Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1929-07-11
BIG CELEBRATION,
HAPPY OCCASION
Unusually Large Crowds Gather in
Boone for 4th of July-General
Albert L. Cox of Raleigh Delivers
Address of the Day.

A crowd variously estimated at
from 5000 to 10000 people came
to Boone last Thursday to join hands
with Watauga Post American Legion
in their efforts TO stage the greatest
independence Day celebration in the
history of the northwest. The high
ways were jammed for miles around
with the holiday crowds and several
hundred came on special excursion
train from Johnson City, Tenn.
The days festivities got under
way at 10 o'clock when a colorful
parade, led by soldiers of three wars,
was formed in the western limits of
the town, taking a roundabout course
through the city to the American
Legion Park, where the addresses
were to be delivered and the dinner
served. Business houses and various
organizations were represented by
more than fifty floats, each ingeni-
ously constructed and vieing with
the others in originality of design.
When the procession arrived at the
Legion Park, short addresses of vel
come were delivered by Post Com
mander H. Grady Farthing and
Mayor r. S. Swift, following which
Rev. c. H. Moser of the Boone
Methodist church, himself a Legion
naire, in a masterful manner intro
Guced General Albert L. Cox, who
made the address of the day. The
/ speaker was already known in
/ Watauga county, most of Watauga's
/ soldiery having served under his
/ command on the fields OF France,
and touching tribute was paid to
the memory of Grady Barnes, young
Boone recruit, who was the first
Wataugan to fall on the field Of bat
tide. He referred to the recent
passing OF Prof. D. D. Dougherty in
"a solrowful vein, describing him as
fallen hero of peace time service.
He also recalled the unselfish serv-
ice rendered the state and community
by the late lamented Frank A. Lin
ney.
General Cox related the history of
the nation from the Revolutionary
days to the present time, and urged
upon his hearers a program OF pre-
/ paredness to the extent Of protection,
and eXtolled the ideals W h c n
sponsored the organization Of the
American Legion. Formed in Paris
soon after the cessation of hostiIi-
ties, General Cox ayerred, the Le-
gion was respectfully dedicated 20
/ the widows and orphans Of the
slain troopers, to MANNED and wouu-
ded comrades, and to the campaign
for promoting peace through judi
cious preparedness. He emphasized
the fact that the Legion is not pri-
marily concerned with the affairs of
political life. He endorsed a service
act which would include the entire
citizenship and eliminate the neces-
sity for another selective draft.
This was General Coxs first visit
to Boone, and the throngs which
came to hear him were loud in their
praise of the forcefulness OF his
delivery. Mrs. Cox accompanied her
husband to Boone on the previous
afternoon and they returned to Ra-
! leigh Friday.
Following the address, dinner was
served in the park under the direc-
| ton of the Women's Auxiliary, the
proceeds going to help defray the
expenses Of the celebration.
In the afternoon heavy shower
slightly interfered with a baseball
game which was being played be-
tween Boone and West jefferson,
following which various field sports
were enjoyed.
A considerable crowd went at 4
o'clock to the old Muster Field
where an array Of men beyond fifty
years of age participated in an old
time shooting match. There were
number of entrants and the arms
used were the muzzle-loading rifles
of generation ago. The event was
promoted largely in honor of Uncle
Lige" Norris, venerable Confederate
soldier and the oldest man on the
ground. Mr.. Norris is known as one
of the most expert riflemen in this
country but owing to the overcast
skies, the light was poor and he fail
ed to score, although he drove two
bullets close to the center. First and
second prizes, however, went to his
brother and son, Silas and Jack Nor
ris, respectively. Third and fourth
honors were claimed by z. T. Wat
son and Mr.. Mahala. So much in
terest was aroused by the event thai
tentative plans are being made to
promote second match to be held
under more favorable circumstances.
"The Air Legion" an appropriate
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