Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-07-11
FOURTH OF JULY!
IN. Hundred and Fourteenth
ae aaenriversary of American Indepen-
lance Enthusiastically Obser-
ved at washington Springs.

Aln lance Enthusiastically Obser-
' we'd at washington Springs.
osnonset 10 the invitations of oul
.;vens a large crowd gathered here or
st Friday to help us celebrate. The
'a,ber was variously estimated al
~, 1soO to 25OO. Suffice it to say oul
t,e town never saw so large Il crowd
;thin its borders before. The 2OC
d;ans from Fort Thompson with
ejr tents pitched in seml-circle on
plateau just east of the "old log
min" formed quite an attraction to
stors as many OF them had never
en an Indian. Most of these Indians
ore educated and havegood homes on
reservation.
AZ All early hour the national colors
IRE floating from the liberty pole near
center of the village, and the sun
mt revealed some quite handsome
corations both of stores and residen-
At the hour advertised large
Ocession was formed on main street
bder charge OF E. V. Miles. Headed
the brass band the procession
srched through the principal streets
ID formed u circle near the Indian
bees where the butchering was to
gn. Those inclined that way staid
witness the bloody rite by which
Indians became possessors of a
ebeeve, donated by our citizens.
eches were then announced and many
mt to the grove where for an hour
d half excellent entertainment was
ven by Hon. W. B. Sterling and Mrs.
lila b. Nelson, who both proved to
interesting speakers. Mr.. Sterling
ayoung man of fine appearance with
grace and ease of the natural ora
but his oration was pronounced
some as too much of the stereotyped
urth of July oration with none of
present issues nor current events
Pcussed. which one wonld naturally
pect in a speech from a prominent
ung man who certainly possesses the
|ht Of free speech from his own
nd.point. Mrs. Nelson as was ex-
ted, took up one of the important
stions Of the day and IN d clear,
peal manner held the close attention
her audience. So pleased were the
pie with her oration that they
anlmously voted request for an
er speech in the afternoon, which
granted, and after dinner much
ger crowd gathered to listen to the
ted and eloquent lady. AT the close
each speech she recited an original
m which brought forth much ap-
use. Mrs. Nelson is the widow of
soldier and she has spent many
's among the freed men of the
lh' In appearance she is young and
avery pleasing manner. During
short stay here Mrs. Nelson made
ny friends.
1.-THE forenoon, during the speak
the base ball game between the
nan boys and the Woonsocket bows
Splayed and resulted in favor of
"oonsocket boys. The Indians
Ee paid $l5.oO for playing the game,
fevtr. In the afternoon there was
'atch game, for Purse of SIS. 90
Seen the Alpena and Washington
lngs clubs. The latter won.
ne morse races were interesting and
lAessed by a large crowd. The In
ls1ook first and second money. The
was all that could be desired and
accidents occurred to mar the joyous
Faslon. The different stands did a
1Dusiness. The ball in the Wood
han and Spears bowery were
attended and dancing and music
Vnued to late hour.
together the celebration was by
'he largest and best ever held in
county, and we thought il some OF
eastern friends could have seen the
&c number OF nice carriages, fat
:. teams, well dressed people and
I'll moving lunch baskets, they might
IN 'helr sympathy for suffering
''' Dakota had been wasted. But
would not be altogether true
w. were families who needed help
S"sA the winter and got it. But
WIN abundant rains there is
,'yoi good grass for their horses
cattle, crops are looking we'll
ny every farmer has something to
a ~ the way of dairy or poultry
o',. u"e's' fruit and vegetables, so, in
Wv a,u'nce with true western grit, our
as us are hopeful and happy, grateful
patriotic.