Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-06-28

nomination and election was accepted
was further expressed by the band start
ing up a lively tune which found an ap-
preclatiye and hearty response in the as
sembly.
In the rendition Of the program that
followed nothing was overlooked. After
the Declaration of independence was
read by A. Carmichael, the probate Judge
OF Custer county, the children in the as
sembly were massed about the platform
when they sang Rally Round the Flag"
The temper of the audience had been
heated to larger expectations and there
olloWed a series of addresses that come
down to this day as an indication Of the
TACT that patience and endurance were
included among the many excellent vir-
tues possessed by the pathfinders and
pioneers of eastern Montana.
The first formal address was delivered
by J. H. Garlock on the topic Of THE
Day We Celebrate" 1t embodied an elo-
quent rehearsal of the rapid march of
civilization into the Yellowstone valley.
II. Blaisdel, speaking on the subject of
THE Patriots of TO-" dwelt earnestly
upon the noble qualities of the revolu-
tionary heroes and held them up as types
for the then present generation to emu
late.
Not to be outdone by the preceding
speakers, Charles Walker took for his
subject: THE Territory of Montana"
and spoke fervently upon a fruitful
theme that vas vigorously handled
Hearty applause was given to j. Mcbride
when he spoke upon THE Federal Union,
Now and Forever, One and Invincible."
Capt. w. D. O'Toole. choosing for his
subject The Army and Navy" paid an
eloquent tribute to the gallant achieve
ments OF the sister arms" and particu-
larly to the triumphs of the military
forces under General Miles in the yell
lowstone valley region. DR.. Burleigh
waxed eloquent when he spoke upon
Miles City," which he declared was an
inexhaustible subject.
Listening intently to the flow of ora
tory, Colonel Warner became inspired,
not only with the meaning and import
OF the day, but also with the significance
OF the loyal utterances that breathed
forth the essence of all that had been
the fruition Of the struggles of the dead
and living heroes of the past, and his re-
spouse to an unexpected suggestion on
the part of the chairman resulted in a
stirring impromptu response to the SUBJ
ject of Our National Flag
Eulogy of Custer
The delivery of the formal speeches
was concluded. The committee in charge
VI dlldliBtllitLIo hilu pIoBldl 6ISpptO
up TO the platform and conferred with
the chairman. Something had been
omitted. General Miles rose from his
seat. The flush of patriotic fervor mount
ed to his cheeks as he stood with up
lifted eyes gazing toward the southwest
where upon the banks of the Little Big
Horn but three short years before a brave
soldier fell and all the men in his i'm
mediate command. Slowly and in a semi
requiem strain he paid a brief eulogy to
the memory OF Gen. George A. Custer.
as he elaborated Upon the subject of
THE Pioneers Friend"
The program was i~nterspersed with
band music. An interval was taken at
lnoon for the firing of a national salute
by a battery of artillery on the govern
ment reservation across the Tongue river.
The day was a brilliant success with it's
program of speaking and singing, inter-
spersed with music rendered by the Fifth
infantry band. No untoward circum-
stances of any inc occurred to mar the
general festivities. 1t is recorded that
there was not a single case Of intoxica-
ton or of boisterous behavior. SO deeply
had the public spirit n patriotism dis
played penetrated into the hearts and
minds OF the celebrators. The days fes-
~tivities Closed with shutdown for a rest
to prepare for the grand ball held In the
evening In Stewards hall, which was
largely attended and kept up vigorously
until day dawn"
Two athletic events attracted much
attention. The first was a baseball game.
A team was pitted against an aggrega-
ton made up of soldiers from Fort
Keogh. At the conclusion of the contest
the score stood Miles City %, Fort Keogh
ID. The walking match was an all night
and almost all day affair.
Indian Best Walker
Among the inhabitants Of Miles City
so years ago was a man by the name of
w. d. Smith He told Of his walking
prowess, stating that he had been sue
cessful by walking for a period of go
hours in Deadwood. From his remarks
there was born the idea hat q walking
contest should be staged in connection
with the first celebration of the Fourth
Of July in eastern Montana. 1t was ar
ranged. There were four entrants. They
were Mr.. Smith, James Mckenzie, "Thun-
der Bay" an Indian, and D.. A. Boehme.
The entrance fee was $40. The sum of
s25 was contributed by the committee
on arrangements. The whole purse was
to go to the winner. A quarter mile
track was staked out on the edge Of the
park. The contest started on the eve
ming of July 8. at seven o'clock.
Smith was the favorite at the outset.
He vas played for heavy odds For the
first 20 miles Smith and Mckenzie got
over the soil at a lively gait" Boehme
fell out after he had walked sixteen n
q half miles. He had started Out in a
composed manner with a long swinging
stride. but was forced to yield to physi-
cal exhaustion.
Thunder Bay" became the favorite
after the first 10 miles. He also vas
composed in his and his strides
were long. AS the contest proceeded he
justified the confidence OF his hackers.
With Boehme out, the distance covered
by the remaining three began to length
en-. Smith tainted and was carried of
the track when he had negotiated 68
miles. He tried again but was forced to
give up after he added a mile and a half
to his record. Mckenzie walked 69A
miles before he left the course. "Thun-
der Bay" was the only one left on the
track. He won by default though he
could unquestionably have kept at his
gait for the rest OF the "a hours"
AS the record stands, Thunder Bay
walked 1914 miles in 81 hours and As
minutes. Smith walked 65 miles in Is
hours and SIS minutes, while Mckenzie
walked SIS miles In ID hours. David Boer-
UNI, John Tytles and l.. Hubbell were
the timekeepers and umpires n
spelled" each other through the night
and into the following day.
There have been many celebrations Of
the nations natal day in eastern Mon
tana since this memorable n OF July 4,