The Lamar register., 1916-05-24

Lamar Still the Peerless Princess of
the Plains Celegrates in Spite of
Big Colorado Rain"

place IN the history OF Lamar not
only as witnessing revival of pio-
neer spirit and memories, but as a
showing that the city can still do it.
self proud in spite of all discourage
ment and rise superior to even the
elements.
A real old fashioned Colorado
rain" one of the kind that blinds you
first and then muses. you all up
started early in the morning and kept
up all day, but it could not deter the
enthusiastic celebraters who had turn
ed out from the city and miles around
in all directions to assist the Yambas
in celebrating the big event
When the time arrived for the par
ade over three hundred autos were
ready, and in spite Of the discourage
ment of the elements hundreds of cit
izens marched to the park on foot.
The big parade was headed by the
Lamar and Wiley bands; then follow
ed many cars Of pioneers, the re-
naming members of the old fire COM
pany hauled the old horse cart down,
then came the new fire department,
the militia, and hundreds Of autos.
Nearly one hundred and fifty of the
pioneers who helped celebrate the
first anniversary on May "a, 1887,
turned, but only two that we could
locate Of those who helped at the lay
ing out Of the town, f. L. Koen and
G. w. Hunter. There were several
others in the line, however, who were
in the country previous to 1886.
Over five hundred autos were in
Lamar for the day and the crowd
assisting in the celebration was esti-
mated at from five to seven thousand.
Bobby McGrath had organized bunch
Of clowns for the day that put over a
show superior to anything Barnum or
Ringling ever gave the public in
that line. At that it had nothing on
that game OF ball between the ElksI
and Knights OF Pythias. The Elks
won the game IL to 7 through heavy
hitting. Capt Byrnes occupied the
mound and Van Ginkel received his
offerings. and they early made the
discovery that the only way to get
the other fellows out was through the
strike-out method, for those Elks
while hitting like Benny Kauff, and
running bases like Ty Cobbs, couldn't
catch gnat on a piece Of fly paper.
The K Ps used both Casey Hagerman
and Christy Mathewson trying to stop
the sluggers but neither was equal to
the job although they received better
support in the field. Allen Skinner ref
creed the scrap and gave general sat
isfaction.
The biggest surprise of the day was
the easy victory Of the Helvetia team
in the tug-of-war over the heavy La
mar mill team, and the latter are still
trying to figure out how it was done.
The program of races and sports
which followed furnished much
amusement for those brave enough to
stay and see the finish The races
were won as follows:
Pioneer race-Bill Yockey, LIST.
rat man race-l-- van Nlhhtl ISL
Buck Lashmet I'd.
Slim mans race-H. o. Rhoden-
baugh LIST, Brick Householder I'd.
Native sons race-Bill Bent lst,
Jim Mitchell I'd.
Girls race-Mary Baker LIST, girl
winning second left without giving
name.
Boys race-Bill Tuttle list, Bill
Bent I'd.
Boys race-Geo. Myers list, Marion
Wood, I'd.
Potato race-Earl O'Donnell LIST.
Harry Champlain I'd, Walter Tuttle
Sd.
Three legged mems race-Higgins
Il Myers 1st, Smith & Mitchell I'd,
Cade & Beavers Sd.
The big crowd soon gathered on
the streets Of the town and from then
until late at night all was merriment
and a blaze Of light. Main street was
packed to its full limit for two blocks
both on the street, on the awnings,
the windows and even the roofs to see
the drill beween the NJ. w. A. and
w. o. w. teams. These teams have
y