River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-07-09
THE FOURTH IN RIVER FALLS.
A Great Crowd = Splendid Weather.
A Glorious Celebration!

continuous pageant of patriotic
innumerable fire-crackers of every
variety heralded the 10th anniversary
of our nations freedom. Long before
the time for the exercises to begin
the city was astir with teams from the
country and neighboring cities and
villages.
The private residences, public
buildings and business blocks were
decorated with flags and festoons Of
bunting Main street was literally
full of teams and people, and all the
stores had a flourishing trade. The
weather was as fine as could have been
desired, and everything passed off
satisfactorily.
Great preparations had been made
for the parade and much WIS expect
ed of it. 1t was the universal verdict
that this part of the program was
complete success. The bicycle riders
were gayly uniformed and their wheels
were beautifully decorated. They
numbered about fifty and led the
procession, executing various ma
noeuvers as they advanced. A troop
of horseback riders led by ". w.
Thayer followed the bicyclists and
made a fine appearance. The mem
bers of /. n. Nichols Post, G.. A. r.,
were out in force and presented
fine appearance in the parade. Next
came the floats, turnouts, and the one
| and two horse rigs.
The representation of business on
float by the Chapman Bros. was es-
pecially good. IL consisted of an
eight horse team drawing two wagons
so attached as to form large platform
upon which a fine display of goods
from the Chapman Drug Store was
exhibited. The comic turnouts by the
Chapman Bros. and John VIM were
ludicrous in the extreme: the
children particularly enjoyed the
little covered cart drawn by the goats
and driven by Peter Lumberg. The
rig drawn by the old donkey and the
big gray horse, which was driven by
Warren Knowles, Clarence Dodge and
others furnished amusement to all,
it took the prize for the worst turn
| out. John Winn's representation of
typical negro family setting out in
the traditional cart marked by the
| service of years and drawn by poor
| old bnpca which had Saap m Dph GO rvipa
and little proyender, was SO perfect
that one could not but feel that he
had before him real southern scene.
The float of John feelings attracted
fine specimens of his art in landscape
painting and in ornamental chiro-
| graphy. On one side of the vehicle
was large canvas on which WAS pre-
sented in Mr.. Jellings' handwriting
the Declaration of Independence so
plainly iutelligible that she who runs
may read"
IA. Bracket advertised his business
in float drawn by four splendid
bay horses owned by G.. A. Chinook.
In this carriage rode thirteen young
| ladies representing the original states.
There were Ella and Ethel White,
Ethel Heasley, Mamie Williams,
Irma Armstrong, Clara and Title
Lien, May Ellis, Blanche and Mabel
Langan and Ida Nelson all in charge
of Anna Dodge. The girls enlivened
the occasion by singing patriotic airs.
One of the finest features of the
! parade was the music by the two
bands which River Falls supports.
The little boys were in large band
wagon decorated with flags and bunts
| ing, and furnished music to the crowd
at appropriate intervals. The regular
| band marched on foot to Clark's
grove and furnished the music to
which the procession marched. At
suitable times during the day this
band entertained the crowd with
delightful melOdious strains. 1t is
but just to say that our regular band
| is credit to its members and leader,
| and an honor to the city, and that our
second band has in it young boys with
promising musical talent.
A swarm of Brownies" with ban
ners, fitted up by some of the ladies
of the city, and representing the UNI
represented business establishments,
followed in the wake of the Amateur
Band.
After the crowd assembled at the
grove the people were called to order
by Hon. G. w. Chinook, Mayor of
River Falls, who gave the address of
welcome in few well chosen words.
The address of the day was delivered
by w. +. McNally, Mayor of New
Richmond. The speaker briefly re-
viewed the causes which led to the
birth of the United States Govern
ment. and the influences which have
kept alive the spirit of liberty from
our governments inception. He paid
glowing tribute to the men who
saved the nation from disunion and
established securely the federal
supremacy oyer the state govern
ments. On the whole the Grafton was
one of exceptional merit and greatly
appreciated by those who were fortu-
nate enough to hear it. The exa lied
patriotism of the speaker and the
proud position in which he placed the
United States among the nations of
the earth, raised this address above
the ordinary spread-eagle speech de-
livered on such occasions.
In the afternoon the games were
opened by horse race on Main street.
Then came the bicycle races on the
new mile track. A vast crowd
assembled to witness these races.
Parties from Minneapolis and St.
Paul entered for the first race. AL
though this race was greatly enjoyed
by the spectators, it did not appear
that the riders were doing their best.
The contest for the most graceful
riding by young ladies' followed, and
several of the ladies did very fine
riding. The race which excited the |
most interest was won by Allen Toby. |
The race was one and one Fourth |
miles and was holly contested.
The game which was witnessed by |