The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-05
WAS GLORIOUS DAY
Weather, Pleasure and Noise
Made an Enjoyable Fourth
EVERYTHING WAS LOVELY
No Fires, Few Accidents and
Grand Display of Fireworks

One could not wish for a finer day +
which to celebrate the glorious Fourth Q
July. the day observed for more than
century and a quarter as this nation
natal day. The weather man wanted L
celebrate a little and he put all of hi
bad weather in a tight box and put III
box down in the cellar. The rain Of tn,
night before laid the dust and cooled tn,
humid atmosphere. The sun shone in al
hi splsndor as If he, TOO, was in a joyful
mood. Il was cool and pleasant all day
q great variation from TIE temperature OF
q few days aso.
Throushout Friday night crackers and
revolvers popped, and as daylight made
its appearance tie celebration began in
earnest. Throughout the day there was
the incessaHt pop Of crackers and pistols
with hugh cannon cracker explosion
ad1ed every few moments. Ii was the
noisest Fourth ever seen here. but every
one had a good time. The police had no
trouble GA account Of rowdy.sm by the
young men. Clean. wholesome sport was
the order of the day ana the officers had
10 chance 10 ADVISE anyone. to stop their
litte game Fire crackers were allowed
everywhere except in the fire limits
The police department had a very easy
time. \ few men c. lebIate1 by loading
up on red liquor and became rather ex-
plosive, but were take uto the police sta
ton and allowed 10 cool of. The fire boys
Were on duty the entire day. but not one
call did they receive. It was the first
Fourth of July in which the fire depart
ment did not make at least one run. The
small boy was very careful with his
matches and crackers and kept away from
alleys and barns
Every train that entered Wichita yes
terday brought great crowds Of people
The excursion rates brought many from
points a good many miles away. Har-
vest has temporarily stopped on account
of the heavy rains so that the country
people We're able 10 enjoy the day 70 its
fullest extent. The people who came from
a distance spent the morning seeing the
afternoon RODE out to the parks. Both
parks We're damned with people. Many
took their dinners and enjoyed a picnic
lunch. The band music and exercises were
thoroughly enjoyed.
There We're many small picnic parties
scattered through the parks and in the
groves in and around the city There
We're thirty picnic parties in the city
parks and an inestimahle number went
out of the city for The day.
At night the sky above Wichita was
brilliantly illuminated by the gorgeous
display of fireworks. There never has
been Fourth when such large quantities
of fireworks were Displayed during the
evening. and this formed a fitting eli
max to the day Thousands gathered
on both sides Of the river bank 20 watch
the display in Payres park, which was
Ecaiiy gorgeous affair.
July 4. 1893. viii long he remembered
rs he most pleasant. enjoyable and gor-
Goous Fourth in the history of this city
II was a day Of features without mishlps
OF a very serious nature. and ended with
q grand and beautiful display. after which
The thousands Of tired bur happy people
returned TO their homes for rest pleased
with the day and eagerly eNpectant for
another day year hence.
The display of Pains fireworks last
nisht was fully the success that It was
expected TO be and much credit is due
Frank Payne for the undertaking on
account of unavoidable circumstances.
AT the last minute a telegram came after
the dinner hour 20 the effect that the spe-
cial man sent here To fire tine exhibit had
missed his train at Kansas City and
could not arrive in time. Here natur-
ally. was a poser but Mr. Frank Payne
had set up the display and TOOK the re
sponsihlity % firing IS. ana Il may be
said that whenever Wichita has another
fireworks exhibit he viii ba given fun
charge of this part OF it is he Will ac-
cept. The only fault that could be
found was a slight sIowncss in the fir
Ing, which was caused by lack Of spaoe
in the area set apart for tls firing. but
this can be avoided in the future.
Mr.. PAYNE said after tho display that
If there had been time he would have
been able 10 have constructed more large
set pieces. bat those that were fred were
well received hy the audience. Many
other features would be changed also. No
one having anything 70 90 with The dis
play was hurt in the least. Frank Payne
not even singing an eyebrow. II IS a
fery undertaking ana one i'm which few
would care % take part. Small pieces are
easy onoush bat the immense rockets
scatter a tempest of ire over wide
area
Balloons were sent up during the day
and two lsrgo ones NJ night and rot one
OF thom burned. hut Heated away high
IN the air toward Oklahoma.
There were no accidents whatever on
TIL grounds, ara fin the firing of the dis