The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-05
WERE 10000 THERE.
Fourth Of July Celebration ct
Garfield Park . Success.

Once . year, q least. Topeka people
put aside labor and care and devote
themselves to one full holiday; that il
the natal day Of the Republic, the
Fourth Of July. and this Independence
general observance. Especially after
noon. practically all business was sus-
pended and the townspeople celebrated.
1t u always the case that Garfield
PARK draws more than any place IN To-
peka when it is open, and yesterday
the crowds which visited 1t were quite
up to the expectations The celebration
there was in the hands OF Marshalfh
band. and was well managed, although
. few of the events advertised never
materiaHzed But then it u under
stood In every case that when pro-
eramme is arranged. some part OF It
Will tail to be given
Five thousand paid admissions were
recorded at the park In the afternoon
The crowd began gathering soon after
noon, and continued coming until late
in the evening At . O'Clock MarshalFs
band opened the events by . concert
consisting largely of patriotic and pop
ular numbers, played against the roar
OF Fourth of July artillery. equaIling tbs
music IN yehemence. expression of pa
triotic sentiment and certainly in popu-
larity. The smaller arms. such as pis-
tolls and crackers, were operated chiefly
by young women, but the small boys
and young men had their share in Gre
ating the din The concert was rather
brief. but pleasing to the crowd that
heard 1t. and at its conclusion the band
went to the Casino and played an OPEN
ing number for the vaudeville company.
which put on the attractions there. The
work OF the performers in this event
was worth tina price, and was much en-
Joyed by those who went inside the
building. There was the same difficulty
i'll hearing which was experienced in re-
lation to the band music: the incessant
fusillade of Independence day firearms.
was kept up throughout. The work os
little Trixy Francis was commendabie
as was most of the other numbers. The
company is made up of about the same
people who have been appearing at the
ing. whose home is in this place, but
who lately has come down from Van
couver, B. c., singer and dancer, be-
ing additional lately.
1t was announced at the close of the
| vaudeville that the balloon ascension
would take place immediately" but
| some OF the auditors misunderstood and
thought 1t was the much advertised high
| dive Within a few minutes the banks
| of Soldier creek were crowded with
| thousands of people who pressed down
| almost TO the waters edge to get sigh,
| of the man who was going to make the
them nearly an hour, but without re-
| ward. Charles IaPerl. an auburn
| haired youth, was to have done the
| stunt. but it is understood that his nerve
| ldliSQ HiIIls ana he Is SAID 10 nave tdk6L
Rock Island train for Chickasha, 1
| T.. the night Of the 3rd- By the man
| agement it was announced that LaPer
had found it impossible to secure a ne
into which to make his leap, and thu
good to him without it.
After that G. E. Kelly was scheduled
to make flight through the air in hi
placed and inflated, but the breez
which had prevailed all day did no
lower with the sun. and at the ap
pointed time it was found impossible
to make the ascent. Be 1t said to Kelly
credit, however. that he was on han,
ready to make the trip had condition
permitted He has done 1t three Fourth
before. here. Two years ago. when tn
town it was hastily taken charge of b.
parties who had to have legal action be
gun against them before they would re
linquish it. One of the warmest place
A game was billed to take place Their
in the afternoon, but the players faile
to appear. few members Of tn
Thomas planning mill nine were on hand
and from the crowd OF spectators an
other team was got together. but befor
the contest had gone farther than tn
nrst inning, the man playing behind til
stick caught ball in the nose and ha
to drop out for heavy repairs. TIL
other players evidently were dfsap
, | pointed at the Indifference Of the pfc
nickers in not attending the game MOI
largely. and the play was stopped
At night $500 people heard the bant
saw the vaudeville attraction and en-
joyed an outing in the park. All tn
seats around the band-stand were taker
and all the vacant ground was occupie
! by those standing There had been
slight Iull in the bombardment of tn
atmosphere, and the music could b
heard a little more distinctly than
the afternoon At o'clock the vauds
Vile, the same as was put on the after
noon was reproduced and with that tn
. days programme ended.
The frequent rains of the summe
have put the park vegetation in fin
| condition and If there were any sign