The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1919-10-18

spokane. IL was announced that
special train would bring 300 people,
and, in order that as much metropol-
itan show as possible be displayed,
the men of Colville turned out en-
masse and in two days had construct
ed l2-foot board sidewalk from
Main street along the south side of
First avenue to the depot, all the
labor and material being donated,
but at later date the expense was
estimated and paid by an issue of
city warrants which, it is said, was
later repudiated. The excursion
lists came on the regular passenger
train, arriving about noon. They had
with them brass band of 16 pieces.
A committee met the visitors at the
train and, headed by the band, dedi-
Gated the new sidewalk by march
ing over it to Main street. The cele-
bration was said by the local paper
to have eclipsed any like occasion
up to that time in the Colville val
ley. S. c. Hyde of Spokane was
orator Of the day and w. H. Kear-
ney, who came with the train and
sent forward telegram of assur-
ance from each station enroute, per-
formed in the role of grand marshal.
The street pageant was one of the
most spectacular, business houses
being represented by floats decked
out in the finery of the day.
: The exercises were held in the
grove of poplars, alders and other
native forest woods on the Mason
tract Immediately east of where the
county fish hatchery now stands. It
was Friday and perfect day. In
the afternoon, when the last explo-
sion of band music was echoing over
the hills, and the musicians were
quietly filtering through the woods,
headed toward Main street, then
known as the irrigation district, H.
G. Kirkpatrick, local attorney, as
president of the day broke the silence
with brief swell Of primeval elo-
quence in which he admonished the
people that on this day, regardless
Of their conduct on all other occa-
siens, it was their duty to observe
the spirit Of patriotism that had
made it possible, for the people to
face the, perils of hard times that
had imperiled every other part of
the earth. He concluded with the
introduction Of Mr.. Hyde, who cleo
trified the vast audience with an un-
qualified advocacy Of free silver at
Isaay ratio. Republicans We'd with
democrats in their applause of the
speaker who was, after concluding,
smothered with congratulations upon
the vigorous stand he had taken.
Miss Lille Hofstetter ,now Mrs.
J. F. Rice) was Goddess of liberty,
and some of those who played a
supporting role in the ship of state
were the Misses Minnie Hall, Minnie
Rickard, Lottie Wolff, Orlou Ballard,
Hattie Aubin, Flora Dingle, Katie
Wolff, Matte Moyle, Mabel Caldwell,
Maude Bewley, Nettie Wynn, Nora
Hammond, and Eliza Wynne, each
representing state in the union.
There were others whose names for
the present moment have escaped
the memory, but many here have
lived to rehearse the dreams of that
happy day to their grandchildren.
The blare of the brass band
brought Young America from every
crevice in the hills and the youngs-
ters from the town as we'll as the
country around about stood in Won
derment while the musicians, with
swollen cheeks, blew into the atmo-
sphere the popular airs of the day,
and at each rest each timorous youth
would peer into the funnel of the
instruments or crave touch Of the
drums. 1t was, indeed, great day
for the people in general, but the
brass band-the first band that had
broken the silence of the north since
the day of the abandonment by the
soldiery Of Fort Colville many years
before-was an inspiration that did
not die in the hearts of the boys
who We're not long in organizing a
band of their own.