Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-07-09
Hone Foks Gather At Scenes o.
Celebration While County
Seat Is Deserted.

at the first glimmers Of early dawn
they commenced the exciting day with
their sizzling crackers followed by
an eager search for the paper remains.
Turnout the eventful day they drew
on their supply even carrying along
a generous handful to- the ypicnics
where they, could hold the admiration
of the elders. Powder burnt fingers
were soon forgotten in the enjoyment
of rockets and crackers sparkling
and kissing to the intense delight Of
the. aonlookers. st was one short
twenty-four hours long to be reme1l-
bered by the young celebrators.
Large birds have always been, a
rarity in our. locality. Naturally
when one did chance to soar over our
city excitement was general. With
a hum and a rumble the flying mons.
ter, piloted by: skillful hands, swept
at high altitude several times over
the city. Z It was about eight O'Clock
on the mornings of the Fourth that
this aeroplane was behe1d swiftly ap.
preaching, flying, as we learned later
from Anoka to Montevideo. The
birdman, Aviator Taylor, of Anoka
guided his machine to a. position very
convenient for bombing the city with
the City Hall as q center and there
in full view on high he exhibited a
few Miracles to the home folks. Peo-
pie rushed hurriedly out, Of doors to
witness the performance and were
thrilled by the dauntless courage of
the aviator as he manipulated his
ship in space: He first: astonished us
with Sauoro1 0ofn1
cut very round and at moderate speed
at a great height. He then offered
another treat. Diving down nose to
the fore he swung the machine into
a spiral movement descending for a
great distance, much to the admira.
ton of the on1ookers. After this
brief exhibition he turned tail and set
out for the west and alighted in Mel
sons pasture behind Dave thinner.
mans farm, After short rest here
and taking supply of gasoline he
rose and flew to Montevideo.
But the city of Willmar was prac.
tically abandoned by the elders. This
city was not to be the center of a
celebration and thus caused thousands
to seek. other places of interest. Hun.
dreds of cars sped out of Willma1
early in the day bound for other
points In the county or even going
beyond the county lines. Hundreds
f1ocked to the great celebration at At
water where a variety of attractions
were offered. Notable gatherings al
the large lakes in the county helped
to drain this city Of its home folks
while the grand celebration at Litch
field called large numbers to witness
the aerial feats and other allurements
held forth there. Altho there was
much disappointment expressed in re-
gard to celebration in this city the
discOntended seem to have sought and
found full measure of enjoyment
without the county seat. Yet the
hope has been also outspoken that
Wiumar will be the chief place of cele
bration in the county next Fourth OF
July and there are good grounds for
anticipating such decision being
reached by the active leaders of this
city.
The Eagle Lake Picnic.
One of the great events of the day
was the joint picnics of the Swedish
Baptist Mission and Methodist
churches and the Salvation Army
held on the northwest shore of Eagle
Lake. Besides the congregations OF
the four churches, and the Salvation
Army, hundreds of visitors attended
the activities, invading the lake and
woods surrounding it. Hundreds OF
cars swarmed over the place, going
to and fro, with the mass of people al
ways on the increase. Boating and
swimming, together with the long
| schedule of races, furnished a com
plete afternoon of sports. The lake
was dotted with rowing craft, while
near the shores the enthusiastic bath.
ers were to be seen in huge numbers
The four churches and the Salvation
Army had arranged joint program,
the various numbers of which were
secured by a committee with Hildar
Hoaglund as chairman. and presiding
officer at the picnic
Rev. Luther Benson gave the in
vocation, after which the large audi
ence sang America.
The principal address of the day
was ably delivered by Attorney
Charles Johnson, who fittingly recall
ed to the minds Of the assembled, the
significance of the day and the duties
that lie upon us as citizens of this
nation. Remarks were, offered by
Revs. Tegnell, Mattson and Hallin.
The Salvation Army choir rendered a
beautiful song at the close of the
program.
Under the supervision of Ed Elk
jer, number of interesting races
were conducted with the following re-
suits:
Boys foot race $50 yds.), LIST prize,
Elmer Birkeland, End, Clifford Gustaf.
son.
Girls foot race $50 yds.) }, LIST prize,
Frances Berglund, End, Vera Berg
lund
Ladies' foot race, LIST prize, Laura
Johnson, End, Miss Palm.
= Mems foot race, 1st prize, Alguiyer;
End, Hogen. y =
80. Girls and Boys free-for.all race, LIST,
and only prize, won by Richards Peter
son, which consisted of a. youth g
swing donated by: The Peterson Fur
niture Store. s = - -
Boys swimming race, LIST, Melvin
Johnson, End, Ed Ray. -
Mems swimming race, won by Paul
Olson, with aBlanchtord Hallin second:
The prizes were donated by Weum.
Elkjer, Hoaglund and Dihendorf and
Model Clothing House.
"A base ball game was played be-
tween the married men and the over
confident freedmen. The surprising
result was the overwhelming defeat
OF the single men, singing to the tune
Of 124.S5sAat ug-ofwarswas also held
with q team OF twelve men On each
aif1 q ~ a Or thaaa cnntesfa 11f6 scrnvnds
dispersedands before early evening the
larger majority had already left for
their homes or other scenes OF activi.