Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-09-09
DAVENPORTS CARNIVAL.
A Brilliant spectacle Which an Eff
Rock Island-Our Own Iliumina-

lions.
Davenport's third annual river carnival
occurred last night. The spectacle was
brilliant presen tation of Davenports en-
terprise and public spirit. The city on
the Iowa side has we'll earned the repu>
tation of being The Carnival City" and
there should be no disposition on the
part of neighboring cities to share in the
distinction hereafter. A year ago, after
last years carnival, Rock leland realizing
that it was reaping benefit from the
carnival, expressed through THE ARGUS
and other sources desire to participate
In this years event, not in the sense of
divesting Davenport of any of its honors
or glories, but merely in the way of
contributions and cooperation to an
extent that would aid 1t in
making it more gorgeous this year.
Such disposition vas not met in
friendly spirit in Davenport however, and
was rather resented than encouraged, ard
the consequence was that the matter was
dropped. Rock Island firms neverthe-
less helped Davenport in the entertain
ment of the visitors to the extent of over
800 cash, and one business house here
contributed more than a single Daven.
port house. This city furthermore, in a
spirit of entire friendliness, illuminated
its city. Spencer square presented a
beautiful sight, while down Second ave-
nue. lanterns were strung on the cross
wires of the the railway company, form
ing very pretty effect. First avenue
and Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nine
teenth, between First and Second were
handsomely illuminated. The Harper
house and stores beneath, Loyd s. Stew
art. the business houses of D. r. Bowlbv,
McCabe Bros, Krell s. Math, the Crown
restaurant. the offices of h c. Wivill, NJ
N. Sturgeon, Ed. L,eberknecht, T. II.
Thomas, THE ARGUS. the Boston store
George Kingburg, McIotire Bros. The
Rock Island house, etc were particularly
attractive while the Burlington and the
amphitheatre on First avenue were hand
somely Illuminated. At the amphitheatre
on the river front the Light Guard band
of Moline played.
And the crowds 1t is doubtful if Rock
Island ever contained more people. The
amphitheatre seats on the levee were all
occupied, while every available particle
OF space in the city otherwise was occu>
pied. Carriages were massed in the
cross streets leading down to the river.
Rock Island turned out en- mssse and was
Joined by her twin sister Moline, in wit
Messing the event. Added to this were |
thousands of people from abroad who |
came to see Davenport's great carnival
Now to the carnival. The fiostilla |
started promptly on time, and made it's
appearance in good season. In point of |
magnifcence the spectacle itself sur
passed sll previous efforts, though in |
numbers it was not what it was a year
ago. Davenport, however, did not do |
itself proud in the narrow disposition
manifested in the manner of conducting
the carnival. Not only were boats COM
PEELED to hug the Iowa shore in an effort
to spite Rock Island. but after
the carnival the excursion boats were
msssed with view of shutting out entire.
ly from the view of those on this side the
pyrotechnic features, the ferry, Spencer,
strange to say. participating in the con-
spiracy. Then the more elaborate pieces
of fireworks we're not sent off until after
II o'clock, and most of the people on
both sides of the river had gone home
disappointed. thereby missing the display
which was in every sense grand. and em>
braced some of the most marvelously
elaborate effects and designs ever seen
in the west. But they were in q meas.
ure wasted, and through carrying out a
policy to spite Rock Island, not only
were many people in Davenport denied |
the spectacle. but hundreds of strangers
went away from this city on trains at II
o'clock. with an entirely wrong ides of
the nature of the display.
Further than this the attempt 10 conceal
the fireworks not only failed of its purpose |
for those on this side witnesse |
the best pieces from as advantageous a
position as il they were in Davenport. but |
there was great mistake in hayipg the |
carnival, and also the barge from which |
the fireworks were shown. so near the |
Davenport shore that people in that city |
who have been in the habit of Witnessing |
the carnival from the windows of build |
ings up town, were denied the privilege.
The ARGUS regrets that Davenport |
should have so grossly miscoustrued the |
disposition of Rock Island toward the |