The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-07-05
THE GLORIOUS FOURTH.
Johnson city Celebrates and Every
bOdyAttends.

yesterday was the Attn OF July. lit
was gala day in Johnson City The
largest crowd by far that ever gath
cred in the city was here yesterday.
Opinions differed in regard to the
number present, some estimating it at
5000 some at 5000, and some going
as high 10000. 1t is safe to say we
think that there were between 5000 |
and 1000 people present. The hotels
and boarding houses were taxed to
their utmost to furnish Accommodations
for those that remained over night.
The crowd begun to arrive the even
ing before and by eight O'Clock We'd
nesday morning, the town was alive
with people, When the train arrived
from Bristol it was found to be loaded
with people for this place but the
most interesting sight was the train
from Cranberry on the Marrow Gauge
road it consisted OF 20 cars and was so
crowded that it was almost impossible
for the conductor to get through.
Between 1900 and 1900 people were
on board.
The first thing on the program was
the street parade. At ten o'clock the
procession formed on the drill ground.
Col. Dickinson and the marshals
headed the procession, the Jonesboro
brass band was next and then come
the A. D. R. Rifles, OF Bristol The
Taylor Rifles, of Johnson City, came
next and was followed by the Greene
vile band, tournament riders, base
ball players and citizens in carriages
and on foot At eleven o'clock the
tournament took place. The riders
were r. L. Hale, Geo. H. Berry, Ike
T. Jobe, Frank Crumley, Jas. Hickey,
Sid Murray. R. L. Hale won the first
premium, taking Is rings out of a
possible Is. Ike Jobe won the second
premium on 10 rings and Sid Murray
took the third with IL rings.
The "Kids" base ball clubs OF Bris-
toll and Johnson City played a game
of ball in the morning which resulted
in defeat for Johnson City.
One o'clock was the time specified
for the competitive drill and both COM
panies we're on the ground promptly
on time. Col. T. H. Reeves, OF Jones
boro, Capt. w. A. Nelson, of Roam
Mountain and Col. Jno. X. Miller, OF
Garter county, had been selected by
the management to act as Judges,
These gentlemen were all old veterans
and ex-officers, Capt. Nelson having
served 10 years in the Regular Army
and three men more competent to act
as judges, being nonresidents and en-
tirely disinterested, could not have
been chosen. AT 80 o'clock the pro
grams OF the drill as made by the
judges were handed to the Captains o
the different companies and Col. T
H. Reeves in short speech announ
ced that the "a. D. r. Rifles" OF Bris
toll, and the "Taylor Rifles of John
son City, would complete for priz'
Of $4,000 and asked the OLE
veterans to watch the drill
closely and see that the judges CAV
, justice in their decision and closed b,
; announcing that the drill would begin
. the "a. D. R. Rifles" being the first t
drill. 1t took the companies about 9
minutes each to complete the program
, after which both companies maneuN
cred for five minutes. Both comps
. MES were then brought to "halt
and the judges retired to consult
Col. Reeves came forward and mad
v a short speech. After complime1
v ting both companies he announce
q the unanimous dec isiOn of the judge
to be that the Taylor Rifles" were ell
Il titled to $4,000 and that the "a, D. !
n Rifles" were entitled to $4,000.
!. banner had been prepared by NJ
=. Carson, of Elizabethton, with al
u c." for list Champions, on it, whic'
IS was also presented to the "TaylC
If Rifles" Capt j. J. Weller accepte
d the banner on behalf of the compan
10 without speech. The "a. d. !
!. Riff es" were dissatisfied with the d
Is cision Of the judges and refused
At take part in the sham battle. TIL
" action on the part Of the Bristol con
Nv pany was condemned by all. Some
ne the Bristol people present said IL
n. boys had not only disgraced then
e selves by Bristol as well. 1t was me
III child's play but was Characteristic
ne the Captain.
IN The sham battle was fought, howe
at er by the "Taylor Rifles" The cor
ed pany was divided into Federals al
90 Confederates. Col. w, A. Dickinst
ev commanded the Confederates and {
ut derly-Sergeant Berry had charge
the Battalion. The Federals were
re- charge OF Capt. j. j. Weller who act
ed as General, Lieutenant Lyle h
charge OF the Battalion. Lieutenar