The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-07-11
THE CELEBRATION.
In Bloomsbury on the Fourth Attracted Man
People.

The Fourth was observed in Blooms
burg in behtting and appropriate
manner. The celebration was of the
old time order, and attracted a good
sized crowd of people. Numerous
celebrations in towns surrounding us
had the effect of keeping many away,
who would otherwise have been here.
lola is one of the places referred tc
and also Jamestown. The streets ol
the last mentioned is said to have
been crowded throughout the entire
day.
Many of the residences and bust.
ness places were very prettily trimmed
with flags and bunting, and stand
was erected on the south side OF
Market Square, which was profusely
decorated with flags and the colors OF
the order of United American Mechan-
les, under whose auspices the cele-
bration was given.
The first event on the days pro-
gram and in which considerable inter
est was centered was the Firemaps
race. There were but two entries,
the Reliance Company of Berwick and
the Winonas of town. The former,
however, refused to contest, for what
reason we are unable to say. 1t is
said that the visiting company watch
ed the Winona boys warming up
early in the morning, and being salts
fed that they would be outclassed,
declined to run. This may or may
not be the truth. The Winonas ap.
peared on the scene at the appointed
time, eleven o clock, all wearing rum
ing suits, purchased for the occasion.
They covered the distance from
Center street to the Market Square
Fountain, and had stream of water
squirting through two-hundred feet Of
hose in the remarkable time of sIa
seconds. They were promptly given
the prize, $500
The parade which was the leading
feature OF the day, formed on the
Square at two o'clock and was made
up of the following organizations.
Ent Post $50 G.. A. R., Blooms
burg Band, Mausdale Council Jr. o. U.
A. NJ, Wilkes-Barre Council Jr. o. U,
A. NJ, and drum corps, Berwick
Council Jr. o. U. A. NJ, and Reliance
Fire Co., of Berwick, and the Friend
ship, Winona and Rescue Hose Com.
panies of Bloomsburg, delegation
from Centralia Council Jr. o. U. A.
NJ, and Bloomsbury Council 537 Jr.
o. U. A. NJ.
The following gentlemen acted as
judges: Mayor Frank Ikeler: DR.. X.
V. Hover, Miffllnville: Prof. G.. E.
Wilbur, Jas. c. Brown, John c.
Rutter, Jr., and w. o. Holmes, Of
town. They viewed the procession
from previously arranged elevation
on Market Square. The pedestal
emblem was awarded to the Wilkes
Barre Council for the largest number
of men in line; the Friendship Fire
Co. received the flag for the largest
number and best equipped fire COM
pany; Berwick and Mausdale Councils
were evenly divided as to number and
each received handsome bible; the
Rescue's Darktown Fire Brigade won
the prize of $Io for the most gro
tesqne costumes and also secured the
prize donated by l. A. Snyder, of the
Exchange Hotel, of S. in cash.
The Wilkes Barre delegation and
drum corps was easily the finest ap-
pearing lot Of men in in line. The
drum and fife music was perfect as
was also their marching, and their
conduct throughout the day was
marked with propriety and gentle
manly demeanor.
Our own Friendship Fire Company
is also deserving of special mention
in regard to appearance. Mary nice
things were said about them as they
passed by. There are few interior