The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-07-10
BIG CROWD OF VISITORS.
F festivities On the Fourth Were En-
joyed BY Patriotic Citizens.

Festivities On the Fourth Were En-.
loved BY Patriotic Citizens.
The 131st anniversary OF national
independence was celebrated through.
out Montana with appropriate exer.
cises, and in 90 part of the state was
the occasion observed with more pat
riotic zeal than 10 this city. The
success of the celebration was due 10
large measure to the big crowd OF
visitors, whose participation in the
program prepared by committees OF
| Fort Benton citizens assisted in max.
ing it a mos, enjoyable occasion.
The firing of cannon and explosions
Of bombs soon after 4 O'Clock in the
morning were the prelimina aries OF .
alton that continued through
out the greater part OF the succeeding
twenty hours. The noise awakened
the juvenile population, and the stocks
of fireworks which had been secured
by the latter were soon on the firing
line.
The program Of the day commenced
soon after nine o'clock with a basket
ball game between two team Of girls
from the public school, which were de-
signated the reds and the whites.
The former we're the victors. scoring
one goal 10 q closely contested game.
The Fort Benton band, assisted by
several musicians from Havre, an
~nounced the beginning Of the orator..
cal exercises by leading q procession
to the city park, where It rendered
several musicsl selections. The ora
tor Of the day, Rev. L. j. Christler,
of Havre, was then introduced by
Hon. F. f. Stranahau, and gave one
of the best patriotic addresses ever
heard il this city. The speaker de-
clared that the stars and stripes
should occupy a place of honor IL
every American home, and that the
Fourth OF July 10 an anniversary upor
which every American citizen shoule
renew his allegiance to the flag ant
the pridciples it represents.
A baseball game between two loca
teams sttr acted quite q crowd 70 tn
grounds. 1t was fast and holly con
tested game Of eight innings, the re
sult being q tie.
: The horse races in the afternoon
= we're probably the greatest attraction
y GO the program, the racetrack ground
being crowded with spectators. tn
9 result in the several events was as fol
lowe:
Half.mile running-Oscar Gabel'
. Roulette" fret; Wearn Rowe
= montana" second.
:, Ia the quarter mile race, Roulett
= was again first, and Montana SECOND
, Pony race-l. Shepherds "Buck
9 hrs,: r. E. Danielsen's prince" sec
QUO.
=, Cowboy race-C. w. Buck
u "Buckskin John" first: Stephen Pc
y ter's "Diamond' second.
In a half.nile pacing race again
time. Frank McDonald's "Budweiser
made the distance in l:l9.
A match half.mile race betwee
Frank Adams ''Nictoria' and
Rodgers' Jack resulted in 4 clo'
finish, the former being declared Il
winner.
: The street sports in the evening" too
= place 10 front OF the city park, q
winners in the several events being:
ii Girls race under II )-Emma Da
!. ielsen, first: Elizabeth Morrow, sc
ond.
" Girls' race over l Urinary Hump
y rey, fret; Helen Sherry, second.
Boys race (uuder l5)-HarI
Bjerring, fret; George Johnston, Sc
Eond.
Mems race-Fred Thies, fret; Ner
Lon Lewis, second.
Sack race-Oscsr Gabel, fret, K
lRene Leach, second.
Three-legged race-MeCauley q
Bjerring. fret: Leach and Gabel, sc
ond.
The high jump res ulted in a tie l.
tween Vernon Lewis and /. Shepher
and the purse was divided.
Daring the evening the crowd W
be entertained with some clever acroba'
r stun,s by Charles Nelson, general
be known As "Buckskin Charlie" W
vac generously rewarded for his wor
% A good display of fireworks fro
the top OF the Missouri river bride
and a public dance at the opera hou
at which the crowd was one of I
o. largest 90 record, concluded the Il
tivities of a most enjoyable day.
Many Vacancies For Teachers.