Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-07-05
FUN0N THE FOURTH
How Rock Island Celebrated the
Nations Natal Day.
THE CELEBRATION AT THE TOWER.

Famous Resort-Ten Thousand People
There The Observances-Also Those al
Other Places in the Vicinity.
Yesterday broke dismal and rainy
and with every indication OF damp,
ener on the patriotic zeal of the ris.
ing generation. With the morning,
advance, however, the clouds cleared
away and there developed one of the
Pleasantest midsummer days that
could have been conceived of. II
was not the ideal Fourth. because il
was not characterized by extreme
heat, but it was Il day such as could
be comfortably enjoyed and appreci-
ated, and that was better The early
condition of the elements, no doubt.
kept at home what few may have
thought OF taking advantage of the
excursions on the river and likewise
diminished the numbers coming in
to Rock Island in the same way.
The consequence was genuine home
tributed largely in the afternoon.
Events of the Day.
The only local celebrations OF a
public nature were those at Black
Hawk Tower, at Schuetzen park and
the fair grounds at Davenport and at
Prospect park. Moline, and in point
of attendance the Tower stripped all
the others, drawing immense crowds
from both Davenport and Moline, as
well as from all the surrounding
country, the cars of the railway COM
pany being iammed all the after
noon. Trains were run as dou-
BILE headers, and vet the people
could not be entirely accommodate
ed, many walking out Seventeenth
street as far as Seventh avenue
and meeting the incoming trains and
paving an extra nickle in order to
get seats in advance of the crowds
that awaited the trains around the
loop down town. In the middle Of
the afternoon Il long and vexatious
delay was occasioned by a motor
jumping the track Mt the center
switch, and the breaking down of a
trailer. and the incident will prob
ably serve to hasten the company's
determination a. to the lengtheninr
OF the switches. if not the double
tracking OF the entire road. With
such advantages the company could
have accommodated many more peo-
pie yesterday much more handilv.
As it was though. 10000 people were
handled TO and from the Tower dur
the dav.
At the Tower.
The amusaments at the Tower
were varied, and though nothing of
very novel nature took place. all
seemed to enjoy the day. Hundreds
of picnicers covered the shady hill
sides and spread their dinners, while
many more patronized the Inn.
There were foot races. potato races.
etc, in which there were a good many
entries. the most novel race being
between the boats on the electric to-
boggan slide. There were two of
these and they provoked no little in
terest. The colored aeronaut from
the island. going up without 4 para
chute, which is now considered more
hazardous than with one. He landed
safely quite distance northeast of
the Tower. There was quite Il dis
play OF daylight fireworks in the AZ
ternoOn, also a display in the even
ing. Otto's band gave concert af-
4 I. -; -.
music for those who wished to dance.
On the whole it was as pleasant a
y day at the Tower as could have been
asked for.
At Barstow
The morning opened discourage
ingly at Barstow on account of q
slight rain. As result the many
who had planned to 90 were deferred
So in the forenoon the attendance
was comparatively small Frcdericb
Osborne was chairman of the dav
The Cordova band rendered music.
Prayer was offered by Rev William
NJ. Baker. OF Rose Hill. 4 few re
marks were made by DR.. Reiter. o
Osborne and DR.. j. W. Morgan, o
MOllIC' anu All du JOuILulcll wa
had for dinner. When the chairman
called to order after dinner Il larg,
company gathered, filling the ampl
grounds. After music, prayer wa
offered by Rev. j. Q. Adams, o
Hampton. Rev. DR.. c. E. Taylo
spoke on the principles of Ameri
can Nationality" DR.. j. w. Morgan
spoke on The Reason for the. Belle
that Our Republic will be Perpetual.
S. w. Odell spoke on The Drift O
Present Day Tendencies" Their
were numerous side shows wher
people amused themselves. A larg
number listened to the addresses an
seemed to very greatly appreciat
them.
After singing America" Rev
Mr.. Baker pronounced the benediC
ton. The occasion was pleasan