The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-07-06
THE FOURTH IN GREAT FALLS.

The celebration of the.glerious fourt]
~ treat Falls was certainly success, mot
wlthstanding the large number of ou
cltlzens who were conspicuous by thei,
absence and Notwithstanding the fac
mat our illustrious friend Charley Wag
ner' who was appointed president of tn,
oay' found it expedient to betake him
sell to the shades and dust and human
gorge OF the occasion at the capital
Charley is a brick and that is why he
was placed as a corner stone in our na
'.onal commemorative structure. Tha
there are worse men than Charley. who
uare deny?-and that there are few kinder
hearted men than he will be confessed
without the aid of priest. And il
Charley don't love the girls, it is because
MS name is not Wegner; and it is said he
went to Helena-not because he loved
she Great Falls girls less, but because
there was something in Helena that he
loved even more than they.
The grand cavalcade began to form o.,
1
Central avenue at an early hour. There
were citizens on horse, citizens in car
riages and citizens on foot. There were
the battle-scared veterans-none If YOU,
"hlsky-scarred ragamuttins. There were
the Hook and Ladder laddies, with their
gallant chief Ringwald at their head
pearlns on his broad and manly bosom
his golden badge, inscribed in blue ena-
mel on Il golden circle, ''Chief Great
Falls Fire Dept" as indicative of his
valor and chivalry with lance or staff. In
their new and brilliant uniform, accom-
panied by their handsome hose cart and
ladders. the boys looked as bright a. I,
silver dollar just from the dies. They
are a splendid corpse Of live and daring
1ellows-not such as one would picture
as ready to scuttlc a ship or cut throat,
but gay cavaliers, prepared at a moment s
warning to risk their lives to save Il citi-
zen's property from the flames or carry
falre iadye in their brawny arms over a
foaming torrent. And there also were
the festive and enterprising members OF
the Arion society, with their martial
President Nalbach at their head, the tri-
colored flag of the society, with the stars
and stripes, floating majestically on the
balmy breeze.
The gorgeous procession, with the Park
Theatre Cornet band discoursing the soul
stirring "Hail Columbia" moved forward
with precision and magnifcence that
would have done honor to the Queen
guards or the Royal Brigade of High
landcrs; whilst Field Marshal Frank
Coombs and his gallant aides, Frank
Wilcox and Milt. Henderson, on pranc-
ing steeds rode along the line, from rank
to rank, cheering the patriotic cohorts on
to the beautiful grove on the banks of
the placid and romantic Missouri.
Arrived at the selected spot i'll the park
where seats for many hundred and IL
grand stand had been erected, the vast
and patriotic assemblage was beckoncd
to order by his honor Judge Race, acting
president Of the day, who after brief but
earnest remarks, summoned the Rev. Mr..
Reid to address the Majesty on High;
after which the orator Of the day, j. Z.
Leslie, Esq, was eloquently introduced
to the audience by his honor.
The oration of MIR. Leslie was all that
those best acquainted with his brilliant
attainments and genuine patriotism
could have expected. He recounted the
perils, the sufferings and the bloody
scenes through which our patriot fathers
waged conflict with the proulest and
most warlike nation on the globe, to
transmit to their posterity the blessings of
life, liberty and the pursuit OF happiness;
referred to the "late onpleasantness;" and
closed with the following truly inspira-
tional words:
From thirteen original colonies, united by no
binding compact Il mushroom growth as it were
peop!ed by scarce 100000, souls like fertile seeds
blown westward on the winds, they have taken
deep root and nourished by the gentle influences
Of the Sun of Liberty, the mushroom growth has
become towering oak whose branches spread
from ocean to ocean, Dark clouds for Il time
have obscured the rays Of that sun, and dreadful
storms have lowered threatening over us, but
thanks to the courage inherited from the heroes
Of 76 our country shines today at the meridian in
full 0rbed SplendOr and
"While the stars i'll heaven shall burn,
While the ocean tides return,
Ever shall the clrcling sun
Find the many still are One.''
The Grafton was received by vociferous
applause and grand flourish from the
band.
The Declaration of Independence was
read by Mr. Frank Wilcox.
The "Star Spangled Banner" in the
best mood of this splendid band and an
eloquent benediction by Mr.. Reid closed
the formal celebration OF the 113th ami
versary of the nations independence at
Great Falls.
The Nom Commission Officers.
At the meeting of Go. A, Montana Ma