The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-07-10
FOURTH OF JULY.
AN UNUSUAL CELEBRATION IN CANTON


Fourth Of July 1879 will long be remembered
by our citizens as being more extensively aud ex
pensively celebrated than ever heretofore. Al
daybreak IN the morning the booming Of cannon
gave notice that the festivities had commenced
and BY o'clock our streets were lined with peO
pie anxious to see and hear all that was going on
and apparently bound not TO lose siI gle portion
OF the programme. Most OF our business houses
and many private residences were handsomely
iestooned with ha2s and the air Iesounded with
music by the bands. The Robinson Hook and
Ladder Co., with the visiting companies and the
steamer boys formed on the Square, and headed
by the Sch Regiment Band, paraded the principal
streets and then marched TO the Fair Grounds
where ihe Hooks gave picnic, an account OF
which is given below The Knights of Pythias
with their families and accompanied by the City
Baud, left early for a days piCnlcng at the Lake,
and the Wallace Grays and the G. A. Band went
to Myers grove south of town, TO spend the day
In pleasure. The grand feature OF the day how
ever, and the most attractive was the grand street
parade of the masquerading fantasticals, under
command OF "Ggadier Brindle" Phillips. This
immense cavalcade was formed at the Bridge
Works at o'clock a. M. and were escorted to the
Square by the G. A. Band, who were there reliev.
ed By the New Berlin Band. There was cavalry,
artillery, infantry and burlesques without mum.
Der, on city officials, bands, &c. The local hits
were irstclaSs and mirth. provoking in the ex.
treme;
"Makng those laugh who never laughed before,
And those who always laughed, laugh still the more"
The grand pageant marched through the prln.
cipal streets In the following order: Fret came
an heroic looking platoon of pioneers with mur.
derOus looking wooden battle'axes 10 clear the
way for the procession. Then came the New Ber.
lin Band OF twelve pieces, followed by "Gigadier''
Phillips, 10 gorgeous uniform, mounted upon a
richly caparisoned war horse; a small regi-
ment OF foot soldiers in uniform that would put
Josephs coat nf many colors to blush. Seated
upon high wagon, With a table in the center,
was the Mayor and City Councilmen, and, as usu.
al, guarded by feroc.ous looking cop" some.
times called policeman. Verify 1t was an august
assemblage, and caused much merriment. Be.
hind this wagon load of intelligence and ordi.
nance manufacturers. csme more infantry a
number Of little boys wearing badges represent.
ing different States Delicious, ethereal music
| OLhahobAub hp'h VIC llu uOTub OI Tue
celebrated "skidmore' Band, Al Miller, drum
major, next attracted the attention of the multi
tude OF spectators. This band was attired In O
uniform imported at an enormous expense from
Bagdad. Their music was all new and frelh, ar.
ranged expressly for this band and for this occa
sion, from "Dr Simmons Liver Regulator" alma.
macs. The "Skidmores" are composed of work
men at P. P. Bush's Novelty Works, and they de-
serve praise for their exertiOns to please and
their aid in successfully carrying out the pro
gramme OF the day. The spectators had hardly
recovered from commissions caused by the band
when they were again thrown into Mysteries by
the Fire Bucket Br gade." This excellent, eff
cient and thoroughly undisciplined organization
was composed OF about twenty old ladies, who
drew a miniature hose cart containing abou
teven feet Of bursted hose. Each woman % car
ried paper bucket, and their appearance indi
Gated that they could let house burn down al
quick as any other fire company. The brigade
was headed BY an old lady bearing a banner
upon which was inscribed, "0ld hose and gun
boots hardly ever never" Another banner OF
the hose cart read, THE Dr's Fire Bucket Brig
ade, No. l. Canton, o." Citzans who have watch
ed the Council proceedings lately saw the poin
on the Doctor and appreciated 1t. Theodore
Thomas Orchestra, composed Of vOlns, drums
ifes &c, next attracted attention. The musicians
were seated in an old.fashioned Pennsylvania
wagon, on low wheels, and drawn by two mules
Their music was excruciatingly sweet, somewhs
resembling the noise made by a Cross cut saw
interspersed with hammering on an old boiler
Then came squad Of nondescript Zulu cayalr
and the famous world renowned Gilmore Band
Prof. Albertus De Bsxtaire, drum major nom
thought 1t was Jack Webb, bu! 1t wasn't. Thi
band was most elegantly and richly uniformed
the "seymosre" coats attracting special atten
ton, Their instruments were Of the very lates
HoItentot design, made of the most artistically
curved and twisted lead pipe, with brass mouth
pieces and tin funnel attachment. Their music
was the par excellence Of melodiferous discord
and consisted OF selections from the latest New
Zealand operas, such as Boarding Hou,e Hash
&C. Their marching showed perfect discipline
and drill and taken all In all the "Gilmores'
were most perfect gang Of wind TANNERS" A
boat on wheels labelled III. M. s. Pinafore," sey
eral minstrel parties, more cavalry under Cant
Louis Hahn, and heavy artillery the fat woman
cannon drawn by Geissen's goat loving couple
In carriages, and the Independent Band" con
Quoted by Geo, Grovemiller. This band was alsC
well uniformed and equipped and was most liter
ally independent. 1t played when 1t wished and
what 1t wished and was not bothered with Othel
| jealous musicians The clear, shrill blasts from
his tin pipe attached to a wash basin, clearly
showed that George was good band He informs
us that he and himself got along frstrate togeth
er, and was not subject to the chickering's and
growing SO common to other bands. After The
parade the procession formed about the band
stand on the Square. Mr.. P, P Bush acted as
master OF ceremonies, and after vainly calling fol
chaplain" Irgraham and Orator Lathrop he
introduced Hon, John 7, Hays, who, with bi.
usual eloquenCe, read the Declaration of Inde
pendence," Then came the grand band contest
Messrs George Hershey. VIM. Wyandt and Jonn
shimD were appointed judges; the "skidmores'
took the stand first and discoursed heart rendinp
selections from Whoa Emma," (patent medical
almanac arrangemenD, Marching Through
Georgia" and IAN original extravaganza from
Pinafore, entitled The DEVILS DreAm,n The
"Gilmores" then marched to the front and fairly
electrified the tremendous crowd making theil
ears ring with the dulcet strains OF "Spinters O.
| Music Smashed Up" Little Dutchman's Band
and selection from Pinafore, arranged from thu
opera OF La Somnambula, entitled, "GettinI
Away from Your Boarding House." Very anus
ing remarks, in German, were also delivered from
the band stand by Prof Hane. After the ccntes
the two bands showed their proficiency In mill
tary evOlutiOns by going through a silent drill
The crowd then dispersed for dinner. At2 O'Clock
the Square was again crowded with people, and
the committee rendered their decision, giving the
first prize for music TO the "skidmores" and the
first prize for drill and discipline 10 the "Gil
mores." R, H. Anderson, Of the DEMOCRAT, pre-
sented the prizes in a short and appropriate
speech (Bro. Fields, Of the Repository, had ac
cepted an invitation to make the presentation
speech to The "skids," but his manuscript note
were mislaid his natural modesty overcsme hin
and-well, he had to go to the Lake anyway
The prizes were beautifully cut leather medals
mounted with splendid brass buttons and Sus
pended from dainty bow Of red, white and blut
silk ribbons. We learn that the medals were ex