The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-11
HOW ARBOR DAY PASSED
THE BRUSH CAUGHT FIRE
There Was . Circus Tent. . Lemonade
Stand. Some Games. Good Fishing.a
Lot OF Smoke and Great Deal OF
Kicking-A Beautiful Day.

Arbor day was only to a small ex-
tent observed in Butte. Some of the
public Offices were closed. and the
that there was nothing to indicate that
yesterday was anything but an ordi-
nary day.
The o. s. l.. gave an Arbor day ex-
cursion from Butte to its new park on
the Big Hole river. and about 1.50o
people. mostly school children and
teachers. took advantage of it. There
were also about 1000 people at the park
from Dillon and other towns Some of
those from Butte went down on n
train and came back on the other. Some
never left the cars at all on arriving
at the park. The park was found to
be beautiful only in the glory Of its
primitive wilderness and underbrush.
The only shelter provided for the ex-
c~ursionists was a small circus tent. and
that did not remain standing very long.
About 1880 o'clock some boys play
ing on the river bank set fire to the
underbrush. In a few minutes the FIRE
had spread over the greater part Of the
park, and the heat and smoke nearly
blinded the excursionists. and drove
them to the cars and away from the
fire. The men had barely time to pull
down the tent before the flames reach
ed the place. At times the flames were
near so and so feet high. as they burned
to the tops of the tall trees. After 1t
got fairly started the fire spread rap
idly down the river, and late last even
ing 1t was still burning. and there was
fear expressed that II would reach
some of the ranches below. A number
of men were fighting the flames. and
several times during the afternoon they
had them subdued. when suddenly they
point in the brush and burned more
f1ercely than ever. No one was in
jured, and nc one was at any time In
danger on account of the fire.
w. J. Guthrie, the promoter of the
park. had a lemonade and lunch stand
on The ground. n made a good thing
out of 1t. The speakers who were
promised to be on hand to address the
crowd did not materialiZe. but some Of
the contests advertised were pulled OF.
"A three-leRged race. i'm which IL boys
entered, was the first n on the list.
and was won by Fred Werman and
Frank Maloy of Butte. In a 300-yard
race there were 10 entries, and il was
won by Jim Hoagland of Butte. The
third race was for ~12-year-old girls,
300 yards. There were eight starters,
and Ella McNaughton of Butte won.
Eight boys started in the fourth, a 800
yard race. which was won by Ed An
drews.
The fifth was a 500-yard race for 49,
year-old boys. and was won by Fred
! Thurman. The sixth race, 200 yards,
for ~12-year-old girls. for which there
were six entries, was won by Fannie
King.
In a tug of war between teams from
Butte and Dillon. the former won In
IL minutes. There were 30 in each
team. Another tug Of VAR between 10
year-old Butte and Dillon boys was
won by the Butte team in 20 minutes.
No time was taken on the foot races.
Some of the excursionists went fishing
and brought home big strings of fish.
There were four trains run from Butte
to the park. at $3.50 a. M. 1920 a. m.
IL noon, and the regular train at 4
o'clock. Returning, the trains left the
park at 4:30 p. M. s and s p. m.
Fortunately for the excursionists, the
day was a beautiful one. II In, per-
haps. to be regretted that the initial
excursion TO the Short Lines park was
not postponed until the place was ready
for the proper reception of visitors. The
spot is capable of being made into ar
ideal park and summer resort. but II
will take time and h outlay Of al
least a dollar or two. There is lumber
on the ground now for a pavilion. which
is to be erected at once, and by the tim
the next excursion is given the park
will be more like "A park.