Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-08
The Cassyille Celebration.


The celebration of Independence Day
on Monday at Cassville was great
success, and except for the intense heat
and sitting dust, there would have
been no drawback to the enjoym ent of
these who attended.
There was very large attendance,
yariously estimated at from 5000 to
5000. A great many Lancaster and
Hurricane people attended, and also
many from Bloomington and Blake's
Prairie. At noon an excursion steamer
from Potosi, carrying the Potosi Band
and large number of citizens of that
place, arrived. In the afternoon large
steamer from Dubuque, crowded with
excursonists, arrived.
The celebration ground is in beau
tiful oak grove just below the village
and extending back from the bank of
the river. The breeze that blew across
the river and the sight of the ripping,
sparkling water was refreshing and in
some degree mitigated the intense heat
A permanent stand had been erected
in the grove for celebrations, and tenn
porary board seats were provided
for large audience. The speakers
stand had for canopy large Ameri-
can flag.
About ten o'clock procession was
formed and marched to the ground.
The most notable feature of the process
sion was the chariot containing 80 young
ladies representing the several states of
the Union, and 'sUncle SAM" young
man dressed in the conventional swal-
low-tailed coat, stars and stripes pam
falcons and tall white hat, wreathed
with the American flag.
When the audience were assembled
at the stand, the president of the day,
Hon. ID. b. Stevens, delivered the open
ing address. Mr.. Stevens showed many
of the requisites of an orator, both in
the matter and manner of his eloquent
address.
After patriotic air by the band, Rev
Father Drexel made a few appropriate
remarks and short prayer. The
choir then sang hymn, or song. which
was popular twenty-five years ago
"a hundred years, my own Columbia. >
Nh Dot 4
Declaration of Independence in a cred
liable manner.
orator of the day, Prof G. Il. Showal-
ter, delivered the Grafton. 1t was en-
inently fitting to the occasion, glowing
all through with patriotism and Ameri-
canism. We may confidently expect to
hear of this young orator on broader
fields before many years.
After the Grafton the choir sang
Rally Round the Flag" and the large
audience was dismissed for dinner A
great many had brought their dinners
and ate picnic style, but the hotels and
restaurants were thronged for two
hours or more with the hundreds of
others.
About two p. nj. the audience re-
assembled at the stand and the Declara-
ton of independence was read in Ger
man.
POSTMASTER Rockefeller gave the fol-
lowing toasts:
L. The United States. Respo nded
to eloquently and vigorously by JAS. w.
Murphy, of Platteville.
l. The President of the United
States.
3. The day we celebrate. Response
by Prof. d. j. Gardner, of Platteville.
4. The soldiers of the last war.
5. The town of Cassyille.
6. The common schools of our coun-
try.
z. The president of the day. Res
ponse by Hon. ID. b. Stevens.
s. The Cassvile Band-maY they
enliven many future celebrations.
8. The Marshal of the day.
10. The ladies.
After the toasts the president of the
day announced that the exercises of the
day were closed.
The audience then dispersed about
the grounds and kept cool as best they
could until the blazing sun was hidden
behind the island birch trees away up
the river, when many of them started
home, while many # the others re-
NAMED to the dance which had been
provided by the band boys.
Much credit is due to the Cassville
Band for the fine music they furnished
during the day.
Although the beer flowed freely at
the stands on the ground and the sa-
looms in the village, there was little
drunkenness and no quarreling and
fighting. Everything passed off pleas
antly and all who attended seemed well
pleased with Cassville as place of
celebrating the glorious Fourth.