The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-05
IT Was A BIC DAY
Fourth of July Well Celebrated
in Topeka.
Main Event of Day Staged at
Ripley Park.

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homemade kind" consisting or car
bide and empty baking powder cans.
but from this source no casualties have
resulted, SO far as is known.
The ceremonies at Ripley park were
the most important event of the day.
The dedication of the city's service
flag began at 8 o'clock, wherein tttor-
ney General S. NJ Brewster delivered
the first public address he ever made
in Topeka. The flag. with its 1876
stars representing Topeka's contribu-
ton to the cause of democracy, was
hung on the side of the park pavilion,
forming fitting background for the
speaker.
J.. w. Gibbons, master of cere-
who had charge of the arrangements
Tor the celebration, and who was
cheered Justify as he arose, made a
brief address and introduced the
speaker of the day.
After he had briefly reviewed the
causes leading up to the war, Mr..
Brewster paid a glowing tribute to the
American boys who are fighting in
the trenches for the freedom of the
world. nor did he forget the grey
the days of 81 and IS. And these old
soldiers who are not represented in
the trenches today by sons or grand
sons are few indeed, he declared.
SeVcn thousand There.
More than seven thousand people
attended the celebration at Ripley
park, the crowds beginning to as
semble even before o'clock, when
the first events on the big program
took place.
Brewster's address was followed by.
two hours of sports and athletic con-
tests of varied interests. There were
prizes for everybody, and the crowd
expressed its admiration for the win
ners by cheering and applause as the
prizes were awarded. Marshalrs band
was generous in furnishing music, and
came to the rescue with a concert in
the evening when the rain prevented
the community sing. A large number
took advantage of the dancing priv
leges.
At Other Parks.
At Garfield a large crowd was In at
tendance. where concerts were given
by MarshalPs band and the various
concessions did a rushing business
thruout the dav.
At Gage pa as might be expect
ed, the crowds began arriving early in
the morning. The swimming pool was
crowded from morning until night and
by noon all the bathing suits had been
rented out. Those who did not pos
sess bathing suits of their own were
compelled to wait until some of the
bathers tired of the sport and came
out.
The colored population of the city
celebrated at Lakewood park, with
the Taborian band furnishing the mu-
sic and several political orators sup
plying the excitement, and also at
the City park, where concerts were
given by Jackson's band.
Soft drinks, ice cream and plenty to
eat were in evidence at all the parks.
With the exception of the dancing.
skating and the band concerts, the
rain spoiled most of the evening en-
tertainments and the crowds began to
leave early in the evening.
Prizes Awarded.
The prizes and winners in the Rip
ley park events follow:
Boys, 10 TO 12-Dash across pool, Henry
Gill bathing suit.
Boys, over 15-Dnsh across pool, Norman
Girls. y or Sver-Dash across pool, Lo-
rain Reed, nlanicuring set.
Boys, IS years or over--High dive, (best
FORM, Henry Gill, straw hat.
Boys. under 15-Low dive, (best form),
Kenneth Hayes, pocket knife.
Boys, free for all-Fancy dive, Norman
Ash, smoking set.
Diving for marbles, all over 15-George
:, sack fight on pole, boys and girls
kenpeth HsRe;s ASnabeI V en- TbePmya M S,
born.
Woman sta: ing under water longest
L <,
Holm.
Henry Gill. pocket knife: boys over Is, W.
Barnett, gold cuff links: girls over 10,
Marie Mcdonald. s. pair of shoes.
Painter, electric bicycle lamp.
Boys, to u. hebble race-Robert
Palmer, bathing suit.
shirt.
Boys, 6 to p. three-legged hobble race
800
cents of merchandise each.
Girls, over II, potato -race-Lydia
Perschismpe, plant
Boys. over u, potato race-Earl Has.
Girls. to Il. hoop race-Annabel Gill.
Boys. 6 to 10. hoop race-win PIummer,
Girls, to -. 5o-yard dash-Annabel
Girls, over 4, 5o-yard dash-Gladys
Rhodes. box of candy.
ef sogs faf to light E. 7syard dash-Roland
Wiser. 81 in merchandise.
Women, 25-yard dash-Marguerite Hows,
Boys. to -. 1Oo-yard race-Robert Me-
Gafffn. Louisville slugger bat.
Girls. 100,yard race-Verna Fleming, 81
Girls, 9 to y, chariot race-Gladys
Rhodes; Hazel Swanson. Dorothy Jones,
AnnaDei Gill, handkerchief to each member
of the winning team.
Boys, 6 to II. years. chariot race-Henry
GIN, Ted Osborne, Roy Osborne, Earl Has
lett, 81 worth of merchandise to the win
ming team.
Boys, 8 to II years shoe race-Melvin
Fieldy. 81 in merchandise.
Girls, baseball throw-Hazel Cummings,
parasol.
Boys, Is years and over, bicycle obstruc-
ton race-$11 pair Of Chicyco bicycle
tires.
Women. nail driving contestants John
Norton, So in merchandise.