The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1875-06-05

Oldest nation Of the world, and Amer
leans seem to be favorites with the
progressive Khedive. More anon.
GENERAL OBSERVER.
THE FETE oHAMPETRE.
A Brilliant Festival---Baton Rouge Fire.
men Participate--Breaking Ground for
the New Catholic Church-A Musical
Contest--The Baton Rouge Band
Awarded the Medal.
The Fete Champetre or Fair in aid
of the Catholic Church building fund
opened in fine style Saturday evening
and continued in successful operation
during the advertised period Of three
days. The stands and tables were
nicely arranged under tarpaulin-cov-
cred framework to the east and south
of the beautiful kiosk which stands
in the rear Of the church, while the
bar was located in basement room
of the college building to the west.
The tables were ornamented with
bouquets of fresh flowers and the XII
osk with fcstoons of evergreen and
posies. At night light was furnished
by scores of gaudy Chinese lanterns,
which added greatly to the attract
tiveness of the scene.
Early Sunday morning a large del
egation of Baton Rouge firemen, ac-
companied by the Independent Silver
Cornet Band of Baton Rouge and a
number of guests, arrived at the land
ing in the spacious towboat Ivy. The
strangers were enthusiastically re-
ceived by our two fire companies and
escorted to the Fair grounds in pro-
cesssioD, commanded by Chief En-
gineer Sims. Phoenix took the lead,
headed hy the D. S. G. Band !; the
Baton Rouge tiremen, comprising the
members Of Independence Fire Co.
No. 2, and delegations from Washing
ton steam Fire Co. No. and Pelican
Hook and Ladder Co. No. l, came
next, headed by the Baton Rouge
Band Ascension Hook and Ladder
Co. brought up the rear, lead by an
extempore band composed Of mem
bers of the St. Cecile and the late AS
cension Brass Band. Arrived at the
grounds, Chief Sims spoke a few
words of welcome to the visitors and
the procession disbanded. Half an
hour afterwards the firemen were
again summoned i'll line, two abreast
one Donaldsonvillian, the other
a Baton Rougeian-and marched
around to the truck-house of Assem-
sion Hook and Ladder Co., where a
couple Of barrels of fresh lager were
tapped and several brief addresses
listened to from representatives of the
various organizations present. The
remarks of the speakers were eloquent
and appropriate, and elected enthu-
siastic responses from the hilarious
audience. After an inspection of tho
truck-house and equipments, a visit
was made to the Phoenix engine house,
and from here the line of march back
to the fair grounds was again taken
up. At o'clock in the afternoon the
Baton Rouge firemen dined with Fa-
Their Cuppens, most of them having
whetted their appetites by a stroll
about town to "see the place."
During the afternoon occurred, with
impressive attendant ceremonies, the
breaking of ground at the spot where
the cornerstone of the new church is
TO be Land. A silver spade was used
for the purpose, and this beautiful
implement was afterward displayed
upon one of the cake stands. Rev.
Father Delacroix of Baton Rouge as
sisted Father Cuppens in this cere-
lnony and also in celebrating mass in
the church.
At four o'clock p. N. the Donald
sopville fire companies assembled at
their respective halls and again
marched to the scene Of the fete
headed by the D. S. c. Band, which
was about to enter the
contest for the gold medal. The bands
expected from Plaquemine and Thib-
Ddaux did not arrive, SO the Baton
Rouge and Donaldsonyiile bands were
The only ones competing for the prize.