Willmar tribune., 1896-07-07
The FOhrth at Litchfie1d.

AA'oAl1elu ulu nerSel1 proud at her
4 celebration. The program and doings
OF the day were admirably carried out.
Enthusiastic thousands from the coun-
try and neighboring towns filled the
streets with surging crowds. The only
KICK we have to register is regarding
the manner the crowd at the game of
oall was managed, Or rather the lack
OF management. No ropes were
stretched and the ground was being
hemmed in closer and closer by the
crowds. If the game had lasted much
longer the players would no doubt
have been crowded off the diamond.
Regarding those whopaid for seats, if
their seats did not collapse and fill
them with pain and splinters, the
crowd stood up in front of them and
obstructed their view of the game en-
tirely. But this is merely an annoy
ing incident and on the whole the cele-
bration was grand affair. We did
not get there in time to see the parade
Or hear the orators, but we were told
that the former were particularly fine
| and that the latter was such a pyro-
tecnical display of eloquence regard
ing our glorious country as only a
| wellfed state house official can make.
The orator of the day was Darius F.
Reese. The beautiful park was decor
ated finely and the band stand, where
Prof Olson directed his ssplendid band,
was profusely ornamented with the
national colors. OF course we Will
mar people feel a little sore over los
ing the game of ball, but have the
satisfaction of knowing that while our
boys were not in form and could not
play ball, neither could the Litch6eld
team. Whether they were in form or
not we don't know, but the boys are
anxious to try the same teams again
and will raise quite purse to risk on
the result. The Willmar pitcher, D..
Tallman, was at the gun club grounds
continuously since early in the morn
ing and had fired over two hundred
loads from his gun, and it was not to
be wondered at that he could not pitch
his usual good game. The game stood
16 to II in favor of Litchfeld. Will
mar lost the game only by errors.
Young Atkinson of Litchield started
in umpiring the game and did some
yellow work before old Col. Vadnais
of Kandiyohi, who had scented game
Eof ball and boarded the afternoon
train for Litchfield, stepped in and in.
sured fair play.
We overheard one of our boys say
that he wished they had been barred
from playing ball as we'll as from rid
ing in the bicycle races. Our cycle
sports are enthusiastic over the Litch.
field race track and are planning tc
60 over there and lower some of their
records next Sunday.
The balloon ascension was success
and was watched with the greatest in
terest by the tremendous crowds.
There was the usual display of fire
works in the evening. The park was
beautifully illuminated with electric
lights covered with chinese lanterns.
The train pulled in about half pas
ten and there was jam for the coach
| es. AS each town along the line re-
ceived it's contingent of the crowd
cheers rang out in the stiffness of the
night, and when Willmar was reached
the extra coaches were all vacated.
When we finally sought rest ou1
dreams were continuously disturbed
by visions of giant fire-crackers ant
echoes from the yells of "Down il
'FRONT.'