Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1909-07-09
A BLAZE OF GLORY
LASTING THREE DAYS
Largest and Most Successful Fourth of July
Gathering in the History of the
Rogue River Valley.

The Grants Pass Fourth of July
celebration on Saturday, Sunday and
Monday was the largest and most
successful event of any kind that
over took place III the Rogue River
valley. Being under the auspices of
the Grants Pass Commercial Club
gave it the confidence of the entire
county and when the morning of the
Third dawned all the roads leading
to the county seat were lined with
people on their way to attend the
festivities which were offered on the
rich program printed in the Courier
and other Grants Pass newspapers.
A long line of events had been adver-
tised to take place and everybody
had confidence that the Commercial
Club would keep faith with the peo-
pie and so they came in carriages,
spring wagons, farm wagons and on
| iOl otbdNh anu III Wy
every highway leading to town.
1t was estimated that fully 1000
people came from the south side of
the river, many came from the farms
along the north side, more than 1000
came by the Merlin road, hundreds
came from Louise Creek and Jump
Off-Joe valleys. Jones Creek and
other places. BY 10 O'Clock Satur-
day morning the city was filled, fair
ly to overGlowing, with people from
the orchards, farms, mines and log
ging camps; such a gathering had
never before been in the county seat,
and we are glad to say that Grants
Pass made good in every particular.
Fully 10,000 people were in the city,
The management was superb and
everything moved on time First
came the street parade which started
promptly at 10 a. m. Chairman NJ.
j. Anderson, who had direct charge
of this event had said to the Courier
last week that the procession would
be over mile long and Il proved
that his statement was correct. Per-
sons stationed at the depot of the
Southern Pacific to hold trains, re-
ported that the parade was 20 min
utes passing that point This gives
some idea as TO the immensity of the
affair which the people had come to
see. So pleasing was this feature
that those along the line of march
manifested their pleasure by pro-
longed applause. The procession was
led by that prince of horsemen, Sher-
iff Russell, as marshal of the day
First in line was Acting-MayOr Tufts
with the orator Of the day, b. F.
Mulkey, and County Judge Stephen
Jewell in a carriage, Following
these came that splendid organiza-
tion, the Central Point band, with
their inspiring and patriotic music
which floated away down the column
of moving floats and unique figures.
The Oregon float, which had just
returned from Portland, where It
had been in the Rose Carnival pro-
cession representing Grants Pass and
Josephine county, was in the lead,
Upon this float was the chosen Cod
dess of Liberty, Miss Edyth Tycer,
and her four maids OF honor.
Next came the Goddess of music
with her harp and surrounded by
her attendants, and 80 on in regular
order followed the procession.
Uncle Sam, in the person OF Gus
Newberry on horseback, with Mrs.
Amos Smith, as Columbia, riding at
his side carrying Old Glory, caused
much favorable comment, as the
characters were exceptionally we'll
taken.
There were ladies on horseback
representing each OF the states and
performing military evolutions along
the line OF march under the drec-
tion Of Jose X Nelson. These were
led by Miss Maude Baber on a power
ful grey horse, representing Oregon
Miss Baber is an expert horsewoman
was beautifully costumed and made
fine display
The w. c. r. Y. float.
Boys on decorated wheels
Ladies' Auxiliary float-The CIT!
4 Beautiful.
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