Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-07-07
The Celebration,

4
in Custer, Justly celebrated rs the place
is, for clear skies and abundant sun
shine. The heeting dreams of drowsy
deniZens and visiting celebrants, were
speedily dispelled by the laundering
roar of cannon which greeted the advent
of our natal day. At o'clock the
streets were thronged with men, woman
and children, representing every town,
camp and community in the centra! and
southern Hills. Myriads of yerdant
pines, and starry banners, gently waving
in the passing breeze, presented scene
of the most captivating and enchanting
character. Custer never appeared to
better advantage, nor has the city ever
received SO many high encomiums
upon its surprising beauty as were
vouchsafed by visitors on Wednesday.
The utmost degree of effort was put
forth by the members of the Custer
Cornet band, under whose aupices the
celebration was conducted, to render
the day rs enjoyable as possible, but
being necessarily engaged much of the
time in dispensing music, it was found
to be exceedingly difficult to promptly
attend to the management Of the various
details charged with, which in some
instances were consequently delayed.
The procession, which was conceded
to be the largest ever witnessed in this
place, was formed at court house square
at $50 o'clock a. m, and marched
through the principal streets to the
Grand Stand in the artificial grove on
Sixth street, in the following order:
Custer Cornet Band, Gen. Steele Post,
No. "a, G.. A. r.; Woman's Relief Corps;
Custer City Fire Department; Custer
City Board of Trade; Citizens in carri-
ages, etc.
At the grove the audience was enter
tanned by brief, but pertinent addresses
by s. NJ Booth, Rev. w. d. Atwatcr, A.
Y. Smith and b. II. Wood, which consti-
tuted the exercises for the forenoon.
|
pearing upon the programme were in
dulged in until the evening shades came
down upon the scene, and rendered
further enjoyment in this direction
impracticable. The display Of fireworks
was grand and elaborate, exceeding any
display of this character previously
presented in this city. The grand sup
plement to the days entertainments,
was a ball at the court house, which in
point of ofnumbers, and enjoyable features
has rarely, if ever, been equalled in the
Hills. The supper, provided by the
ladies of the Woman's Relief Corps, was
one of pronounced excellence, and one
which richly deserves the favorable
mention received from highly pleased
participants.
There was but single casualty to mar
the pleasure of the day, that of Fred
Richardson, who was somewhat serious
ly injured by being thrown from a
horse
The half mile horse race for the one
hundred dollar purse was contested for
by the best horses in the county, if not
in the Hills, among which was Flynns
Kentucky mare "Commanche," Will
ards bay horse Fred" the Avant and
Way mares Of Hermosa, and the Bel
more horse. The race was closely con-
tested, Comanche winning by neck
Some dissatisfaction was manifested with
the decision upon the main race, which
casions. Our readers are referred to the
rules of the turf as to the validity of the
grounds for complaint, which rules are
certainly paramount to any opinion we
might offer touching upon the matter at
issue. The quarter mile race, which
was postponed until Thursday, the 9Th,
was won by the Avant mare of Her
mosa.
Ed Crowell, of Pleasant Valley, won
in the foot race contest, beating Smith
Of Buffalo Gap few inches only.
r. S, Lewis, with III. A. Albien, Of this
city, won the archery tournament hon
ors by handsome score.
Frank Walsh, of this place, got away
with the egg race by the merest trife
NOTES.
1t has been remarked, that more
handsome ladies were seen in Custer on
the 4th, and especially at the ball, than
has ever before been assembled at any
town in the Black Hills.
The Custer small boy ran rampant on
the 4th, and was industriously engaged
from daylight until the wane of the
midnight moon in one prolonged effort
to create clamor, and pyrotechnic tur-
mutt.
The car of state attracted full share
of attention with it's prescious cargo of
animated juvenile feminity, represent
ing every state in the greatgalaxy, to
say nothing Of the Goddess Of Lib erty
Columbia, and all the territories, in
cluding Dakota, the future empire state
of the west.
Everybody seemed to agree upon one
ttaTW h.. q l. L