The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-07-12
The FOURTH AT LEON
An Enormous Crowd was here and
the Day was Pleasantly Spent
No Accidents Happened.

Last Wednesday was an ideal day for
Fourth of July celebration, and Leon
gave the thousands Of people who gath
cred in this city an ideal Fourth of July
celebration. The day was cool and
pleasant and the people commenced
coming to town at an early hour, and
the streets were soon crowded until one
of the largest crowds ever seen in Leon
was present. The Garden Grove band
came on the early morning train and
were accompanied by good sized dele
cation. The GAINESVILLE band also arriy-
ed early in the morning, special train
having been secured and over 200 tick
cts were sold at GAINESVILLE and Saline
for Leon, in addition to large crowd
which came from Pleasanton on the
train. Other towns in the county did
their share of swelling the big crowd.
The bands commenced their work
early and furnished splendid music all
day, being ably assisted by G. R. Riley's
drum corps from Decatur City, and with
wa, there was no lack for music all day
long. The feature of the morning was
the big industrial parade gotten up by
the business men of Leon, and it was
one of the finest parades ever put on
by a country town in the state of Iowa.
Our enterprising businessmen had gone
to considerable expense in preparing
their fine floats and displays and the
parade extended for more than half a
mile, with three bands furnishing the
music. Forty-eight firms appeared in
the parade and the visitors to our thirty
ing little city were loud in their praise
OF this feature of the day. 1t is impos-
sible to give review of each display
for it would take columns to describe
all OF them. One special feature which
attracted considerable attention was a
group Of little fairies drawing wagon
and attended by a miniature band, rep
resenting the children's clean city corps
and the little ones were heartily cheer
ed as they trudged along with the
parade.
The speaker of the day was Hon. r. G.
Barrett, eX-superintendent Of public in
struction, who spoke for more than an
hour and his address was rare treat
to all who got within the sound of his
voice. He referred to our old dilapidat-
ed court house, and said it was the one
relic of early days in this thriving and
progressive county, and advised the
people to provide new and up-to-date
court house in the very near future.
Judging from the hearty applause he
received the people think likewise and
it will probably not be necessary to SUBJ
nit the question of building a new
court house but once more until the
people decide by an overwhelming vote
to build fine new court house.
Following the speech of Mr.. Barrett
the baby show was held at the band
stand in the park, two prizes having
been offered for the handsomest baby be-
tween the ages of six and fifteen months,
all babies from Leon being barred from
the contest. There were 46 babies en-
tered and prettier lot Of babies could
not be found in any county in all the
state. The judges, Mrs. A. L. Curry, Mrs.
c. NJ. Kohler and Mrs. Stephen Varga
had very difficult problem in deciding
which was the prettiest baby, but final
ly awarded the first prize to Miles Nc
Cormick, the twelve months old son of
Mr.. and Mrs. VIM. A. Mccormick, of
near Pleasanton. The second prize was
given to Margery Long, the twelve
months old daughter of Prof. and Mrs.
]. W. Long, of Davis City.
The fat mems footrace created con-
siderable amusement, there being sew
eral contestants, ]. H. Tabler being the
winner. When the big fellows chased
, each other down Main street the whole
! earth seemed to tremble and many
thought an earthquake had struck Leon.
J. t. Holt, of Van Vert, won the 200
yard foot race, but was crowded to the
finish by Lew Dobson, who was less
than foot asehind him.
GAINESVILLE and Leon played rattling
good game of base ball at Warmers
park, which was finally won by the Leon
: boys by the close score of to 6. The
game was hotdy contested and although
f both sides made several errors the big
crowd enjoyed the game, for it was
entirely free from any quarreling or
a wrangling among the players. The
5 score by innings was as follows:
. Leon % 2 o 0 0 4 o. 81
GAINESVILLE 90 20 2 0 0 2 2 O-6
The big crowd was one of the most
orderly we have ever seen in Leon on a
3 Fourth, and but very few arrests were
made for intoxieation.
Mayor Harvey had issued an order
> prohibiting the promiscuous firing Of
. fire crackers on the streets, and the
< order was generally obeyed, so that fol
once Leon enjoyed a sane Fourth, and
not single accident occurred to ma,
I the pleasure of the day.
= Everybody who attended the Leon
b celebration went home we'll pleased
q There was something going on all day
1, for the amusement Of the people.
! The Clarinda Poultry, Butter and Egg
| Co. had fine display in the parade ano
a number of their employees appeared
9 dressed in neat white suits trimmed
, with yellow, the company's colors. The
! boys were in evidence all day long and
3 created lots of fun, but it was all harm.
less.
A message was received Wednesday
morning from Kingfsher, S. D., announ
cling the death of Ray Strong, son o.
3 Doc Strong, former we'll known resi-
j. dent of Long Creek township. His
remains will be brought to Van Vert
for burial.