The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-07-06
our C0UNTRTS NATAL DAY.
The Fourth Of July and It's Observance
In Central Washington.
The Bsps and mishaps OF Hakima's
sons az Eiiensburgh--The Day
st the Old Tewn--war
Dance az simcee.

The nth anniversary OF the birth Of
these United States has come and gone
leaving behind it's usual string OF Incl
dent and accident from which to unwind
reminiscence. North Yakima, the hub
and metropolis Of Central Washington,
had kindly RETAINED from any public
demonstration 10 order TO give her sister
towns an opportunity to fv their colors
and reap OF the benefits which are ac-
credited to such celebrations. There
were picnics, with and without the usual
Fourth of July program of exercises, up
the Ahtanun, the Cowychee, the Match
eez and the Wenas. There was a big
blowout at Yakima City, another at Pros
ser, an Indian war dance at Fort Simcoe,
and full dress celebration with the reg
ulation red, white and blue frills at FL
lensbnrgh. To the latter place North
Yakima sent five or six hundred pill
grims, as many more to the old town,
and good sized delegations to all OF the
other gatherings. North Yakima shed
her citizens with liberality that made
the city look as though the plague had
struck it and left its streets aud abodes
deserted, and it was only when the alarm
Of fire was sounded that the observer was
made to realize that there were enough
people left to populate some very preten-
tious towns.
AT KLLENsBUReH.
There was noise enough in the morn.
ing Of the Fourth to awaken everyone who
wanted to take the early train for Ellens-
hurgh, and even those who would have
preferred a longer rest. The noises were
those incident to the customary observance
Of the anniversary of the escape of the
baldheaded American eagle from the
clutches Of the British lion, and OF course,
under the circumstances, everybody had
to grin and bear them and swear that
they were music to his ear.
Two coaches had been provided for the
excursionists. and notwithstanding that
loo hundred tickets had been sold on
Monday no effort was made to provide
additional coaches from the many idle
ones in the Ellensburgh yards, and when
the crowds poured down on the agent in
the morning not only his 800 tickets were
exhausted but the coaches would not be-
gin to accommodate those going. The
special train proved to be freight and
those who were unable to hang on to the
coaches were stored away in or on top Of
the box cars. Had the train been leaving
Ellensburgh for Yakima the accommoda-
tons would probably have been sufficient
but Superintendent ProweIl evidently did
not calculate upon the fact that, whether
business or pleasure, when the people Of
Yakima undertake anything they do it
up in manner most brown.
Little Black 'Rastus, John Reeds
coachman, was taken along for mascot,
and well did he fill the position. He was
gaily clothed from his red shoes to bis
high silk hat bound with orange ribbon,
and the only wonder is that with such a
mascot our boys failed to carry off all OF
the prizes. AS it was they missed only
one or two and then through tough luck.
The Roslyn band did not put in an ap-
pearance and the Ellensburgh organiza-
ton refused to compete when they real
lied the proficiency and skill of the Yak
Ina band and accordingly the prize Of
500 was turned over to Leader Nagler.
Our downfall came in the hub-and-hub
race of the hose cart teams. Fred Miller.
Frank Liggett, George Guilland, F. L.
Chandler, J. L. Baxter, Nye Taggard, H.
s. Coffin, james Simmons and Charles
Simmons represented Yakima, while the
Ellensburgh team was made up Of Wal
lace, Culp, Voice, Fowle, Norcross, Hard
wick, Damon and the two Beckers. At
the crack of the pistol in the hands of DR..
Hare the boys were off. but the Yakimas
lost at the start through Mr.. Coffin max
ing stumble. The ground lost through
this mishap had been recovered and the
boys were speeding in splendid form when
Baxter, Simmons and Miller tumbled
completely out of the traces. Whether
they slipped or the pace was too swift for
them The HERALD is unable to say, but
the race was dropped then and there, and
although the remaining members of the
team kept right on and made gallant
struggle they were unable to overcome
the repeated misfortunes and crossed the
score couple of feet behind their
opponents. Charles Simmons badly
wrenched one Of his legs, while Fred
Miller's injuries were 80 severe that he
is now in the hospital where he will be
forced to remain week or ten days nurs-
ing bruises and an arm stripped down to
the bone and tendons. Much to the dis
appointment OF the Yakima boys the wet
test was declared off, through disagree
ment over rules and the Ellensburghe
insisting on using the ''spanner" or strap
coupling.
On bicycles Yakima had it all her own
way. There were five wheelmen entered
in the first race, distance quarter of n
mile, which was won by Ed. Merwin.
The next quarter of a mile race was also
won by Yakima, T. j. Redmon gathering
in the prize. In this race, owing to an
uneven course, Ed Merwin was thrown
and severely bruised, while his cycle
was badly wrecked. Undaunted by his