The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-07-06
RAIN TS%-CELEBRATION

RAIN HITS-CELEBRATION.
Fourth Of July Festivities Cut Short
BY Heavy Showers.
When the residents OF this town and
vicinity arranged an Attractive pro.
gram for the Fourth of July celebra.
ton, they neglected to consult Jupiter
Piuvius, who retsliated by intruding
upon the festivities in q somewhat
unpleasant manner. But ss the rain
also visited the surrounding country,
aud supplied needed moisture to
psrched soil and wilted vegetation,
the pleasure seekers accepted the stu.
alton with good grace and had an
enjoyable time despite the inconven.
fence and discomforts caused by the
weather conditions.
The crowd of visitors had reached
large proportions Monday morning,
when the Black Eagle band, Of Great
Falls, appeared upon Front street.,
aud commenced the musical program
OF the day. Some Of the arriv ale
came by train from the west at mid.
night, others from various points east
Of here by the train that arrived about
9 O'Clock Monday morning, while
large numbers of buggies, wagons,
automobiles and other vehicles
brought visitors from the surrounding
country. The. long distance distinc.
ton for visitors was won by W. r.
Penland and wife. who arrived by
automobile from Medicine Hat, Can.
ada.
The day was ushered in with q sa-
lutte 500 after sunrise, and immedi-
ately thereafter was heard q fusilade
of bombs and giant frecrackers in
various parts of the city, which con-
tinued until 7 q. m. From that hour
until 3 p. IN. the authorities required
that explosives should be suppressed,
In order to avoid accidents.
The street parade, headed by the
Black Eagle band, began coon after
1890 q. NJ, and was q very pretty
spectacle. The car of state was fol.
lowed by several business floats, those
of Sharp Bros. and T. c. Power g.
Bro. being especially attractive.
Decorated automobiles and other We.
hicles were among the pretty features
OF the procession.
The prizes for the parade, which
were awarded by q committee of judges
consisting of J.. T. Hyatt, +. Jorda
and j. W. Searls, we're as follows:
For the largest delegation of visit.
ors represented in the parade, Ker.
shaw was awarded second prize, as it
did not fully comply with require.
ments' The Carter representation
had been prepared with a great deal
of care, but a heavy rain storm pre-
vented it from arriving here on time.
For the best business float: T. c
Power-& Bros. first; Sharp Bros, Sc
cond; Grand Union hotel, third.
For decorated automobile-Mrs. A.
T.. McLeish. The Misses Harris ma.
chine vas in procession, but left the
parade before reaching the judges
stand.
The judges made a special award OF
$40 to Miss Alice Stranahan, who rode
a gaily decorated bicycle.
AT the close of the parade, orator..
cal exercises we're held in the city
park, an excellent patriotic address
being given by Hon. w. S. Towner.
The baseball game between the Fort
Benton and Great Falls teams had
been scheduled for 1890 a. m, but at
that hour the visitors had not arrived.
They were making the trip to this city
by automobile, and met with trouble
that caused considerable delay, but
they finally got here about noon,
when heavy rain storm caused every
body to seek shelter. The ball game
took place soon after 2 p. m, before
q big crowd of noisy and interested
spectators, the visitors taking the
honors with q score of seven to three.
With the exception of q few costly err
rors on the part of the Fort Benton
team, it was an exhibition of clever
ball.
The racing program followed i'm.
mediately after the ball game, and a
steady rain commenced with the first
event. The result was as follows:
observation-disclosures Shepherd, first;
John Buckland, second.
Quarter. mile-William Moore, first;
Oscar Gabel, second.
Pony.race-Dick Chappell, first; w.
Jenkinson, second.
The rain then came down in tor
re nts, and the crowd returned to town
with water soaked wearing apparel.
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