Kansas City daily journal., 1896-10-07
TWO GRAND AND
ROYAL PAGEANTS.
Continued From sixth Page.

together with a crash and were badly Grip
pied thereby and that after all, was about
all that was advertised.
1t was few minutes after o'clock when
two locomotives, rather undersized and a
trifie wheeZy, steamed into view of the
multitude which was assembled upon the
open about a half mile east of Merriam.
Each, in addition to its tender, drew two
box cars. The train to the eastward was
marked in several conspicuous places "Sil-
yer Line" while its opponent bore the de-
vice Gold Line To this extent the con-
test took on political Specification, but If
the result prestages the outcome of the
present campaign there will be little cause
for rejoicing on either side and the trium-
phal march to the White House will give
way to funeral cortege. t
1t was noticed however, that the crowd
was in sympathy with the train marked
Cold When 1t ran out of the cut from
the westward it was received with an ap-
plause that entirely eclipsed that accorded
its silver rival. But the silverite was not
disconnected. 1t carried out its part of
impersonating the boy orator by keeping
up meaningless screeching of it's whistle.
AT 4:S0 the engines steamed together in
front of the crowd and touched noses. 1t
was merely perfunctory move, smacking
of the etiquette of the prize ring and in
tended to Indicate that no enmity existed
between them. Then they backed off for
the final onslaught.
This was the signal for the few intrepid
souls who had gathered near the track to
scurry back inside the ropes, which were
fully 800 yards from where a canvas sign
said the collision would occur. AS by
magic every point of vantage outside the
canvas enclosure bristled with the thrifty
small boy who lacked the price of admis-
sion. Every tree upon the hillsides was
burdened with human fruit. Those who
could not climb trees crawled under the
canvas. Up on the grand stand, which was
made of circus seats rented for the occa-
sion, ladies squeezed the arms of their es-
corts and said: 30. 1 don't want to see it.'
When the engines hove in sight from
their respective cuts it was estimated by
railroad men present that they were run
ming fifteen miles an hour. The throttles
had been thrown wide open. Effigies OF
engineer and fireman leaned from the cab
windows. 1t was quite realistic.
Then came the crash. 1t wasn't a very
loud crash, as crashes so, but 1t did very
well. The locomotives were seen to rear
up on their hind wheels and snort Then
everything was enveloped In steam The
crowd said "Oh!' and part of it ran down
to lCok at the wreck. 1t was found that
both machines had been reduced to scrap
iron. The head of the first box car on the
silver lire was stove in. but none of the
cars was derailed. There wasn't much
70: the wrecking crews to do.
The Band Contest.
The band contest was very pleasing
feature. which prevented the wait for the
collision from becoming monotonous The
five bands were all handsomely uniformed
and played eXcellently. The contest ap-
piled especially to marching music, al
though each band played selection of dts
own choosing, as well as a march, The
bands were: First Regiment, of Guthrie;
Marine. of Springfield; Gormly's. of To-
peka; Light Guard. of Carthage. and the
Second Regiment. OF Clinton. The Clin-
ton and Topeka bands had each a mem.
bership of fifty; the Springfield and Guth-
rie bands, thirty pieces, and the Carthage
band, twenty-three pieces. NJ. A. LenEc
j. F. Zimmerschied and F. Flowers, who
off1ciated as judges, awarded the first priz.
to the Clinton band: second to Carthage.
and third to Guthrie The bands all united
at the close in playing Sousa's king Cot
ton" march and gave a parade about the
grounds. They were heartily applauded
throughout and none OF them suffered in
popularity or reputation by the finding Of
the judges, who are all thorough musi-
clans. and kept a careful score, marking
each band on time. tune. tone, expression
ensemble, execution. selection of music
solo, harmony and Instrumentation.