The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-08
THE o;oMM1rrEE MAKES ANSWER.
why the sham Battle Was Sham
Col. Houghton In Bad Light.

T.
why the sham Battle Was sham
Col. Houghton In Bad Light.
The DALLEs, Or, July z, 1891.
EDITOR CHRONICLE: We the COM
mite on arrangements for the celebra-
ton of the 4th, saw an inquiry in yes
terday's edition of the CHRONICLE signed
+ by an indignant "MERCHANT'' and sub
scriber to the the celebration fund ask
ing why the wishes of the citizens of
The Dalles were not carried out in re-
spect to the sham battle. The commit
tee can answer this inquiry in a few
short sentences, and put the blame ,chere
IL belongs. In the first place Col,
Houghton made the proposition to the
committee that if the sum of $500, the
approximate amount necessary for
sham battle, be turned over to him, he
would purchase 10000 blank shells, and
in addition would have the Portland
light battery take part in the battle on,
the. 4th day of July.
Taking the colonel at his word, the
COMMITTEES solicited subscriptions from
the citizens, stating that the sham battle
would be the naain feature of the celebra-
tion on the 4th of July. And thecolonel
! accompanied by A. Buchler, C. E. Haight,
W. II. Eochhead, j.. o. Mack, j. s. Fish
and others went to the fair ground, in
an express wagon for-the purpose OF ex-
amining the grounds for a sham battle
Z ing over the grounds decided that they
were not suitable for the encampment,
/ but told the committe, that if they
| thought the grounds fit for a sham battle
and to use his own words. ''go ahead
and make your arrangements and | will
have the battle at any place yeu may
name, even if only have ten men to
have it with
After the committee, by indefatigable
efforts, had collected the $500 demanded
by the colonel, they were informed by
him that a new obstacle had arisen, that
the sum of $500 was required to pay the
ground rent for the encampment, and
! this amount, he (Col. Houghton) said
must be paid by the citizens of The
Dalles. The committee in order to faeil-
itate matters, and doubly insure the
battle, further appropriated out of their
already meager funds the sum of $105
and turned this amount, to Col. Hough-
ton to enable him to pay his ground
rent, making the sum total given Col.
Houghton $405.
AT this stage of the proceedings, using
a homely expression, the Col. began to
I cramfSh, and in conversation with a
member of the committee while in Port
land he (Gol. Houghton) informed him
that the Light" battery could not at
tend the encampment and accordingly
would not take part in the sham battle.
The committee ON learning that the
Portland Light battery would not
take part in the sham battle Immediate
lly asked that the amount left over after
paying for the cartridges. be refunded
in. order that the committee might make
arrangements for the firing of the ma
tional salute the Col. angered at this
Indignantly replied, that if any refund
was made the committee could take
charge of the battle themselves. Rather
than disappoint the people, the com
ullCC60 10 leaH0 LIE slIldLbcT Gil
tirely in his hands, relying on his in
. tegrity that we would have the battle.
Late Friday evening, much to the sur
prise of the committee, we were informed
by the Colonel that he had made NJ
provision whatever for the firing of tn,
national salute. The committee thel
took this matter in hand and fred tn
salute themselves. AS a grand atltimatatn
to his farcial actions he tthe ColoneD in
) formed the committee at the ffty-nint
minute of the eleuenth hour and after al
I our trouble, that he did not deem it ex
D pedient to have sham battle.
These are plain and unadulterate
facts, and in this position we appeal t
the community demanding to knov
whether the verdict of the public wi
place the blame with the Fourth of Jul
4 committee or with Colonel Houe hton.
= Thanking you for the space occupie
we are respectfully yours.
j. S. FISH, Chairman.
GEO. G. BLAKELEY,
y HENRY J. MAIER,
y j. O.sMAcK,
w. II. LocHHEAD.
The number of sheep in Eastern Ore