostly gone, and the
fair city of Fairfield was left to its propriety
This demonstration was gratifying to Re-
publicans, demonstrating. as it did, the I'M
bounded and irrepreSsblc enthusiasm of the
people of South Eastern Iowa, for Lincoln
and Hamlin and Curtis, and to the same ex-
tent that it was gratifying to Republicans, it
had disheartning, depressing effect upon the
the Democrats, good many of whom, we
learned, were present. The influence ofthat
meeting will be felt in this part of Iowa, on
the 9th of November next.
a SURE THING.-Sincc the nomination ST
Mr.. Lincoln was made, the Republicans
have won great victories in the following
States: Vermont, Maine, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Indiana, and Connecticut, which give
50 Electoral votes OF the other States, the
Republicans are sure of New York, Massa-
chusctts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island,
n l