Douglas Island news., 1909-07-07
DOUGLAS ISLAND
 CELEBRATION

peatedly asked, "Wil it rain?" No one could answer. But the silent prayers of the people were answered and Sat urday's clouds gave way to sunshine on Sunday and Monday.
 The first event of the big celebration was the ball game between the Douglas Indians and the second team of the Fan Club. The purse was put up for natives, but as contestiDg team from Hajues failed to show Np, scrub team was organized among the white boys. We believe that the term 'scrub team IS used advisedly-at any rate the na- lives were too much for them and won the game by a score of 10 to ,.
 Then came the drilling contest for %siDgls jacksn 4 granite boulder dug up on She ball ground was dragged down near the beach and served as the object of attack. There were six en- tries: men of all sizes, from big Tom Tracy down. The first man to bat was Fred Gius, who hammered away pa tiently for fifteen minutes aud suc- ceed in getting hole into the tiiut-hEe substance Il 1-16 inches deep The osbers vent at it with different degrees of success, but all less than the first man until it came to big Billy Pas simi- the last one. His heavy blows were struck with telling effect and when time was called bs had won the
 first prize with l3}a inches
 There have been numerous drilling contests on Douglas Island, but they were double. hand affairs where one man would pounG the knNekles off his partner. to tbe disgust of the onlOokers. But on this occasion there was a splen- did exhibition of strength, skill and endurance, and the victors woD the prize money, which was SIOO for the first, and $50 second This completed the program for the day.
 TAe first thing Ou the morning of the 5th--sbe real celebration day-was the parade. This started from the plaza at Treadwell at 9 o'clock led by the Tread we'll Club band. Next came the float carrying Uncle Sam, the Goddess of Liberty, littl9 girl representing each of the tbirteen states that first formed the Union, girl for Treadwell, a girl for Douglas, and great big girl to rep resent Alaska. With white dresses, pretty faces and the matchless colors of the grand old flag 1t was enough, to rouse a flame of patriotism in the breast of the weakest citizen.
 Then came the Treadwell volunteer fire department iD uniform, followed by tbe Spryian Slayonic Harmony, in S3ll regalia, hundred strong.
 Next came the least imposing, but, perhaps, the most impressive part of the whole procession-a thousand miners walking two abreast.
 After making the loop of D and Front street, the procession returned tO NatatOrium hall, where the morning exercises were held.
 !, The meeting was presided over by Jack Mcdonald, president of the Doug las Island Fourth of July Association, who performed his part by making a speech which, while it may not be handed down to succeeding generations as classic, abounded in good, whole some truths Shat everybody understood and appreciated. He also announced that the speaker of the day, Judge Cushman, had received tbe sad news of his brothers illness and therefore eopId not be present.
 Mayor O'Connor made a few remarks, the Declaration of Independence was Tecited in splendid style by Almond Richards, songs were sung by the school children and the band played patriotic airs.
 Tbe ball was beautifully decorated with festoons, flags and here and there bit of green. The effect was pleasing to the eye and greatly admired.
 At the conclusion of the exercises at She hall the hose races were held at Treadwell. Five teams were entered: Treadwell, Mexican, Ready Bullion, Machine Shop and Douglas No. l. They ran in the order named. Treadwell made splendid run, but missed con- neetion at the nozzle. The Mexican was more ortunate-time, g Is sec Onds. The Bullion missed, the Machine Shop missed, and Douglas got water in ] nn -.aa.ls G. Ahn Mn-innr 1,,nrn khn