The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-05

ly abode they would have been wei
pleased with the manner the anniversar
of the great event in which they partici
pated was celebrated.
To say that the city was visited by 20, OO
non-residents would not exaggerate TIL
real facts. They came in on trains, the,
came in wagons, they came in on bicycle
and some of them even walked in
Many came as early as Sunda,
and from 10 o'clock Sunday night to al
early hour this morning the sJartlin.
cracks of the fire cracker could be heard
in hundred and one different places a
once. The oldest citizen cannot remembe.
ever seeing so much powder burned dur
ing one day in Wichita, as there was yes
terday. The small bows were as numerou.
as the sands on the sea shore, and every
one of them had seemingly inexhaustible
supply of crackers. The girls caught the
fever from the boys and even old men who
are grandsires, surrendered the dignity Of
their age to delights of their youths and
sent crackers fixing and Sizing through
the air with as much pleasure as they
| would have experienced at fourteen.
On ordinary occasions a man would
| jump out of his boots with fright if fire
cracker exploded within half inch of his
ear or under his feet, but on yesterday il
was different. People thronged through
showers of explosives without winceing.
OF course they were scared, but they felt
exactly like one would feel in lightning
storm. They had to grin and bear it and
pray hard that it might soon be over
Even the horses seemed to understand the
situation and they, too, plodded or trotted
along through a cyclone of flying ex-
plosives without cutting up any unusual
amount of capers.
Thirty-six hours of life in the
midst of this terribly discordant
noise is the greatest agony imagin-
able, yet the people generally seemingly
love to be in it out of respect for the event
which it commentaries. They rather
enjoy being the victims of good active
fire cracker no matter what ridiculous
situations it places them in. For instance
if one man did something on an ordinary
work day that would cause another to
jump in the air and dance around like
friskey monkey the said other man would
get as mad as wet hen and show figh,
but on the fourth Of July boy can ia ok
a yard of ignited fire crackers onto the
coat tail of the biggest crank in town and
escape with a no more serious penalty
than a frown. 1t has always been and no
doubt will continue to be one of the great
est wonders in the world why hundreds of
disastrous accidents don't occurr on In
dependence day. 1t would seem to a
stranger to our Fourth of July customs
that it would be impossible for yesterday
to pass away in Wichita without at least
one hundred accidents occurring but so
far as heard from the day brought forth
not even one serious happening of any
kind or character whatever.
THE CROWDS.
The crowd was the largest ever seen in
Wichita, aud more orderly one never as
sembled in the Peerless Princess The
country people for twenty-five miles
around were in, and they showed in their
rosy cheeks, elastic steps and nice white
dresses that they were enjoying not only
excellent Kansas health, bat Kansas
prosperity as well. The sidewalks on
both sides of Douglas avenue aud Main
street from the Carey hotel to the Occ-
dental were thronged with men, women
and children OF all ages, colors and nation
alities. To say that the people were as
thick as sardines i'll box for 500 feet on
either side of the junction would be ex-
pressing it about right.
THE PARADE.
It is probable. in fact it is positive that
Wichita never saw a longer parade the one
of yesterday. The fact thai it was man
aged so well was a wonder in itself and
reflects credit on the marshal of the day
1t was advertised to start at 10 o'clock, but
another hour went by before the signal to
march was given on East Douglas Avenue.
The procession WAS led by the members of
the police force mounted on nicely COM
parisoned and nervy horses which made
good showing. They were followed by
Col. Stewart, Grand marshal, who man
aged the parade skilfully aDd creditaby.
Reeves, X. of p. band followed playing
most excellent music and they, in
turn, were followed by Lent. Col.
of Governor Humphreys staff
who proved to be valuable assistant to
Colonel Stewart After Mr.. Rohrbaugh
about 80 wheelman Oh safety bi-
cyles. General hurry Meyers and staff
clad in their official uniform led the second
division which consisted of the Wichita
military band which played some excellent
and patriotic airs, the Wichita light in
fantry in their handsome green
and cream colored uniforms, the uniform
rank knights of Pythias III their handsome
iull uniform lei by Captain Hotchkiss and
5 B. Amidon. Then followed the typo
union and cgarmaker's union Of
his city, two bodies which made an excel
ent showing They were followed by
Chief Walden and tie fire department and
Mayor Carey and city officers in carriages.
The third division was headed by theIad!es'
military baud of HuwbolG. Kansas. This
organization was made up of ladies, pretty
Is peaches and very handsomely dressed
n uniforms of green and gold They
played some beautiful music and were |
given cheer after cheer AS they progressed |
With the procession. Following the ladies !
Nds the merchants aud manu-
lecturers trades display and a
1us one II was. So fine /
hat it received well merited applause as
q reached every street crossing on the line /
IF march. This part Of the procession was |
beaded 10y two floats representing the Dam |
els Bros, furniture house. These floats 1
contained fine array of furniture OF the /
most stylish designs aud costly finish. /
Al the rear end of each float was baby /
carriage suspended from poles with long 1
SIX ribbons of every color Of the .
rainbow q In each buggy there was 4
reai live tadr who seemed TO enjoy he sit /
uatlon. Ia he floats there were a number [,
Of girls singing America - whose names
acre a. follows: Minnie Sykes, Ethel /
Burke. B!"nch Chiids, Annie Braitsch, |