The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-07-06
CAIRO'S FOURTH.
THE GRANDEST CELEBRATION
EVER GIVEN IN THE CITY.
GORGEOUS DECORATIONS - POMP-
GUS PROCESSION INTERESTING
EXERCISES - BRILLIANT FIRE
Observation-Disclosures, DANG
ING AND MUSIC.
TEN THOUSAND STRANGERS IN
THE CITY.

not show herself to be not only as patriotic
but also as enterprising as any city in the
country, unless he wishes to entirely ignore
the magnificent event just past which COM
memorated the one hundred and fifth an
nual return OF the republics birthday. All
who were here and participated in the fes-
Invites will not hesitate to support
this opinion, but for the benefit of those
readers of The BULLETIN who were SO
unfortunate as to remain away, few de-.
tails will certainly prove of interest
The weather was propitious. The sky
was clear; the sun shone brightly, but not
too hot; gentle breeze made sweet music
in the many shade trees in the city and
cooled the pedestrians brow. The streets
we're in splendid condition not dusty, yet
dry.
Probably the best evidence ofthe universal
interest felt in the celebration by the peo-
pie of the city, were the flags and other
decorations that might have been seen
along every street, especially along the line
Of march of the grand procession, Nearly
every business house In the city and num-
beress residences bore festive appear
ance-were arrayed in the most beauteous
combination of colors known to the artist
| world-red, white and blue. In various
places flags and banners Of bright colors
were stretched entirely across the streets.
In the evening numberess Chinese lanterns
were hung on strings around the door ways
and porticos of residences, looking, at a
distance, like constellation OF bright and
many-colored stars.
Early in the morning the extensive and
judlcous advertising that the committee on
printing had done, began to show its
fruits in the arrival Of strangers from
the country and the towns and villages
around US. A great many came in on
wagons some in buggies-.all dressed in gay
attire, many of the ladies carrying flags, or
being decorated with ribbons OF the ma
tional hues. Later in the forenoon the sew
eral railroads running into the city brought
in their train loads. The Illinois Central
railroad brought down nine coaches, all
uncomtortably full; the Cairo & Vincennes
railroad had seven coaches filled to over
flowing; the Cairo & st. Louis railroad
brought strong delegation from all the
towns along its line; the transfer steamer
Morgan was crowded every trip she made
with passengers that came from Missouri
| on the Iron Mountain railroad; the steamer
Silverthorn was literally packed with ex-
cursionists from Hickman and way
points, and the ferryboat Three
States was taxed to her fullest
capacity every trip she made. 1t is per-
fectly safe to say that AT LEAST TEN THOU
| SAND STRANGERS were in the city, drawn
here by the information, conveyed to them
chiefly by means of printers ink, that
Cairo would celebrate the Fourth in be-
fitting and glorious manner. AS result
Of this inpouring of people the streets and
| sidewalks were crowded, especially was
this the case at the various and many places
| where refreshments were sold, or where
something of interest was to be seen. The
| Reform club had decorated the Tenth
street stand and was furnishing good lem
onad at five .cents per glass and ice water
free; it had also thrown open the doors Of
| its hall on Tenth street and spread several
large tables with eatables, varied and sub
stantial, as well as fancy; number
of temporary lemonade and cake
stands had been established
in various parts of the city for the accom-
mediation of the crowd and the hotels and
restaurants in the city were full almost con-
tinually.
1t was about half past ten o'clock before
the first great feature Of the days festi-
vlties, the procession, was ready to move.
Amid the tolllng of the five fire bells in the
| city the members of each fire company and
of the Mystic Krew had gathered at their
respective halls and from there the former
accompanied by their engines and hose
carts, drawn by horses, gathered in the
vicinity Of Eighth street. Atthe hour named
the head Of the procession, led by the grand
marshal, Capt. Thomas W. Shields, began
to move down Washington avenue and up
Sixth street to Ohio levee, and the several
organizations fell in according to the order
agreed upon, which was as follows: First,
the grand marshal second, the mayor and
Alderman Wood, in buggy; third, the
May Flower band; fourth, the Mystic Krew;
fifth, the Arab fire company, with their
steam and other engines; sixth, the Rough
and Ready fire company; seventh, the
Comlque band, elegantly uniformed;
eiphth. the Hibernian fire company: ninth.