The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-04
DOWNTOWN PARADE
And N Day of Festivities at the State
Fair Grounds.

With large clouds fitting through the
sky yesterday morning. Labor day was
ushered i'm and the hopes of many who
looked forward to the day as one OF pleas
ure sank. but the sun soon made its APP
pearance. The day was ideal for the ois
celebration which the Central Labor Union
had planned to take place at the State
fair grounds. The days festivities began
with a parade of all the unions in the
morning at 10 o'clock. Long before that
hour the downtown streets were densely
packed with people to witness the process
sion. Unlike many similar demonstrations
the on-lookers did not have to wait long
for the moving column, for 1t appeared
exactly on time.
The parade was headed by Chief Marshal
Kock and his assistants, followed by a
platoon of police, commanded by Captain
Dawson. In the first division, Adolph Muel-
Ter was dressed as Gambrinus mounted on
large gray horse. This division was
artistically made up Each member of a
union carried some product of his labor
representing his union. There were two or
three floats in this division, which were
admirably got up.
The second division was headed by Henry
Slough and il comprised all the Topographic
cal and allied unions. In this division was
a float containing rolls of paper from which
newspapers are made and also the large
stereotype plates
The third division was headed by John
McGregor. and it contained the Plasterers'
Union. Stone Masons' Union, the Iron
Molders, and Wood. Wire and Metal Work.
TTtoio In ha IF ,,
a large float on which was built a partition.
the work of lathing being done along the
line of march.
The fourth division was headed by o. Z.
Minor, and the feature of 1T was a huge
cigar. and surrounding 1t were number
OF tobacco plants. Following this float
came 200 members of the Cigar Makers
Union, each smoking cigar. Another nov
city In the parade and which caused many
of the on-lookers to hide their eyes was the
Timers Union, each member Carving a
shining tin umbrella. The plumbers had
novel display. The parade was a success
I'm every particular. and IL is estimated that
over 5000 men were in line.
AT THE FAIR GROUNDS.
Immediately after the parade the crowd
began TO leave for the fair grounds. The
cars were packed. although the service
was carried on rapid schedule and only
a slight decrease was noticeable I'm the
numbers going out to take part in the
celebration until many began to return
TO the city. The crowd at the fair grounds
was scattered. and estimates of its size
ranged all the way from 5000 TO 5000.
Towards the middle of the afternoon the
crowd began 10 center about the grand
stand to witness the races and track "
elites that were on TIE programme. The
cottage in the field of the race course that
was to be blown up by natural gas was
the center of interest and large crowds
of the curious inspected the building.
knocking on the weather boarding. trv-
ing all the doors. peeping in at the win
dows. and doing many other things 10 sat-
isfy thirst for knowledge of the inner
most secrets OF gas explosion. The
spectacle of destruction was to have taken
place at 4:S0 o'clock. but 1t was $50 before
repeated attempts TO blow the house sky
high terminated In success.
About the hour scheduled for the ex-
sent 10 the house 10 drive the curious
back towards the grand stand. This was a
difficult undertaking. but the field was fin
ally clear. A committee was working in
the house TO see that nothing would go
wrong TO mar the effect OF the scene or
prevent the explosion from demolishing
the building when Miss Jessie Lendormi
should press the electric button. AT length
| the committee retired, the gas was turned
| on and IL was announced that the
| house would be wrecked at SEQ
| IL was half hour till time for
atoms. and the crowd impatiently waited
Men in the grand stand pulled out their
/ watches every few minutes, carefully cal
| culated the time and announced the re-
1 suit TO neighbors. Ten minutes before the
! appointed time the suspense the spectators