Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-08
Ottumwa's Celebration Marks
Epoch in City.
THOUSANDS ARE HERE
Parade a Feature That Surprised the
People-Great outpourins to Wit
ness It-crowded Trains Bring Ad-
ditions to Help Swell Total.
Irrom Fridays Daily.l

IFrom Fridays Daily.1
The American spirit of patriotism
which predominates all the affairs of
the nation, large and small, springs
into unusual activity on the Fourth OF
July-overflowes, is it were, on this
day, the birthday of the American lib
erty which in the pride of every man,
woman and child from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from the great lakes to
the gulf. Throughout the whole Unit
ed States today the one hundred TWEEN
ty-sixth anniversary of the signing of
the Declaration of Independence is be-
ing celebrated, and in no place is the
event more thoroughly or more appro-
priately observed than in Ottumwa.
The day has been given over to the
celebration, and thousands of people,
both citizens and visitors, have been
upon the streets since early morning,
enjoying the occasion in many differ
ent ways.
Started Last Night.
The ball was given start last
night, when the bands from Cleveland
and Hiteman reached the city. They
were met at the depot by a throng of
people and, led by ex-Mayor T. J. Phil
lips and Chief of Police John w. Gray,
they paraded the streets and gave con-
certs at night. A perfect bedlam was
caused by the explosion of fireworks.
Everybody joined in the fun. The old
town, which many said could never be
awakened to the extent of having a
real live Fourth of July celebration,
echoed and re-echoed with the noise
of the demonstration until long after
midnight, and before the sounds of
the late stayers had died away the
early risers began and have continued
the celebration during the day. All
night long and all day the trains which
have arrived in the city have been
loaded down with passengers from
the surrounding towns, and with each
new addition to the thousands already
here the demonstration has grown the
greater.
Good Order.
Excellent order has prevailed
throughout the city in spite of the vast
crowds. Everyone is having a good
time but no one Is overstepping the
bounds of reason. There are some
twenty special police in addition to
the full regular force on duty and the
peace of the city is being preserved ex.
cellently.
The Parade.
The morning parade, which proved
to be the largest and most successful
affair Of the kind in the history Of the
city, was carried out almost on time
and according strictly to the program
Shortly after s o'clock this morning
the four bands and drum corps which
are furnishing the music for the cele
bration, marched from the armory or
West Main to Ash street, lead by Drum
Major T. J. Phillips and Chief Musi
clan John w. Gray, the two men who
deserve the greatest credit for the sue
cess of the celebration today. The pa
triotic music and the sound Of the fire
works gave the demonstration a good
start, and by the time the bands re-
turned at the head of the representa-
tives Of Morrells packing plant the
streets were crowded with sight-seers
The line of march was east on MAR
to Market street, north to Second, ant
east to Jefferson, where the parade
proper was forming. Each section un
der the guidance of Chief Marshal T
F. Norfolk and his able assistants, fell
into it's place in the line without 9
hitch and about $3.50 the procession
began its march west on Main street.
The most notable feature of the pro
gram was the delegation from Nor
rell's packing house. Five large
floats and hundreds of men and boys
employed at the big plant swelled the