Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-11
Solomon Leads the Procession.

redeemed all promises uldue III ueI |
glowing advance announcements yes
terday. Size not only eclipsed every |
other town in central Kansas in the |
excellence of her celebration but out
did anything in that line seen in the
county for several years. Abilene'S |
citizens patronized the celebration lib |
orally. Hundreds of teams wended |
their way westward and the Santa Fe |
morning train was loaded to the plat
forms edges with passengers. The |
engine had been gayly decorated with |
flags and Engineer Smith and Con-
ductOr Chowder took the excursionists |
through in first-class style.
Upon the arrival at Solomon the
Abileneites were met by the Solomon
fire department and the reception COM
mittee. The iremen marched uptown
where they were taken in charge by
their brethren and royalty cared for.
A large number followed the baseball
clubs to the grounds where game be-
tween the Sterls and the Solomon team
was called. T. E. Dewey acting as UNI
pire. Only one inning was played ow-
ing to the fact that the Solomon club
could not be all gathered together and
A5ilene's nine had too much advan-
tage. The score stood to in favor
of the Sterls. At noon the Abilene
club reluctantly boarded the Union
Pacific train for Fort Riley.
At the same time the crowds which
had been pouring into town were rein
forced by a loaded train from up the
valley which bore delegations from
Beloit, Delphos, Bennington, etc.
The firemen from Beloit, with Chief
Joe gladden. and his able assistant,
Geo. n. Frantz, in command, were Or
dered in line, preceded by most ex
cellent drum corps. The department
was given the right of line and the
procession was formed in the follow
ing order:
Marshal of day-Phil Gardner
Assistant MarshaI-GeO. GOued.
Chief gladden. and Assistant FrantZ.
Hook and Ladder, No. :, of Beloit IA men;
Nat Mars!i, foreman.
Hose No. !, of BelOit-4 men, Chas. Martin,
foreman.
Hose No. ., OF Beloit-24 men, D. Trump, fore
man.
Chief-J. g. SINNERS.
Hook and Ladder No /, of Abilene, 81 men,
Inn
Hose No. ], OF abilene, Id men, J. J. Bradicld,
foreman.
Hose No. ., OF Abilene, 10 men, George Ether
ingtOn, foreman.
Chief-T. J. EdwOrthy.
Hose No |, of Solomon, 20 men, Ed. n. King,
foreman.
The Solomon steam fire engine, beautifully
decorated, and drawn by horses.
Rescue hand engine.
Solomon hose cart.
Citizens, etc.
The line of march was through the
principal streets of the city, and nearly
all the business houses and large pro-
portion of the private residences and
grounds were gayly decorated with
bunting and other emblems Of the
natal day. Upon reaching the city hall
the parade was dismissed and visitors
invited TO the reception rooms of the
home department, where they were en-
tertained in a royal manner.
Upon adjournment dinner was par
taken of at the hotels and restaurants
and soon after the crowd wendell It's
way to the park, where everything had
been arranged for the exercises that
were soon to follow.
After a few choice selections by the
visiting and home bands, Mayor II
Whitley, president of the day, called
the vast assemblage to order, and in :
few timely remarks introduced IL. J
Il. Neumiller, who read the Declare
ton of Independence.
The orator Of the day, Rev. E. II
Baliff, of the Solomon n. L. church
was then introduced and his hearer
were held spellbound, so to speak, b,
his eloQuence and force. Undoubtedl,
large number of oratiOns were de
livered yesterday throughout the coun
try, but we venture the assertion tina
none were more fitting or delivered il
better manner than that by Rev. Nj
Bailiff. His commanding presence, to
gether with rich voice and rare fioy
of language, Won many words of praiS
from his admiring auditors.
At the close of the exercises the hos
races and other amusements wer
called, and the crowd rushed 70
Fourth street where the judges stan
had been erected in the shade of tn
towering elms that line that handsom
thoroughfare.
THE CONTESTS.
D. d. Hoag, of Minneapolis, W. J
Winfield, of Abilene, and J. E. Jel
mark, of Beloit, were chosen judge
and Geo. II. Raymond and Jas. Cole
man, time-keepers.
The first called was the dry hose rae
Of 100 yards to hydrant, attach 10
feet of hose and apply nozzle, whic
had three Solomon, Alb
lene and Beloit-and was won in tn
order named.
The straight-away of Us yards wa
won by the Beloit department wit
Abilene close second.
The 100 yards race for boys under 1