Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-13
THE FOURTH AT QUASQUETON.
A Sprightly Account Of the Formal and
Funny Incidents Of the Day.
QUAsouEToN, Iowa,
.Iulv 18th 1877


EDITOR BULLETIN:-The one hun
dred and first anniversary of American
Liberty has passed, and again are we re
minded that, as people, we are the re
cipients of blessings and privileges
bought for us by the untold trials, sui
ferings and privations of our ancestors
10 be an American, child of Liberty
sends the blood coursing through ou
veins with an impetus that nothing els,
produces, and when we see the Nationa
holiday celebrated by all classes, heal
the horns, the fife and drum, and Sc,
the Red, White and Blue" floating
proudly in the breeze, our hearts swell
with pride and patriotism, and we ex
claim, Dear, old America, thou ART
mine! But really, | only intended tC
to give you an outline of the way w,
celebrated the day. 1t is estimated
that between three thousand and foul
thousand people were here, and | dc
not doubt it. Our town was full from
center to circumference, as your towns.
man, David Neidy, can testify, and right
here l would thank him for showing his
genial countenance in our midst, and al
so the fen others from the city so far
above us; an occurrence so rare is the
reason of such public notice The
morning of the Fourth was ushered in
by the usual National Salute. The
'Horribles came first in the order OF
exercises, and made a fine appearance
or at least an amusing one. They were
assisted by their brethren from Troy
who came with band-wagon and organ
and also furnished a speaker, who look
ed very much as if he had belonged to
Sitting Bulls band, though Solomon
made splendid speech, humorous and
sensible. Next came the young ladies
representing the States, on their finely
decorated car. They were beautiful to
behold, each dressed in white, with
sashes Of red white and blue, and taste
full little caps, decorated with a small
flag and the name of State. The God
ess, Miss Irene Adams, was superb, and
bore her honors with queenly grace.
The car was followed to the grove by a
large procession, to listen to the
speeches, &c. The President Of the
day, DIR. A. w. Trout, read the order OF
exercises. Prayer by Rev. N. Jones,
Reading of the Declaration by Miss Ida
Hilton, Speeches by l.. L. Ainsworth
and lawyer Hussey, of your city, the
whole interspersed with music by the
Quasqueton Harmonic Society. The
Anvil Chorus" deserves special men
ton, as it was well rendered An orig
inal poem was read by DR.. II. O. Dock
ham. Next in order was dinner, which
consisted in general spreading of ia
ble-cloths on the ground, or seats, where
all did ample justice to chickens, pies,
cakes &c. After dinner, quite num-
Der of toasts, good ones, were read by
the Toast Master, and well responded
to. The crowd then began to move
towards the river to witness the tub
race. There were three contestants,
one only, Tommy Mcmillan, succeeded
in crossing. One could not get his tub
started, somehow it would fill with
water Never mind, Lewis" keep try
ing, and perhaps you'll have better luck
next Fourth. The other one got a
third of the way across, when down
went the tub, and ED" with it. Twas
amusing to see him swim to shore with
his tub. The rope walking was well
done by Prof. Durham. The b. B.
clubs performed their parts, and the
fire works in the evening went off better
than the ones did in your city last
Fourth. So the day passed without a
of any kind, and much cred
it is due the Marshals, ii. G. Chamber
lain and Henry Eddy, for the order
Credit is also due Mrs.
Hastings, Miss Ida Hilton, Henry Eddy,
Fl. Davidson and DIR. H. O. Dockham,
for working so faithfully. The DR.. has
recently taken up his residence here;
may success attend him. fear | have
wearied your patience, and so will stop
'nstdnter. n. I. IL.