The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-07-08
A GRAND CELEB. ",,oN,
A Fine Parade, Mastery Grafton
and Races and Fireworks.

The Fourth was a model day
The morning was cool, sunshiny
and crisp. Early in the day the
people began to pour in from
every section of the county ano
on every road. Corvallis has no
witnessed such d crowd since the
day of the Mckinley parade ir
the autumn of 1896. Every.
body was decked in holiday at
tire for the OCCASION, and every
heart swelled with pride and
patriotism. 1t could be plainly
seen on every face that they were
proud they were American citi
zens. The business houses OH
Second street and many of the
residences we're beautifully dec
GRATED with bunting and flags.
The crowd was good nstured,
sober and entered into the -piril
Of the occasion with zest anc
enthusiasm that is characteristic
of americans all over the Gland
of the free and the home
of the brave" 1t was a
noticeable fact that there were
70 fights and no disturbances OF
any kind to mar the pleasure
of the entire day, and nothing
happened to interfere i'll azy way
with the carrying out of every
detail of the lengthy program,
except near the close of the ath-
letic sports, the fire alarm was
sounded and it was found that
the residence of Mrs. M. ]. Wells
was on fire. The games stopped,
the crowd repaired to the scene
of the confagration, and aided in
quelling the ravages of the flames
and then returned to Second
street, where the remainder of
the exercises were completed.
The parade formed at the city
hall and moved at o:4oa. III. and
reached the court house square at
1910 a. IN. The formation was
as follows: Platoon of mounted
police; grand marshal and aids;
Corvallis band; G. A. R. and
Confederate veterans, with colers;
float, w. R. c.; Goddess of Lib
erty, Miss Frankie Cauthorn
peace, Miss Ethel Linville; plen-
ty, Miss Mary Nolan; carriage
containing officers of the day,
reader and orator; boys navy,
in command of Commodore Wal
ter Huford; liberty car, filled
with girls representing the states
and territories; Sons of Veterans;
float, Maccabees; float, Corvallis
Mills; bicycle brigade; float, fire.
mems; float, "Oregon's Floral
Tribute;;" Red Cross Society
carriage; citizens in carriages
and on hc -seback.
Ii the shade of the large ma
pie, i'll the court house square,
the following exercises took
place: "Star Spangled Banner"
was rendered in fine style by
Miss frankie Cautlorn, "Amer-
ica," by little girls and a song by
Dewey's Tars. The musical
numbers were cheered to the
echo.
], B. Irvine, president of the
day, presided with dignity be-
fitting the occasion. Hon. Will
lis Vidito read, as only he can,
the Declaration of Independence.
Everybody recognized that the
committee made wise selection
for this part of the exercises.
Mr.. Vidito rose to the full meas
ure of the occasion, reading and
interpreting the immortal docu-
lnent in the true spirit, touching
with beautiful pathos every word
and line of the great charter of
American liberty.
The crater, Hon. VIM. Kaiser. of
Salem, spoke without notes, and
throughout the entire address re-
ceived the respectful and earnest
attention of the immense rowd
con gregated on the grounds. Mr..
Kaiser was laboring under the diff
ficulty of hearseness and yet he
was able to make everyone hear.
His address was mastery effort.
adorned with sparkling gems of
eloquence, with lofty conceptions
OF the nations greatness, dignity
and power, overfowing with zeal
and patriotism as lie depicted the
struggles of the Continental army,
and the s1crifices so freely made
by the colonies in their supreme
efforts for liberty and freedom.
His poetical quotations were ap
propriate, his illustrations apt and
his tribute to the old veterans of
former struggles caused many a
tear to How down the bronzed
cheeks of the nations defenders.
He ieclingly referred to the pres
ent war and the brave boys now
at the front battling Tor the cause
of humanity, and for the enlarge
ment of human freedom. The
closing part Of the address was de-
voted to an appeal 10 lay aside all
! politirsl differences and support