The Little River news., 1919-07-05
sIT WAS a GREAT fOURTis
 THOUSANDS WERE HERE
Larger Crowd Than Expected We're Here, But Dinner Was More Than
 Plenty; Day Enjoyed.

The Fourth was an ideal day with not cloud to mar the big doings in the way of one gigantic fourth of July anl homecoming celebration. A big crowd was expected in Ashdown Fri day, but the attendance was larger than the most optomistic had hoped for. Those who call themselves pio- neers say that it was the largest crowd ever yet assembled in the coun- ty. The estimates of the crowd ran as high as 1000. The estimate placed by the News is not less than $500. The people came in automobiles, wag- ons, buggies, horseback and on train. They were here by the hundreds from surrounding counties, and more Lit tie River county people were here than probably were ever together before. Characteristic of our people it was a good natured jolly crowd. Order was perfect as any Sunday school picnic. There wasn't ripple to mar per feet day The people just mixed and mingled and enjoyed themselves.
 Uncle Bob Finley, with his numer- ous helpers had barbecued more than 2500 popnds of meat, which was done to a turn. Great rows of tables had been erected in the grove, and an eff1- cient force laid out the dinner at the proper time. There was an abun- dance with sufficient variety, and it is believed that 1000 more people could have been fed. It was the most perfectly carried out barbecued din- rers that we have ever known of, where the crowd was so great
 During the morning Hon. A. D. Du- Laney delivered the welcome address to the guests assembled and to the guests oi honor, our returned soldiers and sailors. who were present in large numbers. He was followed by A. P. Steel. who was dressed ir costunest to represent Uncle Sam. Following this was a troupe of clowns, who pulled off many amusing stunts among which was prize fight
 Before the noon hour ball game was played between an Ashdown team and mixed team from out of town. The final score was and 2 in favor of the out of town team. It was an in- to,oct;oo UoD,o hotwoop tuo oood teams The event of the afternoon was to Lave been a game between an all star team gotten together by Tom Io.and and Shreveport. At the last moment Shreveport wired that they couldn't come. A picked Ashdown team was gotten together with other opt of town players to play the all 2tars in the afternoon. The batteries Npr the all stars was Tom Poland, catch and Whitesides, this years graduate of West Point, pitch. The balaNce of the team was composed of an aI%ay of stars. With an air tight infeld \the home bunch never had look in\ The all stars played with them as\a cat plays with mouse. The home boys put up stiff fight, but they mighty as we'll have hoped to score off the New York Giants. Shreve- port escaped the cleaning of their young lives by not being among those present
 In the afternooh Gordon's Orchestra of Texarkana furnished good music throughout the evening. J. H. Rattan put on series of trick skating. He is an artist and his work was enjoyed. Some of the young peoble engaged in dancing during the afternoon
 Notes.
 One of the successes of the day was the water supply The long line of barrels of ice water never rah> dry. A hose keut them filled with deep we'll water and the ice was constantly re- plenished.
 After the multitude had been fed two whole COWS remained uneaten.,
 More than 100 cars of Ben Lomond people attended the barbecue.
 The morning Frisco was loaded to the guard with Foreman and Arden people. besides many who drove through.
 The morning Limb Dodger" brought many people from Howard county
 After such a day as the 4th the people can return home in better humor to work.
 The noon K C. s. train was crowd ed to the limit with people from Tex arkana, Ogden and other places.
 More than fifteen automobiles full of Texarkana people attended the bar becue.
 Much of the credit for the success ful day should be given Mayor J E. Locke ChaS BOWles Grover Cobh