The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1891-07-10
A GALA DAY IN CORVALLIS.
ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATIONS
EVER HELD IN THIS CITY.

EVER HELD IN THIS CITY.
The + 9urth of July celebration that
was held here last Saturday, was, with
out doubt, one of the most successful
ever held in this county. The visit
ing populace were estimated at between
FIVE and six thousand, which is very
low estimate, and the fact that New
port and Eugene celebrated cut but
little figure in the proceedings at this
place, for there were as many here as
could find accommodation, but none
we're obliged to go hungry for want of
being able to obtain food, as was the
case in many other places in the state.
The day was ushered in by the usual
salute of guns, which echoed and re-
echoed far and near, awaklng the
slumberers to the fact that day of
Notification and celebrating was at
hand.
As early as 9 a. m. the streets were
filled with wagons and carriages from
the country, and every hotel was filled
with people as were all the stables
with horses, who had come from all
parts of the county to help celebrate
with us much interest and patriotism
as if for the first time, the one hundred
and fifteenth anniversary of the decla-
ration of independence. But this
day, though old, is always new, and
brings with it new and interesting
features every year, and it will con-
tInue for generation after generation
to be celebrated as it has in been in
the past; the only difference being that
its coming shall be greeted with more
elaborate and grand preparations with
the advancement OF time. Parents
teach their children to commerate this
day that was established by sacrificing
the lives of thousands of brave men,
and never bsfore was there such a
universal determination on the part of
those esent to pass an enjoyable day
as there was Saturday. Flags were to
be seen in nearly every block that had
been unfurled to the breezes, and the
business houses on Main street were
profusely decorated with red, white
and blue.
The parade formed at 10 a. H., and
though not as lengthy as it has been
on former occasions, was pronounced
by many to be as handsome as ever
passed through the streets of this city.
The procession was headed by the
Monmouth cornet band, which fur
nished excellent music and plenty of
it. Following them came the two
cars, each were drawn by four horses;
the first containing four young ladies,
representing the goddess of liberty,
the District of Columbia, peace and
plenty, and two little boys in uniform
who represented the army and navy.
The second car contained ffty-two
little girls, each representing a state Or
territory, all dressed in white and re-
sembling each other to such an extent
that it was difficult for mothers to re-
cognize their children. Such a con-
gregated body of innocense is seldom,
if ever seen, except on such occasions
as this. Then came forty little boys
in uniform flag drill, which impressed
many with the thought of the coming
power represented in those boys, with
their future yet before them. The
veteran and exempt iremen had the
Young America fire engine beautifully
decorated and drawn by number of
boys. The hook and ladder boys and
the hose teams followed these and
formed very conspicuous part in the
procession, which, after marching over
the route as had been previously maped
out, proceeded to the public square,
where, in the cool shade of the maple
trees. the people were royalty enter
tanned for two hours or more with
orations, reading, singing, etc., after
which two or three thousand gathered
at the ball ground to witness the game
of ball between the Bentons and a
club which had been selected for the
occasion and was composed of young
men of this city. The game was for
"a purse of $40 and was won by the
Bentons. The afternoon was spent in
racing of various kinds which created
much excitement and amusement un-