The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-22
NORTH AMERICAN SRSGERBUND.
Milwaukee Thronged with Visitors and Beau
tifully Decorated First Concert.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. July 2l.-Delightfnl
weather marks the opening day of the twenty
fourth fest of the Nortn American Sangerbund.
The city is full of strangers, and trains are ar
irving hourly with large additions. 1t is esti-
mated that between 10. 900 and IL, 600 people ar
rived from Chicago and ST. Louis to-day. The
hotels are crowded. Some enterprsing land
lords have rented large halls and empty stores
in their neighborhoods and filled them with
cots Roarding-hous keepers have hired cots by
the hundred, and every available corner has
been utilized, in addition to extra accommoda-
tions to be provided by regular boarding and
lodging houses. Many private residences have
arranged to care for a large number The decor
atoms are more general and elaborate than have
been seen in the city at any time since the peace
jubilee celebration at the close of the Franco
Prussian war; with, perhaps, the exception of the
soldiers reunion in 1880. Many residences are
handsomely decorated with Chinese lanterns,
arbor-vite wreaths and designs and the flags OF
various nations. The principal decora.
tions are on the business streets,
where every merchant and shoD-owner
vies with his neghbor in making his. store at
tractive. Many of the saloon keepers have built
rustic arches from their doors to the outer edge
of the sidewalk At the breweries the decora.
Commerce, the postofice and other public build
ngs more or less decorated From every
flagstaff in the city flag flies, many foreign
standards being displayed, as well as the stars
and stripes, thus giving the city cosmopolitan
appearance. A conspicuous feature of the festive
decorations are the arches erected by the sen-
gerfest committee. The general verdict Is that
the largest of these, the cumbrous and expensive
structure on Market square, with its insignia
cant final statue, is failure but the light and
arr has nfO sat n W
streamers and placarded notices, such as the
arch on Wisconsin street, near the Clubhouse
and that on Reed street, a short distance
south of the Union Depot, are very pretty, taste
full and appropriate
The Indianapolis Maennerchor was the first
arrival this morning. They were quickly fol
lowed by the Detroit Harmonic Society. The
Germania Sangerbund, OF St Louis, uniformed
in white hats and linen busters, came next
Closely following were the st. Louis Eichen-
kranz, the Buffalo Liedertafel, the St Louis
Orpheus Society, the ST. Louis Druidep MRn-
nerchoir, the ST. Louis Leiderkranz Buffalo Or
pheus Society, st. Louis S8ngerbund. West St
Louis Liedertafel, St. Louis Teutonia Gesane
Verein, Louisville Liederkranz, and the Louis
vile Social M8nnerehor. The arrivals for the
day at this writing u P. NJ number about fifty
societies. 1t is estimated that there are fully
twenty thousand strangers in the city. AT z
o'clock the Chicago contingent. twelve hundred
strong with four bands and drum corps, ar
rived via the Chicago Milwaukee IL ST. Paul
road. They We're received with much enthus
asm. Each society had some distinguishing
feature-one carrying white umbrellas, another
uniformed in blue suits and white beaver
hats. The whole presented a creditable appear
ance
BY o'clock this afternoon all the participat-
ing societies. mum bering eighty-fv had arrived,
reporting total membership of 2,435 singers.
Late this afternoon societies arrived from Joliet,
Aurora, Tffn, Philadelphia, Town of Lake ILL.,
two from Columbus, O.; three from Wheeling
w. Va, and four from Cleveland. With eight
bands which accompanied them, the Twelfth
street societies this afternoon paraded the prn-
cipal streets, and were reviewed from the east
balcony of the Exposition Building BY Mayor
Wallber and the central board of the S@nger-
bund. A lively southwestern rain sprang
up towards evening and prevented further street
parades, and played havoc with some of the
decorations 1t is estimated that $40 900 were ex-
pended in triumphal arches and private decora-
tions.
place at the Exposition Building Looking from
the mammoth organ at the south end there was
vast sea of heads. The jam was immense,
many people being compelled to stand, and num-
bers being turned away at the door. 1t is esti
mated that there were 10000 to IL, 600 people
present. Among the guests of honor were Herr
Mohr, royal music director at Berlin; Governor
Rusk, aud eminent patrons Of music throughout
the country On raised platforms extending
clear to the ceiling Of the great building was the
mammoth chorus of several thousand
voices. A barrier of Towering plants
and foliage divided them from the auditorium.
The walls were hidden from view by covering
of evergreens. Mayor Wal.ber and Governor
Rusk delivered addresses of welcome. The
former spoke in German, and extended cordial
greeting to the visitors while expressing regret
at tho absence of composer Brambach. of Ger
many, winner of the 81, 900 prize given by John
Plankinton, of Milwaukee, for the best original
oratorio, to be sung at this fest Governor Rusk
spoke in laudation Of the spirit of the s@ngerfes
scented the sengerfest banner to Henry NJ Men
del, of Milwaukee. president of the festival,
who responded briefly The concert then took
place. Misses Mariana Brandt and Lilli Lehman
and Joseph Vom Witt and Joseph Standig were
the soloists.