Cañon City record., 1911-10-19
Mr.. AND MRS. HARDING
GIVEN FINE RECEPTION

Gretchen Harding and DR.. Gale, of
Roanoke. Virginia, recalls to the
memory Of some of the "old-timers"
the unusual reception accorded to
tht, 6orneEs parents Mr. and Mrs
T. NJ. Harding, on their arrival in
Canon City after their wedding twen-
ty-nipe years ago. which is laugh
able yet to those who witnessed X.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harding were mar
ried at Canton. Ohio. December 4th,
1882. and some ten days or two
4 weeks later came here to make their
home. Mr.. Harding had been engaged
in business In Canon City for several
years previous to that time and Mrs.
Harding as Miss Minnie Lahm had
been very popular teacher in the
schools here; both, of course, being
well known among the young people
OF the town.
In accordance with the wishes OF
Mr.. Harding. transmitted in letter
TO some OF his friends here. car
riage was waiting at the railroad
station on their arrival to take them
70 their new home and they were es-
eorted to iFts party of their ac-
quaintances on getting of the train.
As soon as the bride and groom were
seated b the carriage. which was a
sort Of barouche, the doors OF the
vehicle were closed and locked and
the horses. q handsome pair Of
blanks, specially groomed for the oc-
cAsion. were detached from the car
riage and driven away. leaving Mr..
and Mrs Harding at tho mercy OF
their wagEish friends.
TIE driver dismounted from the
sox and \ rope was tied to the car
riags after which q score or more OF
young men. acting under the direc-
tion Of n leader. drew the vehicle
and its astonished. but helpless oc-
cubAnts through the main streets o.
the town. ereatiy 20 the amusement
Of the Inhabitants Following the
carrisse came dray on which was
mounted ~ enormous bull fiddle.
which was played ~ the procession
moved slowly on; It's basso echoes
being heard for mile In every d.
rection- Immediately behind the dray
was q lot Of merry-makers blowing
horns OF varying degrees of discord-
ancy. beating tin cans and other
noise creating devices that would
have put a Chinese band TO shame.
In referring to the affair the Can
on city Record of December 18th.
1sR. says:
"Mr. T. NJ. Harding intended TO
ssFrise his brother and friends by
returning to town with his bride un-
announced but that awful brother OF
his was not to be out-sencraied in
such n manner. so arranged with ,
friend at Pueblo to telegraph to
Canon when the party took the train
for this place: When ''Dode" and wife
and mother and sister arrived at the
depot and entered their carriage,
little va they suspect that the
horses were not hitched up and that
n long rope lay on the platform
ready TO attach to the tongue OF the
vehicle. The bridal parry had no more
than got settled In their seats when
the horses werc driven to the stable
and the rope manned by about 25
of our business men and wero haul
ed from the depot.
Proceeding the carriage was the
Canon City Cornet band and seated
IN tteir band wagon trying their
best to play the wedding march, but
as tho music In the other wagons
out sounded II. the sweet notes OF
Npdelssohn could not de distin-
yuIshed. In the rear OF the carriage
containing the bridal party--was a
wagon holding half dozen musi-