The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-18
Celebrate
Anniversary
Perry Conducts Her Carnival
to Success.
THOUSANDS ARE PRESENT
Program as Promised Is Car
ried Out in Full.

Perry, o. T., Sept. H-Ten years ago
yesterday at high noon the crack of pis-
toI was heard and 100000 people began a
mad race for a home of 16G acres.
Never in the history of nations was a
large tract of land opened for settlement
in an instant as was this tract.
The lives of men. women and even chill
dren were sacrificed on the altar of ambi-
tion to obtain home. The fast racer,
the plug farm horse, the Texas brencho,
the mule ran madly TO beat the long and
heavily loaded cars of human freight
all bound for the promised land. People
on horse back, in wagon, blackboard, in
phaeton, carriage, cart and buggy. The
man from Yale and Harvard ran side by
side with the gambler and sport; the
farmer beside the merchant and profess
sionaI man.
Perry, o. T, at the opening had %, 900
people at o'clock p. m, September is,
where the morning sun had beheld only
a few officials and a company of sol
diers
No city in history was ever builded in
q day as was Perry-Peerless Perry-and
the city, through its Commercial club and
city officials, are celebrating the opening
day with a big celebration and carnival,
lasting three days. beginning on the 18th,
for the benefit of those who, as ''soeners,
of course, must celebrate their ami
versary the 18th.
The Perry Gun club opened the events
with a two-days' shoot. The best marks
men from Kansas. Missouri, Indian Ter
ritory Texas, Colorado and Arkansas are
here. The attractions include the Ferris
wwheel, miniature railroad, the funny fat
man on clothes line, the cycle contest,
slack wire and bar performances, the
merry -go-round, the largest horse in the
world. etc.
The first day, the 18th. opened with a
splendid and long needed rain, but the
afternoon cleared and the crowds began
arriving. Several bands played and the
crowds took in the free shows. The bust
ness men decorated every place of busi-
ness with carnival colors.
Wednesday opened with another rain |
followed with sunshine and at l o'clock
p. m the Old Settlers parade and Anti |
Horse Thief association took up line of
march through the principal streets, led |
by the Perry Commercial band of forty |
pieces in bright new uniforms Then
came the Strip Runners on the horses |
which brought them 5000 or $4,000 |
farm, mayhaps. The old farm wagon
with the white covered top, the old gun,
the frying pan which figured so much in
those early days and was in evidence.
The first boy born in the Strip was in
line in the parade. The first water wagon |
to deliver water-ffor there were no wells |
then-the citizen and the floats.
one interesting covered wagon driven |
by the biggest fat man in Oklahoma, |
Phillip Rucker. bore on the canvas this |
significant legend:
Farewell to Kansas, Missouri and Ne
braska,
To ali we bid adieu;
We may so to hell some day.
But never back to you
PHI RUCKER."
The various fire departments were rep |
resented in line, including the visiting
companies from El Reno. Guthrie, Still
Arkansas City. Kan.
The parade was a success in every way
and was followed by an address by Judge
Gore of Lawton, who made an earnest !
plea for single statehood, quoting the
resources. intelligence and ability of the |
people for statehood as compared with |
other states when admitted.
After Judge Cores speech an original !
pom was read by Rev. T. d. Duncan de- /
scribing the preparation for and the run
for homes, giving details as only one who !
had been in the race could give.