Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-10-08
STAND GAVE WAY.
Iowa's Centennial Celebration At
tended with Disaster.
Many Persons Are Injured by the Falling
Timbers-Vice President Stevenson,
Gov. Drake and Ex-Gov. Sherman
Badly Bruised-The Ceremonies.

burlington, Ia, Oct. 1.-The semi-cen-
tennial celebration of Iowa's statehood
opened Thursday in a blaze of glory.
At an early hour Thursday morning
eannons doomed from the bluffs, bells
rang and whistles blew, and again at
noon for ten minutes the noise was re-
Peated. The uproar was deafening.
he parade, the grandest ever seen here,
started at II a. IN, and was witnessed by
$4,000 people Gov. Drake and Vice
President Stevenson rode near the head
of the column, followed by the govern
or's staff, mounted and gold laced. A
full battalion of the Iowa national
guard headed the column. Brass bands
from all over the state were in line
Floats representing the progress of
Iowa from 1916 to 1896 were also in line.
y band of 10 full-blooded Tama Indians
followed the troops.
Reviewing stand ConanSes.
After the grand parade had formed
and had covered about half of the line
Of march, Coy. Francis Drake and staff
Vice President Adlai Stevenson and
all of the state and local officials were
conducted 70 a reviewing stand. Scarce
~ We're they seated when the stand
gave way with crash, and the entire
Structure went TO the ground, mass
Of broken timbers.
Women tainted and great confu-
sion at once reigned Gov Drake and
Vice President Stevenson were on the
front tier 81 seats and were thrown back
upon the others and thus escaped fatal
injury, but nevertheless were badly
shaken up and considerably bruised.
Ex-Gov. Sherman was in the rear of
the stand ard fell at the very bottom
of the mass. He was found with a
heavy thinker across his legs and a
plank resting on his neck and back.
lie was badly hurt. Mai Wyman. of
Ottumwa, To-. is injured in the spine
and is pa1alyzed. How badly he is
hurt will not be known for several days.
f. S. Burrus. treasurer of Des Moines
county, may die; both of his legs are
broken. Lafayette Young, editor of the
Iowa Capital, was badly cut and bruised
about the head. City Clerk Fred L. Poor
was bruised and cut. Miss Mary Lord
Drake. the governors daughter, was
slightly bruised. All of the staff Off
GERS suffered more or less, and their
swords and regalia were badly broken
and torn. State Commissioner Seymour
Jones leg was injured.
The Exercises.
In the afternoon State Commissioners
p. NJ. Grape opened the exercises at
tire Coliseum before a vast crowd. He
ISas followed by Gov. +. NJ. Drake, who
spoke for ~ minutes despite his acci-
dent OF the morning. The Official poem
entitled: "Iowa" was read by the
author, 8. Fl. NJ. Byers, of Des Moines,
who was followed by Lafayette Young,
editor OF the Iowa Capital of Dea
MoiRes. The Iowa state band, who were
at the worlds fair during its entire
duration, furnished the music. At
night a grand river carnival was held
, in which barge representing a fortress
will be attacked by a feet of 100 small
boats using roman candles and bombs
! for ammunition. 1t is estimated that
10000 people watched the display at the
river front and that 10000 were at the
park in the afternoon. Vice President
Il Stevensc.. spoke at q banquet given in
honor of himself and Gov. Drake al
night.