Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-07-07
THE centennial FOURTH AT INDIE
PENDENCE.
GREAT ouTPouRINo OF the PEOPLE.
GRAND DISPLAY.

equal station among the nations of the
earth twas perfect and complete success
up to shutdown. The causes which made
the exercises of the evening not SO salts
factory will be discussed further on.
Apprehensions were entertained on the
Sd that the weather for the morrow might
not prove propitious, but these fears were
dispelled when day broke on the Fourth
with perfectly clear sky. A few clouds
yelled the sky during the day, tempering
the too ardent glances of the sun, but no
rain came to Interrupt the programme or
mar the pleasures of the day until after
O'Clock, P. M.
The glorious day was ushered in accord
ing to the programme, by the firing of 100
guns just as the sun began to climb the
eastern horizon. The two "pony" guns
were placed at the river, near the foundry,
and the new IL FOUNDER on the common
near the Cemetery. This last gun was
burst at the fourth round by over loading,
as described elsewhere. Fortunately those
in charge fired it with fuse, else we
might have had horrible accident to re-
late.
At an early hour people from the sur
rounding country began to arrive, COM
ing, young and old, all sorts and condl-
tons of people. in all styles and manner
of locomotion, and by 10 o'clock, A. M,
the town was packed tull of people, wait
ing eagerly for the opening of the cxer-
cises, full Of patriotic spirit, and all pre-
pared to extract the fullest measure of en-
joyment from the occasion.
We have heard various estimates of the
number of strangers in town on the Fourth
ranging from 5000 to 10000 Probably
figure between these two would approx
innate correctness. ltwas undoubtedly the
| largest crowd that ever assembled in our
city. Main street, from the bridge to the
Merchants Hotel, was densely packed, and
even when the exercises at the grove had
drawn away the greater part of the mass,
pedestrians found considerable diff
Guilty in making their way through the
crowds that lined the sidewalks.
At the hour of 10 the grand possession
swas formed at the Court House by Chief
Marshal w. G. Donnan and aids, and
commenced the march to the grove. First
came the Independence Cornet Band, next
carriages containing the Mayor and Coun-
Gil, the officers of the day, Chaplain,
Reader, Historian, sc. This was followed
by ear containing 10 young ladies dress
ed in costumes of century ago, and rep
resenting the IL original States. Follow
ing this was platform upon which was
an allegorical group, young lady repre-
scnting the Goddess of Liberty, her hand
upon an anchor, and negro boy at her
feet, with broken chains, and an Indian
near by Next followed a tastefully-fitte
car from Westburg, containing 3S young
ladies, corresponding to the States of the
Union, clad in white, with golden chaplets,
flags, emblems, etc. The car had around
| its base the motto: Washington, the
Father of our Country; Lincoln its Mar
| tyr" Next came 30 or 40 horsemen IN a
body, and after them over 10 teams from
the same township. Westburg made a
most gallant array, and we'll deserved the
premium of $40 awarded her, for the
finest display from one township. Next
came the Independence Fire Department,
with apparatus, led by Thayer's Martial
Band, and presenting fine appearance.
Then came car upon which were seated
80 young girls of this city, representing
the States. The car was most splendidy
adorned, and tic fair occupants, each with
her appropriate badge and flag, conspired
to make this one of the most brilliant and
pleasing features of the occasion. Tie
procession, which was considerably more
than mile long, was closed by citizens
in carriages and wagons.
Arrived at the grove, the published
order of exercises was gone through with,
consisting Of prayer by Rev. L. w. Brint-
nall, music, vocal and instrumental, read
ing of the Declaration by Rev. T. B.
Kemp, History of the County, by Judge
Roszell, (printed on the outside pages of
this paper original Centennial poem, by
James Young, read by ]. S. Woodward,
Esq, and basket picnic dinner.
At two O'Clock the fire companies turned
out for Il trial of engines, which passed
off satisfactorily. This com prised the OK
ercises of the day with the exception of
the performance of an acrobat on rope
stretched across Main street at the corner
of Walnut.
At p NJ, the people assembled at the
river side, opposite the island, to witness
the naval engagement between the Mont
tor and Mcrrimac, ana the fireworks on the
island. This pant OF the show must be
pronounced tizzle, an almost total failure.
This was owing partially to the confusion
luCluCuI W llC lCdllul
in the western heavens, and partially to
errors of judgment in the parties having
the matter in charge. The naval battle
on the Fourth has been fruitful source
OF fun and jibes and wit for all the wags
in town ever since The gallant tars who
participated in the bloody engagement are,
of course, the especial objects of the
jokers' attentions, so out of regard for
their feelings we refrain from charging
upon the terrific details of a scene of car
mage, wherein the armament of one of the
combatants consisted of six Roman can
dies, and of the other of ten Roman candles
and bunch of fire'crackcrs. The weight
of metal was OH the side of tho Merrimac,
but Yankee courage was more than sutfi-
cient to overcome the odds, and the Mon
itor came out of the fight crippled but
victorious.
For reasons not necessary to specify
the fireworks were not up to expectation,
though the $300-led us to expect
something grand
At 10 o'clock, P. NJ, the thunder storm
that boJ od oil bo oyop;pu rop,.