McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1883-09-13
Northern Pacific Festivities.

| MINNEAPOLIS, September 3.-This
has been most eventful day in the history
| OF Minneapolis. The announcement MAT
President Willard and his guests would stop
In Minneapolis on their way to witness the
driving of the golden spike on the Northern
Pacific caused the citizens to stretch every
nerve to make their visit memorable one.
The day dawned clear and bright, and moth
ing occurred throughout to mar the festiyi-
ties. For. several days every one has been
busy fashioning notices and designing and
executing novelties in the way of decoration
and adornment. When the hour of noon
came all business houses on the principa
thoroughfares were lavishly adorned with
emblems, flags and notices. At the inter-
section OF Nicolett, from the First National
bank across to Harrison hall, there was a
section of the Northern Pacific bridge over
the Missouri river at Bismarck, with mh-
lature train of cars upon 1t. Between the .
bank block and the johnson block, across
the alley from the Nicollett house,
was an accurate representation of Mime
haha falls, the water falling over and
through the mass of evergreens. Across
Hennepins at the intersection of Washing
ton, was section of the Manitoba aGue-
duct now being built across the river at
Minneapolis, and over which, on leased
tracks, the Northern Pacific trains will run
from the eastern terminus in this city to con-
meet with st. Louis boats at the landing
down at the river. Across the avenue, In
front of Anthony Kelly's, was another mag
niticent arch, and still another spanned the
street in front of Window block. All al1Ss
the avenue were novel notices. Tho pref
test was on Window block, where, among
otner things, WAS piled huge stack of
flour with the motto ''Giye us the wheat;
we will feed the wOrid.' In front of the.
Nicollett house, facing on Washington ave-
nue., the grand stand, with accommodations
for 600 people, had been erected and elab-
orateiy decorated for the distin-
guished visitors. From this elevated
position the guests had magnificent
view of the decorations on the OppO-
site side OF the street, conspicuous among
which were large pictures of Willard and Jay
Cooke, handsomely wreathed in fiowers.and
and large paintings representing
scenes along the Northern Pacific railrOsS.
The news that President Arthur, Generals
Grant and Sheridan, and Secretary Lincoln
would be present had spread far and wide,
and the trains coming in the city were
crowded to their utmost. 1t il estimated
FULLY 40, 600 visitors were In the city to-day.
Thirty carriages containing Willard and
guests were drawn up TO the Nicoilet house,
preceded by company of mounted police
md Dareeze's full band. AS the company
llighted they were greeted with prolonged
cheers by the thousands who occupied every
nch of available space in front OF the stand
md windows of adjoining buildings. The
appearance OF President Arthur on the plat
orm was greeted with round upon round1of
Ulcers, and when sGovernor Washbnrn
topped forward and introduced Robert
lincoln, the son of the martyr pres
dent, the vast audience gave him
greeting no less demonstrative than
hat which followed the appearance of
1rant and Sherman. moment later the
appearance OF Willard was the signal for an
utburst Of applause; cheering that was re-
lewed long after the gentleman had
his introduction, and was
gain taken up, when 3Trs. Willard came
onward and took her seat beside him.
resident Arthur's special train arrived
rom the west the same moment that Viii
ards train came, and he received Sheridan
nd Lincoln at the depot. At a given signal
he vast procession, which had been waiting
yer an hour, began its march past the
rand stand. The first wagons contained
eminders Of the early days OF MinnescS,
representative Indians In ali their simplicity,
ONE seated in birch-bark canoes, log cabins
t the early day, stage coaches, the ineyita-
lie ''prairie schooner containing the i'm
Migrant, his family and possessions. Then
anne the wagon filled with baggage repre-
enting the eary-day express business, fol-
owed by wagon on which Il card was
laced, marked minneapolis to Portland,
ia the N. Z. B. RI