Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-24
YESTERDAY WAS
A GREAT DAY IN
ALEDO HISTORY
Festivities for Soldiers and Sailors
End With Last Waltz of
Street Dance.

the biggest festival day in Mercer
| county's history came to a happy
and successful close at IL O'clock
midnight last night.
This morning the city presents a
bleak and deserted appearance
typically a morning after" Flags
and bunting that so gaily nung
from the band stand and business
houses yesterday, tapped Imply in
light morning breeze.
The street dance, though pre-
viously opposed and condemned
scored a big hit. There is no ques-
ton of it's success. Also it was one
of the cleanest, most pleasing spec
tacles that Aledo citizens have wit
messed for years. Not an arrest was
made during the evening and in
deed throughout the entire day-lt
was an occasion of pure, unadulter-
ed pleasure for the young folks.
And the numbers in which Mercer
county's soldier, sailor and marine
veterans turned out for this feature
showed beyond doubt their apprec-
iation. Each block marked OF for
dancing was crowded to its capacity
AAOAh LAAC lAA4C LAE CT
8 O'Clock until the last waltz was
played.
Credit to Committees.
Too much credit can not be given
D. J. Van Alta, general chairman.
and those of the executive and 10
subcommittee composed of coun-
ty men who were in charge of yes
terday's celebration. Events on the
program progressed without delay,
and with the exception of the air
plane, which did not arrive until 5
o'clock in the afternoon, the
schedule as printed was carried out
IN detail. The organization was per-
feet and its work brought praise.
All roads led Aledo-ward yester-
day Adjacent towns and small viii
lagos over the county were depop-
Clated. Business houses were closed
and scarcely an inhabitant could
be found at home. The people came
in droves, nearby counties also con-
tributing large numbers. It is esti-
mated that $4,000 assembled and
that 5000 automobiles visited this
city in the course OF the days
events. Parking space at the fair
grounds gave out e-rly and wheat
fields close by had to be utilized.
But few horse drawn vehicles were
observed.
Weather conditions were ideal.
Although perhaps a trihe warm,
there was no suggestion of rain and
hardly any wind. Refreshment and
eating booths early ran out of sup
plies.
A splendid spirit of good fellow
ship prevailed. The free attractions
carded all proved entertaining and
were given generous applause.
Features of the days program
were the boxing matches between
Joe Stevenson of Aledo and Clar-
ence Tweed of Keithsburg in the
and Johnny Donahue and
George Reed, both of Rock Island,
and the Matherville Keithsburg
ball game in the morning. For anna
tours, Tweed and Stevenson put on
q good exhibition. The afternoon
bout arused considerable interest.
Donahue was by far the more clever
nan and easily outpointed Reed.
The latter, although possessing a
healthy wallop, is not in Donahue's
class as a boxer. Johnny showed
some good stuff and had the crowd
On its toes by hard punching doied |
1ut to Reed in spirited exchanges.
Airplane Arrives.
Many had already left the grounds |
the Reed-Donahue battle |
when the hum of motors was heard. !
Someone shouted Here comes the
lirplane!" Hands pointed and
lecks of thousands craned to get a
glimpse of the air sraft which APP |
preached at a rapid rate of speed
rom the east. The white cross |
marked out on the fair grounds had
,een removed and the aviator, after /
lropping several hundred feet in
/ pretty tail spin, circled few
lines and then glided to earth in
pasture adjacent to. the lair
rounds.
1t was the S. C. 1884, pilot, Lieu
enant r. B. Woodelton, mechan-
clan, A. A. Newton, all from the
yhanute flying field at Rantoul.
Woodelson stated that
lie left Rantoul at 10 o'clock in the
morning but due to engine troup:e
vas forced to make three landings.
The aviators were taken in tow by
committee and dined, then taken
Jack to the fair grounds.
In the stunt flight that followed
ohm McRoberts of Aledo. formerly
lieutenant in aviation at the fly
ng school at Memphis, Tenn, &C
cmpanied Lieutenant Woodelton.
'ogether the pair looped-the-loop,
dropped in hair-rais-
ng tail spins and dived. the stunts
II being performed over the city. A
afe landing place was effected at
be fair grounds where the machine
'as kept all night.
There was but one disappolnt- /,
rent on the program Of the day.
hat was the enforced absence of
.djutant General Frank S. Dick
on of Springfield who, although he
ad started to Aledo, was recalled
y special order. /,
Cooke Presides.
George A Cooke, ex-supreme Jus
ce, presided on the speakers plat
1rm. On behalf of Mercer county
Judge Cooke extended to her re-
Irned soldiers. sailors and MARINES
warm greeting. In the course of !,
is talk Judge Cooke touched upon
ne League of Nations, declaring
to be his belief that this plan IN
ome form is desired by the people
1.-the United States. IL
Following Judge Cooke was I
lisha Lee, chairman of Mercer !