The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-09-02

IA uniformed men that marched in
~ line today in the Labor Day pa
~ rade, have made immortal his
4 u tory. in the days Of small
things, before there We're any
Butt<s, and great copper mines, or Or
ganized labor.
There were from 5000 to 1000 men in
the line today. 1t was probably the
largest parade ever seen in the state
For nearly an hour the line swung along
the street; silent, erect, stalwart, for
the most part. Tramp, tramp tramp,
they proceeded. like soldiers going to
war, only the marchers did not bear
themselves with the machine-like pre-
cision Of the trained soldier. Gai1y COL
Ored uniforms. odd concets of every
kind in the way of apparel, band music,
caparisoned steeds bearing riders girt
with the red or blue sash, the insignia of
authority, and vast crowds Of on-lookers,
surging SO close as to all but close the
line of march--all these We're part Of the
parade of today.
The morning dawned, fair and cool,
with breath Of frost in the air. With
the sun, came the awakening. Streets
poured forth their crowds, all converg-
ing towards the heart of the city, all
bent on seeing the great display, the
greatest public event of the year.
Long before the hour for the parade to
start, the main business streets were
thronged with people. Picturesque uni
forms of all descriptions were scattered
here and there. Shril-voiced boys, VEN
ders of badges, canes. bouquets, were
busy plying their trade, and almost
every one wore some bit of bright color
There was a general air of expectation.
but little clamor.. One tenth the number
of orientals or natives of southern
land, would have discounted the whole
parade for noise. If the resident of
Butte is glad he is on earth on Labor
day he does not show it on such occas-
ions by noisy badinage. But he turns
out to see all that is to be seen, brings
his wife and family, and stays until the
last strains of the band are over.
The Parade.
The parade was scheduled to start at
1880. and it was but very few min
utes past that time when Marshal of
the Day, Luke Kelly, accompanied by
his aide. William Dee, gave the signal
to start. The two men mounted, in their
officers regala of red and blue sash,
led the parade. They We're followed by
the Boston 4 Montana band, probably
in the west, playing one of its finest,
and most inspiring marches. They
came down Main street, from Miners
Union hall. turned east on Granite, then
south on Wyoming to Broadway, then
west to Montana. then south to Park,
then east to Main, thence south, and
countermarched to their place of form
ing, where they disbanded. The first
division formed on Upper Main, the sec
Ond on West Quartz, the third on West
Granite.
Following the band came the Miners
union which was given the place of
honor. as representing the principal in
dustry of the camp. The miners wore
no distinctive uniforms, having only
their red. white and blue badges, and
their banner to designate them. The
turnout was not so large as usual, not
because of any lack of interest but on .
account of the fatigue involved in
long march.
The Mill and Smeltermen's union
mad up for shortage in the number of
the miners. -Four abreast, they stretch
ed for blocks along the streets, more
than a thousand of them. Theirs was
by far the largest union in the parade. |
They wore the well-known purple badge !
of their order, without other distin-
gushing marks.
The stationary engineers We're next in
line, With 60 men. They wore only
white badge. stamped with the picture |
of an engine.
The boiler makers came next with
large float, drawn by four horses. On
the float We're two large sections of
boilers. and a force OF men making a
deafening clangor with their hammers. ,,
A compressed air riveter added to the
din. The float was followed by a large |
number Of small boys, who were more |
attracted by the noise than by any
beauty or other sentiment. The exhibit |
was a noticeable one. The boiler-mak- |
ers were dressed in black sateen shirts |