The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-07-07
WAS A GREAT SUCCESS
Icons Fourth of July Celebration
Drew an Enormous Crowd, and
They We're Well Pleased.

ever in this city, many good judges
estimating it at ten thousand people.
A big tent, 90x150 feet had been
secured from Des Moines, and this
was erected on the north side of the
court house, and comfortably seated,
all the opera chairs from the opera
house being used and the balance
of the tent being seated with planks.
The people who attended the cele-
bration appreciated the big tent and
the comfortable seats greatly. The
business section of the city was
beautifully decorated with flags and
gay banners, and Sunday evening the
fire boys got the engine out and
sprinkled the streets heavily so there
was no dust.
Soon after daylight people from all
parts of the country commenced driv-
ing in and when the train from the
north arrived at o'clock it was
packed and jammed, and the later
trains from Mt. Ayr, Lamont, Keller
ton, Davis City, Pleasanton and
GAINESVILLE helped to swell the crowd
and before eight O'Clock the streets
were jammed with people. There
were bands galore and the boys were
not at all stingy with their music all
during the day.
At $3.50 the Whiteley dog and pony
show gave parade and followed it
with an exhibition at their tent. At
10 o'clock the merchants parade was
pulled off, all the bands appearing
and nearly every business house in
Leon was represented with a float,
many of them being gorgeous affairs
The morning game Of base ball at
the ball park attracted many of the
visitors and Leon won the game by a
score of 10 while kellerton only Sc
cured two runs.
At noon the city was a sight, the
streets were packed with people and
all over the city were groups enjoy
ing their lunches on the lawns. The
good citizens of Leon had extended a
cordial welcome to the visitors to en-
joy themselves on their lawns, and
all over the city were signs reading,
you are welcome on this lawn"
Many had placed chairs and settees
out for the visitors and it was a
courtesy which was duly appreciated
by the visitors.
Commencing right after dinner
there We're amusements of all kinds
from that time until late hour at
night. The Whiteley shows put on a
thrilling Roman chariot race on Main
street with two teams OF Shetland
ponies and the way the little scamps
tore down the street was caution.
Hon. NJ. L. Temple, of Osceola,
United States attorney for the south
ern district of Iowa, was the orator
of the day. He spoke in the big tent
which was filled with an audience
who heard one of the best Fourth of
July orations ever delivered in this
city. Mr.. Temple had evidently de-
voted much time and study to his
subject and his address was a mas
terpiece.
9 During the afternoon the various
races and contests were pulled off as
advertised. the following being the
winners:
100 yards dash, free for all, prizes
of SIS, SO and $2-Walter Mitchell
of Derby won first, Bert Dobson, of
Burrell, second, Glenn Mitchell, of
Pleasanton, third.
SO yard dash for girls under sixteen
years, prizes SO, so and $1-Georgia
Hull, of Decatur, first, Leila Ryan, of
Center, second, Dora Liggett, of We'll
don, third.
Fat mems race, contestants to
weigh 225 pounds or over, prizes of
So and $2-John Konklin won first
and G. M. Lowe second, and both live
in High Point township John Konklin
is sure winner whenever there is a
fat mans race, and he is always en-
tered.
pfrn irc irrI S,,,,
and $2-Walter Gassett, of Leon, and
Harry Cunningham, Of Allerton, tied
in this contest, both clearing the bar
several times at > feet, 21a inches,
but neither could raise it any, so they
divided first and second money.
Standing broad jump, prizes of So
and $1-E. H. Kaufman. Of Decatur,
jumped even twelve feet the first
jump and won first money, the second
prize going to Frank Chastain, of
Eden township.
The baby shows were held on the
platform under the big tent, and at
tracted a great deal of attention, and
it looked as if all the babies in the
country were entered, the judges
having hard time in deciding which
was the prettiest, but they finally
awarded the prize OF solid gold ring
to Ethlyn Trisler, the seven months
old daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. E. H.
Trisler, of Humeston, who were form
er residents of Leon. For the prettiest
boy baby. under, one year old, the
prize of a silver spoon went to Rob-
ert Bradley, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry ]. Bradley.
Mule race, 100 yards. prize So
Won by Jesse Spicer, of Center town
ship.
Tug of war, team of ten men from
any township, prize of $40, was won
by Center township, who defeated a
team from Leroy.
At the afternoon ball game Leon
and Davis City were the contestants,
Leon winning by score of 6 to 4.
The gate receipts at the afternoon
game were $264, which indicates that
considerable more than 1000 people
witnessed the game, and this big
crowd was not missed from up town,
so you can judge how large the whole
crowd in the city was