Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1869-07-09


street.
The exercises of the day COM
menced with the forming of the pro-
cession at 10 o'clock, by the grand
Marshal of the day.. M. Overman,
assisted by Capt. II. L. Williams.
The sidewalks of Main street by
that time presented little else than a
dense mass of human beings. The
band of Orton's Circus, which hap
pened in town in the nick of time,
was placed in the lead of the process
sion; afterwards came the Manches-
ter brass band, followed by Orion e
Circus, the officers of the day, chap
lain, reader of the Declaration
of independence, soldiers of 1912,
citizens in carriages, car of liberty,
martial music, children of the Sol
diers' Orphans Home and citizens on
foot.
When oil was ready the bands
struck up, the flags and banners
waved, the people Chartered, children
squalled and with the command from
the Marshal, the procession moved
slowly up Main street to Ninth,
thence west 10 Franklin, thence
north to the Park.
TWAS stated by number, that the
procession was three quarters of an
hour passing q given point. Not
noting carefully the time ourseIf, we
must rely for that part of the pro-
ceedings on the hearsay of others.
One of the most attractive features
of the procession, was the car of lib
erty, containing the little Misses, all
dressed so handsomely, representing
the States of the Union. But chief
in that imposing display, was the
grand army of orphan children with
their banners, on one inscribed,
Iowa honors our fathers: we will
yet honor her." and on the other,
1--WE love our country; our fathers
risked their lives to save it,"
BY the time the procession had az
rived, the Park was crowded with
people. The usual exercises were
opened by music from the Manches-
ter band, followed by prayer by Rev.
5. r. Griffith, afterwards music by
the glee club. The reader of the
Declaration of Independence not be.
ing present, that time honored docu-
ment was dispensed with.
Rev. l.. 3. Fifield, the orator of
the day, was then introduced to the
audience by Mayor Bryant. The
Grafton was listened to attentively by
ell who could get within the sound
of his voice, and though able, as the
productions Of the speaker are ad-
mitted to be, We thought the greater
portion of his discourse inappropri-
ate for the day and the occasion.
At the conclusion of the grafton,
Rev. S. r.. Griffith made a few re-
marks to the children, after which,
with music by the band, and the
Benediction by Rev. ID. N. Mason,
the crowd dispersed for dinner.
The performance of Orton's Circus
in the afternoon, gave an opportuni-
ty for all who had come to see the
fun to get their full moneys worth.
At 5 p. M. the Fantasies entered
town headed by their commander,
Herr Won -, creating no little
stir, for everybody was OH tip-toe to
see them and their ridiculous per-
formances. For genuine burlesque,
it beat Nasby's best, and If there was
a stole in that vast crowd, we will
vouch for it, that he laughed right
heartily. The several characters rep
resented were pronounced good, Since
the last grand trial of the excavator
and the amusement which its pres
ence created, We are compelled, re-
luctantly, to acknowledge that every
thing is made to serve purpose after
all. The procession moved down
Main and up First street to the Park
where the speaker, selected for the
occasion, delivered his stunning adj
dress. Our reporter did not take
notes at the time, and we are there
fore compelled to omit a report. At
ter the speech, the procession moved
down Third street followed by the
immense crowd of people, and this
laughable part of the days proceed
ings were ended.
AS usual on such occasions, the day
did not close without an accident.
Fortunately the smoke has cleared
away, leaving no serious injury in its
track, but the threatenings of the
time were among the most fearful
ever witnessed. After tue perform
ance of the fantasies, the band was
entertaining the crowd i'm front of
the Carter House, and their beinc no
other object of interest, the street
was soon filled with .eams and peo-
pie. II. c. Dc Witt, living on the
SLACK Hawk, had driven down to the
river to water his team, and the cars
coming in sooner than expected,
they became scared and started to
run. Mr.. ID. held Oh to them as best
he could, but the horses becoming
disengaged from the wagon he was
soon pulled out on to the ground.
After dragging him quite distance,
they got the better of him and ran at
lightning speed across the race
bridge and toward the crowd of peo-
pie. Coming up in rear of covered
buggy, they undertook to separate
but failed in consequence of the
neck-yoke, and Mr.. /. NJ. Farwell,
his wife and two children, who were