The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1908-07-10
BIG CELEBRATION
ON FOURTH Of JULY
Coltax Is Invaded by Largest
Crowd in History of City
Joy Reigns Supreme.
Two Middies From San Francisco
Head the Procession Pioneers
of Whitman Have Inning.

| The celebration in COlfax on the Fourth
pulled off without a hitch ID the program,
without an accident to mar the festivities
Of the occasion, without the least dsOr-
der. lt was patriotic gathering of
| patriotic citizens coming from far and
near, and the events Of the day, extend
ing far into the night, were enjoyed by
Old and young to the fullest extent. The
| day was perfect. A gentle breeze stole
up the valley, softly touching the cheeks
Of swain and maiden, matron and man
of affairs. nature seeming to lend a smile
Of approval
Main street, from the south end bridge
to the north end bridge, was beautifully
and tastefully decorated with flags and
bunting, with many strings OF electric
| lights stretched across to add to the eff
feet and beauty after nightfalI. Impro-
vised benches were also placed on either
side Of the street for the comfort of the
thrOngs, enabling many to rest ard to
view the proceedings in comfort. Barrets
Of ice water with faucet and cup attach
ments, were placed at frequent intervals,
thus affOrding the multtudes plenty Of
good, pure, cold water to drink.
The attendance was large 1t was
variously estimated at from 1000 to 10.
600, probably the former would be the
more correct figure. They came from
Occur d'Alene, Spokane, Moscow and
most OF the nearby towns The towns
along the Inland furnished a consider
able number, and the farmers, with their
wives and children, stopped worrying
about the crops, threw care to the winds
and came to enjoy Independence Day
with old time enthusiasm
The Procession.
The procession was something out OF
the usual. While not IA extensive as
was hoped for it was tip-tOp and greatly
enjoyed by the multitudes. 1t possessed
many features, but aside from the patri-
Otic cast the pioneer demonstration was
the most perfect and attracted the great
est interest. The procession started
from the court house and was headed by
two sailor boys from San Francisco on a
visit, having obtained a 10 days leave
Of absence. They were Paul IT. Martin,
of the u. 5. torpedo boat Banhridge,
and John Pacsmag, Of the torpedo boat
Wilmington. Young Martin is son OF
G. f. Martin, connected with the BarrOll
< Mohney hardware company, and was
here on a brief visit TO his parents Next
came the CoIfax Band. Following were
II automobiles in line carrying pioneers
and their wives. Many pioneers of
Whitman county did not join the pro-
cessiOn, but the showing was satisfact-
Ory. The fret auto, run by 4. +. King,
contained Joe DeLong, supposed to be
the oldest living pioneer of the county.
He arrived April H. 1867 and planted
the first orchard in Whitman county
The second auto, managed by Nick
Codd, contained Mrs. o. q. White, the
oldest white woman in " hitman county,
who arrived September 20, 1870. The
autos containing the pioneers presented
| beautiful appearance, being decorated
with flags and bunting, many Of them
covered with banks OF flowers and birds
OF feather arranged in unique fashion as
though guiding the fairy ships, present
ing a picture that called forth warm ex
carnations Of approval.
Liberty Car Emierant Teams.
| The liberty car, a massive affair, cor
tanning the Goddess OF Liberty Miss
Eta Dodd) and bevy of little misses
| representing every state and territory in
! the Union, including Alaska. Porto Rico
and our insular possessions, drawn by
| four horses, was one Of the features Of
ed as it passed along The little girls
wore red, white and blue gowns, while
the goddess looked like goddess indeed,
wearing the crown OF liberty and carry
ing the ecepter of power.
The Salvation Army, the fire depart
ment and several of the fraternal sOci9-
ties took part in the procession.
| Among the amusing features in line
was yoke of oxen hitched to a covered
wagon, la Ezra Meeker crossing the
continent, driven By Claude Hollings-
worth, with Miss Birdie HolIingsworth
leaning over the dashboard, very good
representation OF the way some Of the
! pioneers came to the Pacific coast in the
z days Of gold, the days Of old, the days
of 40"
Another emigrant wagon with four
mules attached. all the way from Pike
county, Missouri Tin your mind), was in
line. 1t was the regulation old fashion