The argus., 1896-03-05
CORRESPONDENTS.
There's n chiel amnng yes talxin' notes.
And faith he1 prent en-"
Our Phenix Letter.

come and gone; Phenix has done
herself proud. The city was beauti-
fully decorated, and at night, stand
ing on Washington street, the view
down the street lit up by thousands
of vari colored electric lights strung
on the trolly wire braces, with the
two hugh arches likewise blazing
with electricity, was one never to be
forgotten. / have seen more ex-
nensixe and laroer lluminations but
never one that excelled this for
genuine taste and beauty. The
whole week was one of jolifcation.
The real fun began on Wednesday
when the grand street parade took
place. This surpassed the expecta-
tions of everybody. The floats were
both elegant and unique. Probably
the most interesting ones were the
two of the Arizona Improvement
company. The first was a desert
scene-sage brush, cactus and sand
neatly arranged and a crouching
Pima Indian under mesquite bush,
real typical piece of the desert.
This float was labelled ''The desert
before irrigating." Following this
came float showing the results of
irrigating, it being loaded with
oranges, alfalfa and every product
of the valley. The procession sur
prised the strangers from abroad
and showed the enterprise of the
Phenix men to good advantage. 1t
was over an hour passing given
point, on good sharp march.
The Indian School display elected
an unusual amount of praise from
every one, and they well deserved it.
Preceded by the band made up from
the boys, playing in most excellent
time and tune, came the boys brig
ade marching in sets of fours, erect
and soldierly; then battalion of
-aiEls- -kaanina auite as good step and
and all marching with a vim and
percision that made the struggling
National Guard companies seem
raw recruits by comparison. The
work here at the Indian School has
been something marvellous and
shows what may be done with the
Indian when he is taken in hand by
the right system and person.
The three companies of regulars
from Whipple Barracks, under COM
mand of Captain Galbraith of the
Eleventh U. S. Infantry, were quite
an addition to the Carnival attrac-
tions. Their camp was daily visited
by thousands to view guard-mount
and dress parade. The Regular
Band is ona of the best U. S. mill
tary bands 1 have ever heard and
the evening concerts given down
town by it were genuine treats.
The Cowboy sports at the Park,
attracted an immense crowd. There
were some sixteen or eighteen en-
tries for the roping contest, and
more miserable lot of ropers proba-
bly, never was gotten together in one
bunch before. They were all ''cen-
ter fire" punchers with raw-hide
reatas, who looked awful pretty
riding up and down Washington
street, but when it comes to tying
down a steer I'll back any good
Hashknife puncher on a double-rig
saddle and an old grass rope against
the whole crowd. There was one
thing sure that was against them
and that was the distractions in the
roping arena. 1t was a poor place
to handle steer in, but even when
they caught one they couldn't throw
it and if they did it took 'em so
long to stake their wraps" and get
up to the animal at the end of a
rope, that they were gen.
orally on their feet before the men
got to them. Three saddles were
pulled off the horses and the crowd
guyed them awfully. There is one
thing these fellows down here can
do though. and that is ride buck
ing horse. There are a dozen men
here who can sit broncho as pref
lily as 1 ever saw it done. The
broncho riding was splendid.
But now the Carnival is all a
thing of the past and we will settle
back and take it easy for while.
it was q great success