River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-07-08

| said Frank was young and did not
kROw much, as evidenced 10y his going
over to Erin Prairie to make Re-
publican speech. He said all the peo-
pie there were Democrats of the real
old stamp--not the new reform kind.
Well. Frank went at his speech, and
was greeted with cat calls, and gro
ceries they did not want any longer
eggs that had outliyed their useful.
ness, etc.--but he waded through to
the end. At the conclusion repre-
sentative citizen took Frank by the
hand and told him that the best citi-
Zens were not there, nobody but the
rag tag and bob-tail were out, and that
was the reason they were so uncivil.
i" None of the best citizens were
there" he said; every man that had
any sense stayed at home" The laugh
was on Frank, and Bill retired. But
| Frank had no idea of submitting and
| explained, saying that all the people
of River Falls knew Bits tendency
| to prevarication and how lie loved to
distort things, and that in this in
stance he had outdone himself in the
distortion act, and that his ingenuity
was worthy of admiration. lie told a
good one ON Bills effort to mark out
corn ground, making the marks SO
crooked that he could not tell which
one he was looking at, and concluded
by showing where Bill had distorted
the story of the speech. 1t was in the
last clause; that the man did not say
what Bill said lie did, but that he
said "all the best people would have
been out TO the meeting but they
thought it was that blarsted fool of a
Bill Nye that was going to speak.
Now the joke was on Bill, and the
crowd enjoyed it immensely to see
the "great wit" SO nicely cornered.
The adjournment now took place,
mid peals of laughter.
AtlP. large crowd assembled
at the Base Ball grounds to witness
the sports. In the 100 yard foot-race
seven started. VIM Granger won
first prize, Dan. Cameron second.
In the wheelbarrow race there were
three entries. VIM. Granger took first
prize, l.. Noyes second.
In the egg race there were five en-
tries. l.. Garrin won first prize, ID.
| Brown second.
In the three-legged race there were
four entries. David and VIM. Brown
took the shekels.
Throwing heavy weight had twelve
contestants. Curtis Johnson took first
prize, VIM. III. Putnam second.
In the potato race there were five
contestants. IL vas a spirited and
close contest, David Brown taking first
prize, VIM. Brown second.
The Tug of War, between 10 select
men from G.. A. K. and 10 select men
from the Fire Company, was an IN.
teresting feature Of the afternoon
sports. 1t consisted of pulling at
rope to see which tea could walk off
with the other ten. When the pulling
commenced the "old vets seemed to
get decided advantage which, if it
had been sharply followed up would
have given them an easy victory, but
by losing that first advantage they
gave the 'fire laddies" their oppOrtu-
nifty, which was at once seized, and
by sudden swing into the rope and
the sharp twisting down of the mus
Giles the "tug of war came. and the
"nip-and-tuck' point Of the game was
reached, the "yets" gave way, and
the sire boys" came in on the home
| stretch full length ahead. 1t made
lots of fun; and all the more from the
fact that some old heads participated.
1t is thought by some that, had the
''vets" all taken one side of the rope
and thus avoided crOss-pulling and
saved their strength, the result might
have been different. The "fire boys"
had studied this. hence they "hold the
fort, and smoke the lIavanas.
TIE creased pig, evidently laboring
under the conviction that he must
"root hog or die" became very spry,
and gave his pursueIs lively chase
for time, but was at last captured
by Clarence Sweet, who rejoices at
the improved prospect of homemade
sausage.
The sports of the afternoon con.
cluded with a sharply contested game
of base ball between the River Falls
lst Nine and Hastings Nine. River
Falls took the prize of $50 by a score
of II to s, thus sustaining their good
reputation. The Ist Nine of River
Falls plays well; has a pitcher and
catcher who are up to the niceties of
their positions, and being i'll other
respects well balanced they gain much
admiration from good critics.
Ii the evening, hundreds of people
assembled at the base hall grounds to
see the exhibition of fireworks. The
first rocket went up at nine o'clock,
anu was followed by rockets, bombs,
candies, wheels, etc. for nearly an
hour when the sports of the day as
per programme. ended, leaving every.
body in excellent humor.
The Committee of Arrangements, of
which J. III. Lord was chairman, fur
nished the people most excellent
entertainment; for which, they are
entitled to undivided thanks, and the
programme was well carried out by
the able management of Marshals
Glass, Pierce and Beyans.
Aside from the public exercises
there we're private enterprises and
Entertainments which made the means
of enjoyment complete.
The W. c. L. U. opened and decora-
ted a large store room and set splen-
did dinner, followed with iee-cream,
cakes, lemonade and other refresh
ments until late in the evening, thus
| accommodating many visitors. and