Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-06-05
Decoration Day Observed in q Fit
ting Manner by the G. A.
En- r. Post.
THE Exercises at the Methodist Church
We're Interesting and Well
Attended.
Judge Francis Delivered the Ora
ton of the Day-A Touching,
= Pathetic Tribute.
Memorial Services.

The rain yesterday kept many from at
tending memorial services and thus eX-
pressing their respect for the dead who
gave their lives on the battle field and in
defense OF their country. The James B.
Mcpherson post, G. A. r. assembled at their
headquarters in the Raymond block and
marched to the engine house, where they
were Joined by the firemen, and together
they proceeded to the Methodist church,
where services appropriate to the occasion
were held. After reading orders from the
department commander IN regard to the
proper observance of the day, the school
children sang the familiar and patriotic
air, MY Country, TITS of Thee" Com
mander Hare opened the exercises with an
address OF welcome and the regular exer-
cises in memory of departed comrades
were then carried out by the post. Judge
Francis was introduced as speaker of the
day and gave a scholarly, patriotic and ell
oquent address. 1t was thought that about
all had been said that could be Oh DehaIfo of
the brave deeds done by the union soldiers,
but the orator brought forth many
new and pleasing benefits which the
nation has derived by the victory gained
over the southern cause. At the close of
the address Commander Hare thanked the
1uCIuUCIo VI lIlC CllulCI 1Ol tlC hllIuuCoS
in extending the use OF their building, the
;firemen for assisting in the parade; Judge
Francis for his splendid grafton, the
school children and the citizens generally
for participating in the ceremonies. The
school children, or rather Miss Thomas
another of the familiar songs OF the late
rebellion and the exercises closed. In the
morning a committee of the G. A. r.. went
out to the cemeteries n placed flowers
on the soldiers graves.
Particulars of Byrns and Perry's Death.
The Centralia News gives the full par
ticulars of the death of Pat Byrns and
Benny Perry. formerly of Bismarck. 1t
says in the afternoon about 2 o'clock while
grading Tower avenue the plow point
struck the wooden cap Of the well. A little
searching revealed the trap and it was
raised. Benny Perry, working for Byrns
IS Thews, a little man of about 45 and who
, has been in Centralia for about two years,
undertook to descend the ladder and meas.
ure the depth of the water at the bottom.
Several persons stood around while he
went down. The well is about twelve feet
square n about twelve feet to the water.
Benny stood on the rounds and measured
it. He turned around to come up, stepped
twice and keeled over into the water. A
yell from those on top, as it was seen that
Benny was making nc effort to get out OF
the water, brought Patrick Byrns, the con-
tractor, to the scene. He rapidly went to
bottom and grasped the floating body, but
was unable to bring it to the surface. A
few seconds and he went head first into
the water. Sonny Ford-everybody knows
Sonny Ford, ex-policeman and a member
of the family which gave:its name to Ford's
prairie-went down and got the two bod
les and yelled for help. He held them
above the water for a few seconds and
down into the water he went also. The
crowd became terribly excited and con-
siderable time was lost before the bodies
were recovered. Foul air was the cause.
After three bodies had been carried to
the empty store the crowd insisted that
was all, but the News nan found another
in the far corner of the we'll. This last to
be recovered was little Benny Perry, the
first to fall in. His recovery was aban-
'doned as hopeless after a half hours work
Benny is a single man
Patrick Byrns is the contractor who is
grading Tower avenue. His brave attempt
at rescuing one OF his workmen resulted in
his own death.