Brenham weekly banner. [volume] (Brenham, Tex.) 1877-1907, 1890-05-15
NINTH ANNUAL MAIFEsT.
The People of Brenham Turn Out Under
the Auspices of 1.-THE Fire Department

the Auspices of the Fire Department
to Enjoy Themselves.
The ninth annual maifest of the
Brennan fire department was inau-
gurated on Friday morning. The
day dawned threatening and fore
boding and remained cloudy with
strong indications OF rain through
out the day. While the weather
was delightfully."- cool, the threaten,
ing indications prevented several
timid ladies, and especially those
who had children, from venturing
out. The decorations of business
houses and residences in and about
the city in honor of the occasion
were on a more extensive scale than
at any of the previous tests. Quite
number of buildings were draped
during the night and the others
early in the morning. Some who
had not originally intended to deco
rate were compelled to do so by
force of example and in order not to
appear conspicuous on account of
the absence of bunting. Some of
the decorations were deserving of
special mention, among which were
those of Mr.. Gotlieb Hermann, the
furniture dealer, who had in place
of the monotonous and almost unva-
rying red, white and blue bunting,
beautiful decorations of tapestries,
brussel carpets and Turkish rugs in
front OF his store with pretty back
ground. The Volksbote newspaper
building next to Zeiss' bakery was
among the elaborate decorations
and consisted of the German ma
tional colors and underground,
topped by the "Star Spangled Ban
ner," fanked by shields and the col
ors of the United States and the
Texas coat of arms. There wasn't
house around the courthouse square
scarcely that was not decorated,
while there were several decorations
on other streets leading to the
square.
The program of the day was car
riel out as had been previously ar
ranged, with few slight changes.
A salute was fired by the Field Ar
tillery few minutes past 6 o'clock
and at intervals until everybody had
been fully aroused from their slum-
bers. Shortly after early breakfast
time the Brennan Light Guard
band appeared on the courthouse
square in their beautiful uniforms
and discoursed music. The crowd
turned out early, but as the hours
passed away it was noticeable that
it did not increase very much and
that there were but comparatively
few country people in the throng.
This was no more than was to have
been expected. The farmers had
had a number of setbacks during the
year, aud on many farms the ground
had only just got dry enough to
work. On this account the town
people vastly predominated on the
grounds. The crowd was variously
estimated at from four to eight hun
bred people. This doesn't include
all who visited the park during the
day, but the number present at a
given time. The neighboring towns
did not contribute as large quotes
as were expected from them. Bell
vile, however, did handsomely and
reciprocated fully the compliment
paid by the Brennan Field Artillery
and citizens to its fest. That town
was represented by its brass band,
fire department and turnverein, as
well as by several of its prominent
citizens. An excursion train came
in about 8 o'clock bringing forty
two people, and fifteen or twenty
more came up on the regular passen-
ger train. The Bellville visitors
were met at the depot and escorted
up town to the square, where the
procession was advertised to form
at 10 o'clock; but a procession was
never known to start on schedule
time, and after everything was in
readiness considerable delay was
caused by the team attached to one
of the Calling guns Of the Field Ar
tillery baking. The procession was
formed at the usual place of rem
devious in the neighborhood OF
Main and Market streets and moved
off shortly after IL o'clock in the
following order: Light Guard band
discoursing music, Brennan Light
Guard, May queen and maids of
honor in carriages attended by their
escorts on horseback, a carriage con-
tanning Senator Maetze and Hon.
Jas. Il. Shelburne, of Bellville, Judge
Kirk and Senator Jonathan Lane, of
Fayette county the orator of the
day; Brennan Field Artillery with
two Calling guns, horses ridered
and men on gun carriages, attended
by Capt. W. E. Sloan and Lieuten-
ants Herbst and Harrison on char.
gers; Hook & Ladder company assist
ed by Bellville fremen; Mechanics
Engine company, Conner Hose COM