Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-07-07

American Homing Pigeon Fan
ciers held its 400-mile race yester-
day, the point of liberation being
Ironton, Mo-, a distance of 402
miles air line to the winning
birds loft. The birds were liber-
ated by G. E. Downey, agent of
the Pacific Express, and official
liberator of the national organiza-
ton at Ironton, Mo. The telegram
received announcing theliberation
gave the time at 5 :01 A. NJ. Wealth
er clear, slight southwest wind, and
the weather bureau reported the
same conditions along several
points of the course. The first bird
to ARRIVE was timed at the loft of
George j. G. Steffen at t2:34:20 P.
NJ, having covered the distance of
402 miles in Z hours 80 minutes and
20 seconds, or the average mile in
81 1-2 seconds, a phenomenal speed
and displaying a wonderful en-
durance, and especially so from
such a long distance. From all re-
ports thus far received this year
the record stands by far the best
made from this distance from all
competing districts in the country,
and the owners of all the birds
timed in the flight can truly feel
elated over the performance in a
race that will long be remembered
in the annals of pigeon flying"
The Fourth was duly celebrated
in the Valley from early morn till
dewey eve, and later-celebrated
in all the modes known to the
genius, taste and up-to-dateness
of the twentieth century. Cele-
brated with good eating and good
drinking $50 we are informed) ;
with mirth and music; with fire.
crackers and fireworks; with
patriotism, pie and picnic. At an
early hour vehicles from adjacent
districts began to come in and the
procession continued until the sun
had we'll nigh attained the zenith
all bound for the Arcadia picnic
grounds, whittier a free barbecued
dinner and all the other attendants
to a frst-class outdoor entertain
ment attracted the multitude. BY
noon there were twenty five hun
dred people or the grounds, and
when dinner was announced the
rush to the free dispensing counter
was something wonderful, and l
doubted if order satisfied could
ever be brought out of the i'm
patient and hungry though good
natured and chatting mob. But
system is everything to business,
and so well had the preparations
been fitted to the requirements that
in one short half-hour the lion of
''before" had been transmogriied
into the lamb of ~''after," with
quiet and content reigning SUI
preme. The, picnic was a success
in every way, and neighbor Miller
may we'll rest easy in the knowl-
edge thereof. Four beeves, five
hogs and three sheep, aggregating
two thousand pounds of dressed
meat, were required to furnish
forth the tables. The meat was
barbecued to a. turn and was ap-
petizing. The hours passed mer-
rily until 4:30 P. M, when the usual
4th of July rain made a hurried
scattering of the clans, but some
hardy souls held out through the
storm and into the shades of eve
ming. At night all over the Valley
the skies were pierced and lighted
up with rockets, etc., and when I
sought my quiet pillow their ftful
glare and deep defamation were
still Illuminating and disturbing
the devoted atmosphere. Great is
the 4th, and calamity did the VAL
ley honor it's 12Sth anniversary.