Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-08
PARADED In STYLE.
A Brilliant Pageant of Patri-
archs Militant.
SIX THOUSAND OF THEM IN LINE.

lows-The Great Day Of the Canton
ment and What 1t Deveioped-Gov.
Fifer Reviews the HIarchers and Tens
of Thousands of People Line tho Route
of March-Fireworks Light up tho City
at Night.
CHICAGO, Aug s-Yesterday was the
great day of the Patriarch Militant cele-
organizations of the city, and thousands
of the brethren Of the triple link united in
a great demonstration. In the morning
the competition between subordinate
lodges was continued at Battery d. In
the afternoon the triennial inspection of
the Patriarchs took place in Lake Front
park. About 5000 men were in line and
made a gorgeous display.
The Event OF the Dag.
Owing to the dense crowds and evident
mismanagement on the part of the Off
Gals, the big parade didn't get started un-
til about $3.50 o'clock, and it was about 5
o'clock when the head of the procession
passed the grand stand. Grand Sire Un-
derwood, in all the splendor of his gener-
alissimo's uniform. was at the head of the
column, surrounded by his staff of aides
in costumes equally gorgeous. His spe-
cial escort consisted of the Boston Hus-
sars, Junia Hussars and Denver Lancers.
Fifteen Thousand Men In Line.
1T was estimated that between 10000
and 1900 men were in line, including
about 1000 uniformed patriarchs. On the
reviewing stand at the Lake Front park
were gathered the dignitaries of the state
and city as we'll as of the !. o. o. f.
Nearly 20, 900 people also occupied seats in
the amphitheatre and, thousands crowded
the parks and streets windows, balloon
les and roofs along Michigan avenue.
There were so many breaks in the line
that the review lasted for over t wo hours.
Some of the Parade Features.
On the grand stand were Governor Fifer
and staff, Mayor Cregier, and others, re-
viewing the parade. The most brilliant
exhibition was that of the Hussars and the
Chicago Zouaves, but that part of the review
which included the Militant army was a
fine sight. The uniformity and elegance of
the regimentals made the military branch
of Odd Fellows as imposing a spectacle as
that of the Knights Templar ten years
ago, though the uniformed Masonic fra
ternities were, perhaps, stronger in num-
bers While the Patriarchs Militant
passed by the reviewing stand Governor
Fifer and Mayor Cregier remained stand
ing, with uncovered heads. 1t must have
been somewhat of an ordeal, because it
lasted for over an hour.
Another Fireworks Display.
After darkness had settled over the cit v.
tens of thousands of people gath cred at
Lake Front park to see the
display of fireworks, which was
ushered in by flight of twelve
beautiful rockets There was fire every
where after those twelve rockets fed into
the air. 1t burned in different colors
upon the grass; it cut the darkness in a
score of fantastic ways, and it painted the
windows of the big Auditorium building
with alternating colors. Such a grand
spectacle has not been seen in Chicago
since the constitutional centennial cele-
bration one year ago last April For one
hour the sky was sflame with all the
primary colors
The Air Full of Fire.
II looked as though the heavens had
been turned upside down and the plan
cts, satellites, comets, and whole constel-
lations was dropping into space. There
gracefully as boat with Rondolier's
stroke. Then came an explosion which
shook the windows, and stars as luminous
and steely as Venus and Saturn leaped
from showers of sparks and fled into the
darkness. Then came more bombs from
the white sleeved mortarmen i'm the park
and with each explosion there trailed
through the air long, feathery ribbons of
IF 1inh han a
stars that cracked and Kissed until one
could imagine himself in the midst of a
terrific battle between the planets.
An Hour of BrIIIiance.
The bursting of the bombs and the
kissing of the rockets were incessant.
For sixty minutes the air was filled with
all kinds of expensive contrivances. A
shower of sparks resembling a weeping
willow tree came from one bomb. From
another there burst a hundred plumes of
fire with a ball of colored fame swaying
from the center of the pyrotechnic gem.
Other bombs which burst with deafening
reports filled the air with stars and me-
teors until the faces of the spectators grew
red and blue by turns
Emblemstic Pieces.
The set pices emblematic of the order
went off with cracking noise that
sounded like man tearing up carpet or
the explosive snap Of popcorn when held
over good fire. There was no hitch in
anything. Fountains of colored stars
burst from the grass; the air was scanned
with flying rockets, and away up above
everything were the bombs bursting and
casting out golden rain, gyrating serpents.
crimson balloons, and hundreds upon hum
dreds of stars Previous to the display of
pyrotechnics the third degree OF chivalry
was conferred on the lake front; there
were display formations by all the can
tons, and exhibition drilling by the Chi
cago Zouaves.