Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 157, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1914 — THREE CELEBRATIONS AND ALL SUCCESSFUL [ARTICLE]

THREE CELEBRATIONS AND ALL SUCCESSFUL

Parr, Fair Oaks and Mt, Ayr All Had - Great Crowds and Money Flowed t Like Water

Three Accidents Reported

Also a Beer Selling Incident—One “Bad Man” from Kentucky Came to Grief After Running Huge Bluff at Mt. Ayr—Ball Games, Horse Races, Orations, Athletic Events and Various Things Arranged for the Pleasure of the Crowds That Were Gathered to Celebrate the Country’s Birthday.

Rensselaer was almost a deserted village Saturday. The (brick street workmen .put in a full day and most of the stores were open to accommodate some trader® who had not cared to put in the day with the crowd® in the small surrounding towns, but there was a general exodus to other places that began early in the day. The depot was crowded when the milk train arrived. Prpbably more than 300 people were assembled there’ and they bought tickets for Parr; Fair Oaks, Water Valley, Hammond-and Chicago.' J- ' '

There were 137 tickets sold to Parr; 96 to Fair Oaks, and a number to the other points. This did not include the half fares, of which there (Were a large number. Ln the afternoon there was a large number off others and Agent Beam and his assistants were kept busy tor a half hour before train leaving time. There were, of course, a number who went to points south, but the northern trend proved most popular. Automobiles were brought into play (to transport many of the visitors to the sunrounding celebrations, especially to Mt. Ayr. .

There seems no disappointment from either the promoters of the celebrations or to those who attended them. The promoters were looking tor-the crowds of money spenders and the crowds responded. The people were looking for a good time and they seemed to find it, at the places visited> Judge Hanley made the speech at Parr and it was splendidly received. The judge is first-class at pulling the eagle’s feathers and the large crowd gave his address close attention and applauded it heartily. '

Parr had arranged a good program and it was carried out with a vim. The athletic events proved very enjoyable tand there was plenty of rivalry in the dashes, the threelegged race, the water-melon eating contest, and the swaying bun contest. The ball game between the Parr team and Paul Miller’s crippled Naps resulted in a victory of 11 to 2 in favor of Parr. An incident that cast a shadow upon the Parr celebration was the discovery that “beer” or something that resembled it very closely, was being sold. The sponsor was reported to be Ed Gilmore. Constable Parks, of Rensselaer, was placed on the job and Ed was arrested and his product confiscated and locked up in a room in W. L. Wood’s barn. It wa® later stolen and presumably the contents employed in celebrating. Gilmore will -probably have to answer to the court for his business venture. Fair Oaks had some celebration. The crowd is estimated at 1,500. There were 327 rigs on hand at one time, composed of autos, carriages, buggies and wagons. The horse race was the big event. The ball game between Fair Oaks and Shelby was won by Shelby. The stands did a big business and every stand owner was satisfied. Mt. Ayr had a fine crowd. The park is right in the center of the town and the crowd began to arrive early in the day. The Morocco band furnished the music. L. H. Hamilton, of Rensselaer, delivered the address and it was loudly applauded. He talked of the condition® that prevailed when the colonies decided to form an independent nation’ and of the duty of citizenship which we owe in making the moat of the opportunities our forefathers so dearly purchased for

us. He pleaded for the very best schools and the duty of the people to lend their influence to the making of the best laws and to thoughtful living that is conductive of the highest type of citizenship. The large crowd gave careful attention to his speech and it was pronounced by many the best speech they had ever heard at a Fourth of July celebration. A series of athletic events created considerable attention and a free street act <by some clever acrobats helped' to entertain the large crowd. In the morning a ball game between the Mt. Ayr second team and a picked-up team from Brook was won by the latter. In the afternoon Rensselaer defeated the Mt Ayr first team. Bristow pitched tor Rensselaer and the score was 12 to •7. A “bad man” named Zolem Harris, who had filled up with fighting whiskey, came to the ball ground and indulged in a lot of talk, which was amusing at first but which soon became abusive and threatening. He had a magazine revolver which he threatened to use and it took some time to get him quiet. Later he raised a disturbance down town and was placed under arrest and taken to Brook, where he pleaded guilty to being drunk and Justice of the Peace Franklin T. Hawkins fined him $lB, which included the costs. Grant Clark then had him airrested on a warrant placing him under a peace bond. His bail was placed at SSOO and in default of this he was brought to Rensselaer and placed in jail, where he will probably have to remain until the first day of the October term of the Newton circuit court, unless some one goes his bail. He has been working on the stone road in Newton township and is all right when sober, but his mountaineer spirit breaks out whenever he gets a little whiskey on board. This is said to have been his second escapade within the past month and the good people of Mt- Ayr don’t propose to stand for it'. Two accidents occurred - to mar the pleasure of Parr visitors Saturday. Roy Gunyon, 7-yeair-old son of Elza Gunyon, of Clinton county, was visiting his grandfather, J. N. Gunyon, and went out to the grounds where the celebration was being held. There was an ash pile where brush had been burned. The little fellow was barefooted and started to run through the ashes. There was a bed of live 'cools beneath and his feet were frightfully burned. Dr. English Was called and dressed them. It will be several days before he can be on. them. A little daughter of Mr. and Mrs, Tom Redgate felt a sharp pain to the calf of one of her legs and examination showed that she had been wounded there and the wound was bleeding. Dr. English was called and found that a bullet from a 22-caliber revolver had entered the leg. It had carried a part of the stocking with, it and the bullet pulled out with the stocking. The bullet was blunt on one side, having struck a target and glanced off. No serious results are anticipated. An accident occurred in Bdwi laer that almost cost an eye tor little dark Reed the 3-yeas-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Reed. He had secured possession of a firecracker without the knowledge of .his parents and had gone out to have a quiet celebration by himself. He shot off the cracker, all right, but so near hie face that hte right eye was quite badly powder burned. It is believed by the attending physician, Dr. Gwin, that there will be no permanent damage to the eye. _ Taken all in all the fourth was a very pleasant affair and Rensselaer people seemed to enjoy themselves very mudh. Rensselaer wIM probably celebrate next year and it is also probable that there will be something doing tor two or three days yet this summer.