Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-07-06
The Fourth In Austin.

The Fourth In Austin. '.-.
Early on Tuesday morning the ,nhabi-
tants were aroused from slumber by the
booming ofcannon and the ringing Of bells
The noise of hundred guns and the
clangor of all the church bells in the city,
greeted the rising Of the centennial sun,
which shonc with lustrc undiminished
by the lapse oftine. Soon the people were
astir and active in their preparations for
the celebration Of the day. Artificial
groves sprang into existence, fountains
were improvised in an hour, and booths
loomed up on every street corner. Flags
and steamers were pendant everywhere,-
never before have we seen such display
OF the national colors. Everybody and
everything seemed to be labeled rcd, white
and blue. AS was expected large dclcga.
tions come in on the cars from the sur
rounding vi]lages,-between two and three
hundred from Lel1oy, and many others
from Taop1, Adams and Rose Greek,
Grand Meadow, Brownsville, Blooming
Prairie and Lansing,-while from the
country. there came long lines of wagons
filed with people of all ages and sexes
magnificent throng, packing the streets
of the city SO full as at times to completely
blockade them. BY 8 O'Clock Chief Mar
shall d. b. Smith and his Aids were in
their saddles directing and organizing for
the formation of column, and at 8 the
der. The Austin Cornet Band led the
Van, and was Followed by the Triumphal
Union Car bearing thirty-eight young
Misses each representing sovereign State.
Then came the Goddess Of Liberty, ell.
throned and sccptered, standing in her
own Pavillion,-thc Acgis protecting the
fair young sisterhood of States. Appro-
priately following was the Father Mat
thew Society, with their Banners and Badg-
cs of green intimating that Temperance is
always the proper accompaniment of pow
er. The Officers of the Day fell in next
and were followed by citizens in carriages.
Then came representation of the various
industries, and Mechanic Arts,-Thrcsh.
ing Machines, Wagons, Rcapers, Sewing
Machines, Organs, Furniture, Manufact-
urcs, and in one instance moving Black
smith shop, in which the Smilhy was &C.
tually engaged in mailing shoes to the
feet Of horse. Before starting for tho
grove it became evident that the crowd
was too large to be formed into a single
procession, for it would have extended a
distance Of two miles, hence no effort was
made to columnizc any except the most
conspicuous features of the occasion. The
vast concoursc OF people was separated by
the N1arshals and led through different
streets, TO the site where the public cxcr.
ciscs took place. Arrived there it was a
long time before the work began. Finally
the Glcc Club rendered "Hail Our Coun.
Itry's Natal Morn" with excellent taste and
effect, Judge W. II. Crandall singing the
solo in a mastery manner. Prayer was
then offered by Rev. j. w. Eldrcdgc, then
music by the Band came, in good style,
succeeded by tho Declaration of Indcpcn.
dencc, Ivy Rev. c. d. Bcldcn. After more
Singing and more Band music, the Ora
ton was delivered by Prot: J. u. Butler,
of Madison, Wis. Then with music by
the Band and another Glcc, the crowd par:
took Of refreshments in the true PIC Mic
style and thus made Almost enjoyable meal
DINNER over and there was rush for the
Driving Park, and the rush soon became
u jam which,-but for the efficiency OF
the gate keepers, would have led to mex
tric;,blc confusion, but a short time sui
feed 10 admit all who sought entrance.
Very many fingered outside and viewed
the Sights from il distance, while the
great mass got inside, and like the near
sighted man viewing an eclipse, tried to
sc, up as close as they could.
AT half past P. NJ, the three minute
race was called, and four contestants res
pended promptly, and although they did
not cndangcr the reputation Of Goldsmith,
Maid, nor of Dexter, they did some pretty
work i'll the region Of the titties, and gave
proof Of ability to accomplish more with
careful training.
During the "trot" the Austin Blue caps
were playing the National Game with the
Champions, Of LeRoy, for Il premium OF
$4,000, and while our boys won the score
and we guess fairly, our ncighbors from,
the Southeast corner acquitted themselves
most splendldly. 1t has never been oul
good fortune to witness many closely con
tested ball matches, and hence We make
no claim t" technical knowledge in judg
ing Of excellence in playing, but it is oul
opinion that few games have ever beer
played in this State with more skill thar
was exhibited in tho contest between L,
Roy and Austin, and it should be said il
justice to the former that one of their mel
was not of their "ninc" but had beer
"picked up" 10 fill vacancy, occasionct
by the absence Of one of their most skill
full players. Senator r. I. Smith was I'm
:. pire, and we believe his decisions wer
, mutually satisfactory to the parties in in
terest. AT the close Of the game the l.
Roy boys proposed three cheers for thei
competitors and they were given heartily
Then the Austin boys cheercd the Leroy
and thus were courtcsies cqualized.
The Rose Creek club then entered til
field against the Shakers IF Austin an
after lively play were beaten ~ scor
Of 80 to II. :