Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-05
OUR GLORIOUS DAY
How the Fourth Was Locally
Celebrated.
TIE PUBLIC SPREADS ITSELF.

Crowds at the Tower, Prospect Park. Etc
The Inauguration OF Twin-CIty Bicycle
Park-General Modes OF Demonstration 1
-Fireworks-Tires-Ac
1t was most propitious day. Ma
ture could not have attired herself
more lovely in honor of Uncle Sans
birthday. The temperature was de-
lightful, and patriotism and praise
of the weather were breathed as one
sentiment.
People. as usual, flocked hither and
von to enjoy the attractions of Amer
ica's chief gala day. The Tower, as
is always the case on summer holt
days, was the main attraction, while
many also went out on the eNcur-
sions, or to Prospect park, while the
tri-city whcelmen events at Twin
City park in the afternoon came in
for a share of attention.
At the Tower.
The crowd at the Tower while not
equal to that of last year, reached
fully 10000 people, aud the attrac-
tions presented by Manager Kindt
were indispensable. The balloon as
cension was triumnh. and Prof
Strief's feat of walking the cable
stretched across Rock river from the
Tower to the island opposite was Il
complete success. Miss Jessie Mil
lar. the young lady cornetist, made
her farewell appearance. and as al
ways, delighted her hearers. The
pyrotechnic display from the island
at night embraced many unique de-
signs and a variety of enjoyable fea-
lures. Otto's military band was
present in full force and in its hap
piest strain, and the way it wound up
the days events with patriotic and
popular selections, both vocal and
instrumental, took the crowd.
Tri-City CyIers Day.
The day witnessed the suspicious
inauguration of the new quarter
mile bicycle track at Twin-City Ball
park, and while there were not as
many people out as were expected,
those who were present were of the
most appreciative and best class of
people of the three cities. The DAYS
wheelmen's events opened with a
parade in the morning, but owing to
the surprising lack of interest on
the part of cyclers in this feature and
the light turnout in line, it was not
what was counted on. Inasmuch rs
all entries in the contests at the park
were free and the prizes were first
class, it was supposed the bicyclists
would ut least have contributed to
the success of the day by turning
out in the morning. AS it was, the
failure on the part OF the parade SER
iously affected the attendance in the
afternoon.
The park. however, was beauti-
fully decorated, and the new track in
magnificent condition. A Judges
stand had been erected opposite the
grand stand, and it, too, was arts
tically bedecked with the national
colors. The Port Byron Silver band
under the leadership of c. c. Coyne,
discoursed music during the after
noon. and the only disappointing
matter was the fact that the day fire.
works failed to arrive, but letter
was read by Official Scorer Cooper
from Hartz & Bahnsen company to
: Secretary Charles McHugh explain
ing that they were unavoidably de.
layed in transit by reason of the
strike and expressing regret that the
firm was unable to furnish them, as
agreed.
The Races.
The races proved interesting in
nearly every instance, and some wer,
close and exciting. The Judges wer,
Messrs. c. II. Deere, l.. S. McCaht
and William Wiman. with the CO.
operation of Mrs. Stuart Harper ano
Mrs. William Butterworth. Pau
Ramser acted as starter, and j. W
Cooper as scorer, while James Cow
den and August Lamp guarded the
foul lines.
The first race was the novice,
mile, in which +. Brookman, b. ID
WEIGH, Ed Ramser. Jay +. Elliott
and Nj. A. Steel, of Rock Island; c
=. skinner and +. w. Metzga-, OF
Moline, and G. w. Pierce, of Daven
port. were entered. Metzgar fell OF
the first quarter, and Steel wa
fouled and also fell. The first prize
the Columbian cup, went to Welch
and the Boston shoe store bicycle
shoes to Ramser, Brookman being
third, Skinner fourth, Pierce fifth
Elliott sixth. The time was 2:35.
For the quarter mile open, Emf
Schaerges and Frank W. Metzgar, o
Moline. Charles Schakc, NJ. Hurlbert
: G. w. Pierce, Fred Il. Gleason and G
L. Boyschou. of Davenport. and NJ
A. Steel. of Rock Island, were en-
tered. Steel met with misfortun,
again in being thrown on the las
quarter, and the first prize, a golt
watch, of the ID. Il X. l. Railwa,
company, was won by Hurlbert. ant
Gleason got the second prize, the Nc
Intyre Il Reck Dry Goods company
silk umbrella, Boyschou being third
Pierce fourth, Schake fifth, an,
Schaerges sixth. Time 80 seconds
The half-mile race for boys unde
II, had two entries, w. ii. Montelins
of Davenport, and Harry Smythe