Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1897-07-06
GALA DAY AT BENSON,

.|uSb tWO-i!l'1i't'f' l'tE'''S Nt'''' Ef'ih
for i'ru*sn, f..on! W ::,:;r ,::'>l S:.i;,:'
dav. ,.A':'!'',: t! :, !:;',l,>"r rSi:.,, pa
ses. tie t, IL :un.icr III !: .':'i:lu:.tr
people at i;c~isol tx:e, ,'tt!. :,;,G. Tie
morn -! ride over tic pr;.ivirs. Il v.>'1
frCm TIE evenin.'> rain. WAS ms cor
atiny. The speci;a L:".. q: i've coach
es Was comfortably Ill t'. before
Benson. The arrival was
made shortly af;e;' ci ght O'Clock: the
train being met by musical strains by
the Benson Band. The rain Of the
previous night had delay ed the pre-
paratons and the early arrivals wit
messed the decorating Of buildings and
street corners. The day progressed
clear and warm and the streets were
in fairly good condition when the
parade started. The Appleton train
arrived and Immediately after, the
parade started. headed by the Apple
the parade were good. The Pennock
Band, in their new uniforms, we're
present and made snowy appearance.
The boys played we'll too, considering
the limited time since they organized.
After the parade an attempt was made
to carry out the balance of the morn
ing's program, which was a dismal
failure as far as holding the crowd was
concerned. Not over hundred of the
thousands in the town listened to Sen
ator Young's address, the clay pipe
and ball fakir on the next corner hav-
ing by far the larger crowd. The
singing of "America" Collapsed after
the first verse.
The minor sports came off south of
the depot after dinner. Albert Fritz,
OF Willmar, won the $500 sprinting
prize, and Geo. Bitterness, of Willmar,
came in second.
Then the march was made to the
fair grounds, where everyone had to
"shell out" quarter to witness the
races and ball game. Hundreds OF
country people were turned back,
having made no calculation for this
expenditure. Had this part of the pro-
gram been advertised people would
have had no occasion to object. The
2.40 trotting race was won by a Morris
horse, and a DeGra1f quadruped, we
believe captured the free, for all run
ming race. The bicycle races were
tame affairs. A boy from the country
easily distanced the field in the Smile
cycle race.
But the great exciting event of the
day was the game of ball. The first
inning practically decided the game,
the Benson nine going all to pieces.
The terrible din made by the Willmar
Bazoo Club may have had something
to do with it, and had not the reeds
given way in most of the tin horns
during the strain they were subjected
to- during this inning it is hard to tell
how the game would have resulted.
But it was earned runs in most cases,
in this inning, however, the pitcher be-
ing pounded numerically. After the
first inning the Benson boys rallied
somewhat and a good game was
played from then on. The excitement
was intense as a good deal of money
had been wagered On the result. After
the game the Willmar boys took for:
NAL possession. of the town and
marched up and down the streets,
singing, ''Rah! Rah! Rah! What was
the score? Willmar II, Benson 4n
having cut down Benson's score one
in order to make the jingle rhyme.
The score of the game is given at the
end Of this report. The Appleton
Band furnished some splendid music
during the early evening. A display
of fireworks was burned in the night
There were. Roman candles and sky
rockets, rockets and candles, and
candles and rockets galore. Then en-
sued a wearisome delay before the
train arrived, but finally about three
O'Clock the excursion reached. Will:
mar, and the crowd Dispersed, the one
remaining ''bazoo" still doing duty,
The weather had been perfect, except
perhaps a trifle warm, and taken al.
together the Willmar people were well
pleased with their celebration at Ben.
SON. r. ~. = 5. -.
.ttI <.: ~ NJ :2.~' -! j
go ~ s.. a.. = u ~ a-f:fAt-%
81 = = +; VIII. WI.LMAR, II; BENSON, 5: =*
The following Isl =. z= zSs ..5z .... l.
ss..s&. s51> Il. Z. THE SCORE: ..@ss
llmar--t3 Alb. R. E, Benson ..AB. r. 3
Bitterness. cf.. IS - o Thornton, CT. S o /