The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-07-05
THOUSANDS CELE.
BRATE AT LAKE
AT CHAUTAUQUA
GROUNDS BREAKS ALL
FORMER RECORDS.
NO ACCIDENTS MAR DAY


Safely and sanely." the largest
number of people ever assembled
there, yesterday celebrated the
Fourth of July al the Lake Madison
chautauqua grounts.
As early as o'clock in the morn
ing. it is told, scores of people had
arrived on the grounds, some from
points more than fifty miles distant,
and as the day advanced the number
grew until the crowd of holidayers
numbered well above the 1000
mark I'm the opinion OF four Off
GERS. who were on duty during most
OF the day. the crowd was not only
quiet, but decorously inclined
throughout the day The bie indie
pendence day program passed off
without a hitch. and an isolated COM
plaint was that the auditorium, i'm
which the stage attractions were
held. was not larger. Not only was
the auditorium filled to oyerllowing
i'm the afternoon and evening. but
large numbers for whom there was
not room inside. stood at entrances,
and more than $50 men and boys
Witnessed the evening performance
from a roof at the front OF the audi
torium. While. owing to congestion
at different intervals. there was more
or less delay at the gates. there was
no confusion. and complaints We're
few.
Good Weather Conditions.
Almost ideal summer weather pre-
vailed Although the temperature
was high, shade and a moderate
breeze eliminated any chance of suf-
fering from the heat A heavy
shower, which arrived shortly before
daylight kept the dust down.
The sightseers divided their time
between field and water sports, out
door and indoor musical attractions.
which were included in program
which closed with highly commend
able display of fireworks aud a
naval battle" on the lake
Hundreds OF persons We're on hand
when a concert, which marked the
opening Of the celebration, was given
by the Freeman Concert band an
1880 o'clock i'm the forenoon A
round table was held at IL o'clock.
and the big afternoon program was
opened at ls30 o'clock with field
sports. The Dixie Jubilee Concert
company, composed OF colored and
white singers. gave much real enjoy
ment at o'clock. and am hour later
most of the large audience repaired
10 the beach TO witness spiritedly
contested water sports, which inelud-
ed swimming, diving and boat racing.
Evening Program.
Following the aquatic events there
was band music. and a band concert
was given on the lake front again al
Z o'clock in the evening At SIS
o'clock the Dixie Jubilee company
gave concert, after which Lillian
Gish and Charles Murray were seen
in moving pictures.
The big display of fireworks start
ed at 10 o'clock. The closing num-
Der was a spectacular naval battle ="
A rowboat, in which had been placed
gasoline saturated excelsior. was an
chored about 100 yards from shore.
Men armed with roman candles and
revolvers loaded with blank cart
ridges, fired at the excelsior from
row and motor boats. which eircled
about the anchored craft. When a
hit" from one Of the Roman can
dies was registered. the excelsior
caught on fire. resulting i'm the ap-
parent blowing up of the enemy"
boat
Many Autos.
Some idea of the number of motor
ears parked at the lake at various
times yesterday may be had from the
statement of Il business man who re-
lated that he counted 240 automo-
biles on the road between the city
and the lake yesterday afternoon.
George Beck, treasurer Of the Chau-
tauqua association, said there were
probably close To l,000 automobiles
on the grounds al single time.
The Milwaukee railroad carried
] 1,23O to the grounds. Between $50
o'clock in the morning and $3.50
o'clock at night rains were run TO
the lake every hour. The last train
left the grounds at about J. o'clock.
1t is said that about the only in
dication of law nfraction occurred
when a few boys discharged blank
cartridges from % caliber reyolvers.
The youngsters were warned by
Sheriff f. w. Butts and Deputy
Sheriff f. A. Keller
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