Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-03
I AIR AFTERMATH.
Yesterdays Gay Carnival Ends
ottumwa's Street Fair.
OPINIONS OF VARIOUS MERCHANTS.
What They Think OF street Fairs as
stimulants to Trade-some Firms
Enjoyed Good Busincss-some
Found the Week Dull.

Found the Week Dull.
[From Saturdays Daily.l
The first annual free street fair and
carnival in this city terminated last cv-
ching in one grand hurrah. The clos
ing day was the best day of the week
in point Of numbers in attendance, and
also from the standpoint of business
done by the merchants of the city.
The fair, generally speaking, was a
grand success. The merchants when
seen this morning pronounced it salts
factory as a business investment. Yet,
notwithstanding this fact, the majority
of them hesitate when answering the
question, Do we want another one
next year? Many were outspoken and
replied that when the increase in the
business for the week was compared to
preparation for the carnival, it would
not warrant their repeating it next
year.
The Elks' parade which was forming
yesterday afternoon as the Courier
went to press, was splendid demon
stration. There were over 300 mem
bers in line, all attired in linen busters
and white plug hats, each man carry
ing cane decorated with purple rib
bon, the colors of the order. The col
umn was headed by the Wapello Chief
and Ladies' bands, followed by Mayor
T. j. Phillips in a handsomely decorat-
ed trap. Following the mayor was a
pfatoon of police and the members OF
the local lodge and visiting Elks, the
largest delegation being from Fort
Madison. The Ells' band from Fort
Madison, and the Eldon, Abba and
Citizens bands also participated in the
rarade. The "Elks' wives" number
| of comically attired women, was one
of the mirthful features OF the parade.
| The cake walkers did not materialize,
which was great disappointment to
4 the thousands of spectators who
lthronged the line of march to witness
this feature of the parade. The local
lodge OF ElEs kept open house at, their
hall all day and evening, where lunch
4 con was served their guests. In the
evening. dancing was INDUCED in. One
feature Of the evenings entertainment
was cake walk by three
\ couples of little colored folks.
They were given the floor and it was
| announced that they would dance un-
\ til they became tired, during which
time they executed every step known
to that mode of dancing, much to the
amusement of the spectators. The lit
tile folks were Masters George and Wes-
ley Proctor and Lorenzo Vinson, and
Misses Ethel May Williams, Mabel
4 Proctor and LORNA Vinson.
The Grand Finale.
i The grand finale of the weeks fes-
tivities terminated on the streets, prin-
] cipally Main street between Court and
1 Jefferson, were noisy surging mass
of people, paraded until almost mid
night. The Eldon band paraded the
street and was followed by hundreds OF
the merry makers executing the cake
i walk or other faIcy steps. The fun
became boisterous although there were
but very few alterations resulting
from it. Many were enmask and those
4 who were not wished they were after
undergoing a few hours siege from the
various weapons of torture with which
everybody was armed. The police de.
4 partment of the city is to be congrat
:. ulated upon the prompt work of its
! members whenever they were called
upon. Chief of Police n. G. Williams
placed a large number of extra men on
i the list the first of the week. The
4 most of these were distributed on the
outlying districts, and last night es
pecially he placed his regular men in
!. the down town district, and he remain
z ed there with them. There was an alb
sence of thieving and burglary usually
attendant upon such occasions, anC
that was due principally to the splen
did police surveillance during the en-
tire week. After the departure of tn,
Fit. Madison special at 1880 o'clock {
number of mischievous boys, assisted
by few who were old enough to know
better, proceeded to demolish a mum
. Der of the booths and street displays
q Officers Maloney and Myers encounter
ed a number of these wreckers on Sec
ond street between Court and Market
and experienced considerable difficult,
in dispensing them. Officer Myers
drew his revolver and threatened t
exterminate the first man that pro
ceeded any further in the work ant
the crowd finally dispersed.
1t was success.
OttumWa'S hrSt street. lair was
success, is the opinion Of everybody
1.-The free entertainments were bette
i than are usually given at street fairs
1 and the city's decorations were super
Z ior to anything ever witnessed in tn
: state at an event of this nature. Man.
!, of the booths were constructed at a
enormous expense and the decoration
thereon were very beautiful. One Q
n the largest and most attractive booth
n was that of s. C. Cullen & Co. 1t wa
: made for the accommodation of won
k len, where they might rest and vie'
b the parades. It would accommodate
n 100 people and was crowded durin
!, the entire week. It was 10 fee
wide and 40 feet long, and was covered
Z Comfortable seats were provided fc
I the accommodation of seventy-five an
there was scarcely an hour in the da
when the HLadies' Rest was M
| crowded.
Shall We Repeat IL.
A Courier Reporter visited a uun,hf