The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-07
4 GLORIOUS FOURTH
The Biggest Celebration Ever
Held in Billings or East
ern Montana
GRAND STREET PARADE
Witnessed by Thousands Of People.
Ball Game. Horse Races and
Display of Fireworks.

Display of Fireworks.
~
Never in tho history of eastern Mon
tana has the Day Of independence been
celebrated as it was in Billings on
Tuesday. The morning Of the Fourth
dawned clear and bright and long be-
fore the noon hour the muddy streets Of
the night before were, dried up. The
celebration commenced about midnight
Of the 3rd and kept up until midnight
Of the Fourth. The boom Of the can
non in the wee sna' hours Of the morn.
ing announced that this was more than
an ordinary day for Billings. A ma.
jority Of the business houses postponed
decorating until the morning of the
Fourth and it was we'll they did. The
decorations put up the evening before
were ruined by the rain and wind
storm. Billings never wore such finery
before. From the Grand hotel to the
First National bank corner, from the
opera house to John D. Losekamp's on
Montana avenue and then from Dono.
van 3 & Spears to the fire hall on Min.
nesota avenue it was one complete pro-
fusion of bunting and flags, arranged in
most pretty and attractive manner.
Two large banners were strung across
from the fire hall to the Northern Pa
cific freight house. and from Linton q
clothing store, each bearing the inscrip-
tion "Welcome to Our City," and it
was right royal welcome extended to
our visitors. Many of the residences
were also prettily decorated.
The Rocky Fork and BridRer trains
brought quite number Of people from
Carbon county tho night before, while
the early morning trains Of the North.
ern Pacific brought others from the east
and west, and together with those from
the surrounding country formed large
gathering which thronged the streets.
At II O'Clock the special excursion
train on the Burlington arrived bearing
about 400 people from Sheridan and
other immediate points.
The street pageant and parade. which
formed on Montana avenue, was one OF
the finest ever witnessed in Billings
and without doubt eastern Montana.
There were three divisions in the line
of march. marshaled by Marshal Of the
Day Captain J. G. Bond, assisted by
Aides Lieutenant Ivey, W. j. Youmans
aud Lieutenant Robert Leavens. The
parade was led by the Billings band,
who were wearing the pretty new uni.
forms. which had just been received
the day before. During the entire
parade the band furnished some splen.
did march music Then came the La.
bor federation, nearly fifty strong, on
foot. Following these were twenty
members Of Troop M. u. s. volunteer
cavalry, in uniform and OH horses, be.
ing led by Lieutenant H. V. Bailey.
The boys were heartily applauded on
their appearance. The balance OF the
parade was made up of business floats,
there being some artistic and unique
displays. Among those deserving OF
special mention are:
Donovan u Spear. who had four
different floats. representing four de-.
partments Of their large store. one In
particular being u bevy of pretty little
girls in the float of their grocery dc.
partment
Forester & Frizelle had float rep
a clock and two large mug
gets of gold and silver, the latter
showing what IL used IL tho manu-
faoture of their goods.
Lumber, shingles. tiling, etc., dis
played in an attractive manner on n
large vehicle showedI what Is handled
by W. J, Youmans,
", B, George had one of the pret-
Fiest turnouts OF the day, being his two
horse trap, Mr., George drove the ami,
mails. while on the rear seat sat his
|iveried ooaohman,
The float Of the a, l., Bahe0ek Hard,
ware company WAS unique, A oolored
luartette made merry music while a
baker made biscuits from Yellowstone
valley -four N a stove handled by this
firm, throwing thu delicious morsel out
10 the people,
Tubhs, Ward " Co., contractors and
builders, had q large f0at, repFeseat'
ng their workmaa preparing the ma
5arial for q house,
dilsdoyt hr0s, made Bologna sausaaa
,ut Of dogs lY), hut considerable difii,
'ulty WAS experienced In getting the
,aaiaes 10 stay In thu machine,
H0Rna, h0hias0a N CO., Ind 4 rep.
'aseatati0a Of their gy0eevy store, with
Tho clerks waiting on customers, The
articles were AttFaetively arranged.
The h0at 0t Geo, a0ul6, which was
laa Of tho pvettieat IN tho parade, met
with an accident while nasaing under