The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-11-13
The Greatest Parade OF the Kind
Ever Seen in the Rocky
Mountains.
Enthusiastic Reception Accord ed
the Hon. w. A. Clark and Other
Friends From Butte.

Montana celebrated the great capital
victory yesterday and last night. IL
was a great day for all Montana, and
still greater night Never in the his
tory OF Helena or OF any other city in
the mighty Rocky Mountain region was
there such a celebration. From all
parts OF the state came the people.
from those where stage and other more
fro mthose where stage and other more
primitive modes OF conveyances had 10
be used they came. IL was their vic
tory and they did not wish TO be left
out on the glorification. From Mis-
soula, Flathead. Granite, RavaIli, Deer
Lodge and Silver Bow on the west; from
Madison and Beaverhead on the south;
from Teton. Choteau and Valley on the
north; from Custer. Dawson. Park, Yel-
lowstone and Gallatin ON the east: from
Meager. Fergus, Jefferson. Cascade and
Lewis and Clarke in the center of the
great state. they came by hundreds and
by thousands, until Helena was filled
with the greatest crowd ever gathered
within her hospltable limits. All day
long they were coming. Each regular
and each special train brought it's
quota. until 1t seemed as though the
great capital of Montana would burst
it's bounds. The streets were a mass
OF people all day, The music OF the
bands escorting the arrivals to their
headquarters filed the air. The capital
had put on its holiday dress for the
grand occasion, and even nature took
hand and made a perfect day.
II was a good natured crowd. both
those who belong here and those who
came 10 help the thing along. They
were prepared for anything. Each
party of arrivals was met by cheer
ing multitude. and given rouslng re-
ception. But such reception as that
accorded Hon. w. A. Clark and the
other visitors from Butte has never
been witnessed in any city before. IL
was one to make any mans heart glad,
for II was the most spontaneous thing
of the days celebration. 1t was n trib-
ute to the brave men OF Silver Bow who
had. by their earnest work, kept down
the Anaconda vote in their county and
made the victory possible.
The big parade at night was an event
never TO be forgotten by those who took
part In II. nor by those who witnessed
Il; and II is safe 10 say that practically
everybody In Helena who was not in
line was on the sidewalks or in windows
NJ al taH 20 lnAlrInfr ON
Main street was the great center
toward which gravitated the multi
tudes who wanted TO see the parade.
/ Between State street and Sixth avenue.
the part of Main street Travelled by the
parade, fully $1,000 people We're packed
I'm like sardines. The route was long.
and fully 10000 more people were dis
trlbuted at other points OF vantage.
Every house along the route was deco
rated and illuminated. and from every
window groups OF women and children
watched the procession. IL was great
turnout. Everything that could be de-
Vised in the short time at the disposal
of the people was gotten up to please
and entertain. The floats were well
gotten up and reflected great credit on
their designers. on foot. on horseback
and In carriages, IL is estimated that
there were 5000 men in line.
Next In point of interest was the great
reception at the auditorium. 1t seemed
scarcely credible that so many people
could be packed into that vast building
as managed to squeeze In. They could
not have done so but for the removal OF
the seats from the main floor. Every
body had to stand and they stood close
together at that The ovation accorded
the men who had taken such a proml-
nent part I'm the campaign was such as
showed the esteem In which they are
held by the people. and must have been
very gratifying to them. The opera
house witnessed Just such another
scene, and there, too, the speakers,
many OF whom had done duty before at
the auditorium, were given a great re-
ception.
After the big meetings, and even
while they were going on, those who
had taken part In the parade and those
who could not get into the auditorium
or the opera house just turned them
selves loose In the center of the city.
IL was shouting, good natured crowd.
They were Just there To holler and they
hollered TO the full extent OF their lung
powers, and 10 the qualification OF their
ono great desire, TO celebrate victory
such ns had never been fought out be-
fore, and In all human probabilities.
will never have 10 be fought out ngain.
Many of the scenes OF Wednesday night
last were repeated, though everybody
was tired by marching. and most of
them retired soon after midnight
Taken all In ALL IL was celebration
the like uf which has never been seen,
aud may never he soon again.