Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-07-08
Mineral Points Grand Celebration.

charge. The weather was bright and
sunny, typical 4th of July day, when
every one can appear in their gayest
and most festive dress. Bunting and
flags were displayed without stint, from
every building along the line of march,
and ride around the city showed up
the universal feeling of all our citizens,
in their giving to the breeze the stars
and stripes.
At sunrise, the heavy boom of can
mons announced our nations birthday,
while from every street and corner
came the crack and fzz of fire crackers,
for noise and gun powder is the hurra
of the boys, the future preservers of
our nation.
The exercises of the day were held
in the city park, where our efficient
mayor had so arranged for the comfort
and welfare of the crowd, that no one
became Wearied throughout the varied
program.
The procession was formed on Foun-
tain street, and promptly at the an
nounced time 9:15 a. NJ, to the stirring
music of our fine band, the long line
Of carriages, organizations and citizens
proceeded under the guidance of
Marshal Shepard to the park. First
in line came the officers Of the day, fol-
lowed by the city officers, the two large
floats filled with the prettily dressed
children representing the states, the
band, Veterans of '65, knights of
Pythias, and other societies, citizens in
carriages and on foot.
Never had our park looked SO inviting
the green sWard was like velvet, while
the speakers stand and the seats for
the listening crowd, were sheltered
from the sun by the spreading oaks,
under which they were placed. Mayor
Cobb, who was the head and front of
the celebration, had attended to every
detail, necessary to the success of the
undertaking, as few could have equal
ed, and none excelled. The band
stand was made pleasant for the mu-
sicians by an awning of bunting, the
whole emphasized with numbers of
flags.
The divine blessing was invoked by
Rev. M. Chase, after which the Declar-
alton Of Independence was read in an
unusually clear and forcible manner
by p. Allen, jr. The President Of the
day introduced Hon. J. w. Murphy, as
the orator, who held his audience in
close attention as he briefly recalled
the causes leading up to the birthday
Of our great republic, and why it
should never pass unheeded, as well
as prophesy of it's resplendent future.
AS he closed his address with a patri-
otic peroration he was loudly cheered.
Our venerable citizen Hon. Moses M.
Strong followed him with interesting
remarks upon the comparison of the
day and the first celebration of the 4th
in Mineral Point, fifty-six years
ago when he was also speaker on the
occasion.
Interspersed through the exercises,
was music by the band, singing by a
quartet of gentlemen, and the voices of
fifty children in the grand old hymn,
America.
At 1880 the returning professor
formed, proceeding to the city hall,
where they disbanded.
The fun of the day was the after
noon carnival, when money prizes
were to be given to the cleverest
representations. OF these the engine
and train of cars took the first prize,
though we were panied to see the train
gang throw tramp eff the train and
run over him, but, though he was cut
in two pieces, no blood came The
second prize was taken by the black
smithy, where the live horse was hav-
ing his shoes perseveringly put in
order by the apprentices, and the roar
of the bellows and the heat of the
forge were a reality. The third prize
was won by the road gang though it
was said that the workers with pick
and shovel were more industrious than
when employed on our highways.
Other representations were well worthy
Of prizes; but as only three were
offered, their satisfaction was in the
appreciation of the crown. The ele-
phant was monster from the jungles
of Borneo, and the menagerie con-
tanned animals SO rare, that they were
never before Gagged.
As soon as it was dark, a surging
crowd lined High street from the U.
S. Hotel to Schillen's, to get a good
view of the fine display of pyrotechnics,
which closed the festivities of the day.