The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1914-07-08
IT WAS A GREAT DAY
Large Number Of Visitors Take Part
In Fort Benton Celebration

|
Favorable weather conditions as
sisted in making the Fourth of July !
celebration in this city n of the
most successful and enjoyable func-
tons ever held in this part of Mon
! tana. Hundreds of visitors from the
surrounding country Joined with Fort
Benton citizens in observing the ma
tional birthday, and everybody ap-
peared to enter heartily into the spirit
of the occasion and derive pleasure
from the program of amusement that
had been provided.
The day opened with a salute at
sunrise, fired from the cannon at the
old fort, and a few hours later the
! Treasure state band opened the pro-
gram of entertainment with a band
concert in the city park which had
been profusely decorated with flags
and bunting, and where extra seating
accommodations had been installed.
The manner in which the musical pro-
, gram was rendered was a pleasant
surprise, the band having shown mark
ed improvement under the direction
Of Prof. E. H. Mentzer, who took
charge a few weeks ago.
The oratorical exercises began
about 10 a. m., with a very pleasing
address of welcome by Mayor F. E.
Stranahan, who extended appropriate
greetings to all visitors and urged
that they avail themselves of the op-
p%ortunities for enjoyment that were
at their disposal. The mayor then in
; troduced Hon. Charles N. Pray as the
orator of the day.
-, A rousing ovation was extended to
Mr.. Pray by his old-time %neighbors
and friends-this classification prac-
tically including every resident of this
part of Montana. 1.-THE Day We Cele.
=, brate' was eloquently discussed by
Mr.. Pray, who took occasion to i'm
press upon his audience some of the
duties as well as the advantages Of
American citizenship, and urged that
we all work together in patriotic eff
forts to advance the moral and ma
! terial welfare of the nation.
I The baseball games between the
Shonkin and Pleasant Valley teams
:. in the morning, and the Great Falls
!; and Fort Benton boys in the after
noon, attracted large crowds to the
Old Fort grounds. A detailed report
of the contests is given in another
column.
The street sports and races brought
numerous entries in the several
t events, and were witnessed by a
, large number of spectators. The re-
: suits were as follows:
y 50-yard dash, boys under 15-Walter
: Norton, first, Clint Park, second.
> 100-yard dash, men and boys-Ver-
non Sheldon, Harold lddings.
40-yard dash, girls under 15.-Edna
Moody, Nellie Murray.
50-yard dash, boys under 20.-Rus-
sell Williams, Vernon Sheldon.
High jump-Robert Gilmore, 4 it.
, 1912 ms; Fred lddings, 4 it 9k ms.
Running broad jump-Russell Will
liams II it 5k ms. Harold Iddings
II it 2 ms.
4O-yard sack race-Frank Merger
Jr., Martin Carroll.
i 75-yard three.legged race-Earl Nor.
ger and Russell Williams; Dewey Nor
row and Frank Merger Jr.
5O-yard fat mems race-Arnum
Knowlton, John Muir.
Potato race-Russell Williams,
Frank Merger, Jr.
Standing broad jump-W. Jacobs
9 it 3 ins.; Russell Williams 9 it 2h
ms.
Climbing creased pole-Albert
Krepps.
Catching creased pig-Winner's
name not given.
/ A good display of fireworks. and a
public dance in the opera house at
which the attendance was larger than
could be given proper accommoda-
tons, concluded the festivities of a
celebration that will be a pleasant
memory with Fort Benton residents
and their guests.