The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1896-07-10
OUR NATAL DAY
\ MULTITUDE IN THE COUNTY SEAT
ON THE FOURTH.

a clustering Day NlChout ltAih--Leei
Lodge for Twelve Hours Becomes City
of Nearly 5000 People "A Happy
Crowd in Groves and Woods.
The 120th anniversary of our national
independence was fittingly observed in
Deer Lodge last Saturday, and the gates
of the city were opened wide to one Of
the largest visiting multitudes that ever
sought retreat from the smoky streets and
hot, arid wastes of the mining camps
within the cool groves and along the
sweet meadows of the picturesque tribu-
tary, whose life giving waters lend to this,
the lovliest of Montana valleys, q beauty
equal to that of famed Damascus in the
heart Of its encompassing desert.
No less than $500 people came from
Butte, Anaconda and other points in the
various special trains which arrived at
different hours throughout the day, and
many others, who drove in from sur
rounding points, contributed to swell the
throng, until the usually quiet streets Of
the town became for the nonce SO anima-
ted, as to lead the observer to easily i'm
agine that section OF Butte had been
brought by the mag ic carpet of the ORR
entail tale tellers across thirteen leagues
Of hot and dusty steppes, to lend a few
hours of its nervous life to inspire and
gladden. the spirit of its lite neighbor.
Though the day was one of the sultri-
est of the season, the streets during the
entire afternoon were filled with NOV
ing throng whose single purpose seemed
to be to enjoy the restful and unusual
pleasure of gazing upon our lovely
homes, surrounded by their luxuriant
lawns and gardens, and listen to the
soothing plash Of the fountains beneath
the shadow Of fragrant and blossoming
shrubbery. So large was the crowd that
the absence of these wanderers was not
noted at the pavilion, ,however,where were
hundreds of loungers under the trees or
lying along the banks of the ripping
Cottonwood, while the happy voices of
children made fairy land of groves and
fields.
Surely a Fourth spent in Deer Lodge
must be day in Paradise to a Butteite /!
The lowest estimates place the number
Of people who enjoyed the hospitalities
Of Deer Lodge at $500, while it is proba-
BILE that the actual figures would reach
considerably higher, when to those ar
riving by train are supplemented the
large number who came by wagons, on
wheels and on foot.
Three excursion trains, which took on
a good many from Anaconda at Stuart
came from Butte as follows:
No. l, arriving at 1 / :35 with - coaches,
1900 passengers; No. 2, ,arriving3:40, two
coaches, 200 passengers; No. 3, arriving
440, nine coaches and cabooses, 400 pas
sengers. The regular train arriving at
1910 from Garrison brought some 40 or
so people, while the number who came
from the country is somewhat indefinite,
but might reach 400 or 500.
The day opened by a salute of 45 guns
at sunrise and by the hour of 10 the
streets in the vicinity Of the depot were
massed with a throng of men, women
and children in gala dress, bright with
patriotic colors, awaiting the arrival of
the first train, which was announced to
reach the city by II o'clock but was some
what delayed. AS itswept into the depot
with its happy crowd packed into seats,
on platforms and every available space,
the Deer Lodge Firemen's band saluted
the visitors with inspiring airs and then
taking their places in the street led the
procession to the pavilion. They were
followed by a carriage bearing DR.. A. Fl.
Mitchell, president Of the day, and DR..
A. B. Martin, orator. Other citizens in
carriages fell in line, but the crowd good
naturedly struggled over the streets,,..and
sidewalks, taking its own easy way under
the blistering sun.
At the noon hour, quartette, made up
of the best known singers of the city,
welcomed the multitude with the sono-
rous measures of "America" from the
platform in the pavilion, after which:.D
A. H. Mitchell, stepping forward upon
the stand, in few well-chosen words
presented DR.. Martin, the orator of the
day, who, in the effort which followed,
fully sustained the reputation he has at
tanned here as one of the most delightful
speakers that has ever entertained an