Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-07-12
ruE CErrrrvIAL cEIEBRArIox

umwa was, in spite Of the unfavora- t
Die weather, one of the most success
'ul celebrations ever known here.
People in this city are as patriotic
rs those living anywhere, and altho'
the preparations this time were not
50 great or the preliminary wind
work SO extensive as usual, the UNI
bird of freedom received
a boost that did it ample credit.
The 4th of July always inspires a
certain amount of patriotism, but this
Centennial Fourth was ushered in in
a style commensurate with the i'm
portance Of the occasion, and very
creditable to our people.
At day-break national salute of
81 guns was fired, during which time
bells were ringing, and whistles
blowing, the bunting was flung to the
breeze and the festivities, which last
cd until early this morning, were
commenced.
The streets, OWING to the terrible
rain storm Of the night before, were
in a condition as unfit for parade as
could be imagined. However, pa
rade had been arranged for, and al
though it was aecessaryto abandon the
march to the grove in the morning,
the programme was varied SO far as
to include the more public streets
only. .. -
At about 10 o'clock the Ottumwa
Guards met ut their armory at the
City Hall and the military band
struck up patriotic air, which soon
called large crowd together. In a
short time they were joined by the
Sheridan Guards, Ottumwa Fire Co.
No. l, the Hook and Ladder company
and the Masonic fraternity. They
formed in procession under the di-
rcction Of Major Ballingall OH 4th
street, we believe. Somewhere on
upper Main street they were Joined
by "cheap musical band" uniform
| cd in the most outlandish style and
carving full line of instruments of
their own manufacture. They were
from the repair shops of the Central
Railroad, and created no end of
amusement. They were followed by
Capt. John Smiths Juvenile bare.
footed brigade uniformed in Centen-
NAL flags, and armed with broom
sticks, scythes, etc. The band wagon
land band of tin horns, improvised
| by shick & Co., attracted considerable
attention.
The parade in every particular was
, successful, and everywhere the mill
tary companies We're spoken of with
pride in regard to their soldierly ap-
pearance and proficiency in drill.
After parading the principal streets
they finally came to halt at tht
crossing of Main and Market streets
. where stand was improyised ant
! the regular programme was takel
8 up. Mayor Tisdale called the crowt
4 to order, and the hymn, "My Country
@ It's of thee" ETC., was sung by tn
choir and assembly with splendit
, effect. The music was very excel
lent.
~ Rev. Mr.. Sunderland, OF the Baptis
Church, delivered prayer, which, il
, choice oflanguage and force of deliy
cry, was particularly fitted for the OF
" casion. The Rev. Mr.. Simmons rea
y the Declaration of independence
" with considerable Evolutionary effcc
!, The old instrument read and signe
" one hundred years before, aroun
which such thrilling memories clu
- ter, never caused more attention tina
= yesterday.
" j. w. Norris read portion.of Il
early history of this county now b
N, ing prepared by himself, and whie
he we presume will in time be printe
st The address was Of peculiar intere
ye to people who have lived here fl
on twenty or thirty years, but ina
much as we have no copy we cam
ey give even an ineligible synopsis
IN, the address. The Grafton by He
he E. II. Stiles, published in full in o
it'll paper to-day, in brief and eloque
ill manner brings wildly to memory I
oft wonderful Improvements made
Ii this country during the last hundr
b. years. 1t was listened to with mar
les ed attention and will be read with
Ell terest.
sh, Francis Murphy the great tempo
ance reformer, delivered the closil
address. We regret very much o
'dt inability, owing to the very lar
or crowd, to get near enough to he
lie him plainly.
lis 1t was expected to take dinner
As the grove but that being consider
W inadvisable, the ladies of the Tempe
OF ance Union had prepared the MARI
Exchange saloon on Market st.
ne a dining hall, where those who h
~. made no other provision were fur
- ished an excellent meal at about I
MS cost of preparing it. The Hall "
q. tastefnlly decorated and the tab
10 well supplied with everything q hu
i, q CRY person could wish. 1t was
~ great center of attraction at noon Al
mt the ladies had the satisfaction of 81
IN ing their labors appreciated.
nc The weather improved as the hor
he run by and in the afternoon Fit
ito Marshal Ballingall, reformed
ill armed hosts and headed the proc
RS. sion for the grove where the acti
WI sports commenced in earnest. Il
hit crowd was the largest perhaps, Il
The ever assembled at the grove and FRI
all We can learn, all were we'll pleas,
Dancing from two or three lar
platforms, military drill by the {
Ids tumwa Guards, Sheridan Guards a
lilo Bloomfield State Guards, base b
sed1 games, foot racing, and other spo
AS Of like character, took up the til
ned satisfactorily. There seemed to
lies something adapted to please ever
body, and the enjoyment was perft
The afternoon passed away all
in soon, and the crowd thorough
the tired out returned to the city to p
My pare for the evening programme.
G The fire works in the evening W.
to more extensive than ever known
fore in this city, and the battle W
Roman candles, at the Balling
House corner, was quite spirited,
=" ten apparently approaching sor
) thing serious, but happily eve
- thing of an unfriendly matt