Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-07-05
The Fourth at Dodgeville.

The Fourth at Dodgeville.
Considering but limited arrangements
were made in our village for the enter
tainment of the people, the 4th passed off
more pleasantly than was anticipated.
The grocery and confectionery dealers
had made ample provisions for supplying
the hungry and thirsty, and with plenty
to eat and drink the people pursued the
avenues of amusement with vigor.
A heavy rain on the morning of the Sd
subdued the dust, and Q refreshing west
wind on the morning of the 4th, contribu-
ted to make the day the most pleasant of
any 4th for many years.
The day was greeted upon the thresh.
hold of its entrance by the young men
who volunteered to leave their beds at
the ghostly hour of midnight and pro-
coed noiselessly and stealthily to the SUM-
NIT of Fair Ground Hill, and with true
patr lotto pride and fervid glow of enthu-
siasn sparkling from every vein, with
nimLle hands unleashed the dog of war.
The thunder walked the great echoes of the
surrounding country, and the little heroes
of the village sprang enthusiastically from
their "little beds" and charged heroically
with their small arms until confusion it
self became COMPOUNDED the starry ban
ners foated majestically from public and
private buildings, and the shouts of old
and middle aged men who had witnessed
the "pomp and circumstance of war;" and
of the young men and children who were
"eager for the Fray" all contributed to
give the most enthusiastic welcome to the
nations natal day that has been witness
ed in Dodgeville for many years.
By IL o'clock in the morning the teams
were pouring into the village from every
direction and neighborkood, heavily
freighted with roble men. women and
children full of the love and deeds Of de-
votion and patriotism.
1t would have been an act of cruelty to
suppress the enthusiasm of the children
on the streets, whose very souls seemed
TO he absorbed in initiating the spirit of
their father and others around them, al
though with their miniature explosives
they rendered the passage of the streets
with teams exceedingly dangerous. But
few accidents, however, occurred, and
of those none were Of serious char .ctcr.
About 10 o'clock in the morning team
became slightly frightened inst at the cor
ner Of the streets 10y the CHRONICLE office,
and as they made the turn the wagon
struck the sidewalk rather abruptly which
caused the driver to lose his balance and
he fell from the wagon carrying with him
the lady at his side. The fall was a dan
gerous one but fortunately neither was
hurt except the spraining of the lady's
ankle. The gentleman sprang to his feet
and soon got hold of the lines and secured
the horses. The lacy was kindly cared
for by the citizens who happened TO be
near, and at present we think all is well.
In the evening horse attached to buggy
containing gentleman and lady became
frightened and instead of attempting to
go forward went backward and broke one
of the thills of the buggy. Some gentle
men standing near seized the horse by the
rcins and assisted the lady from the bug
gy and thus avoided an accident that
might have been serious.
1t was general day of sobcrness. No
body was caboosed or complained of on
account of drunkenness, and we noticed
no one drunk except special few, whom
We have seldom seen sober, either on the
4th, LIST, I'd, 3rd, 5th, or any other day of
any other month in any year.
The proceedings on the Fair Ground
were of an amusing character. The pri-
yes were awarded and paid to the several
competitors as follows: