Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1910 — A BIG BAY; A BIG CROWD, [ARTICLE]

A BIG BAY; A BIG CROWD,

And Everything Passed off Nicely Here the 4th. WEATHER WAS MOST IDEAL For the People, Though a Little Cool for Ice Cream and Red Lemonade-—No Accidents, Only One Arrest, No Drunkenness.

Taken all in all about the .best and “sanest” 4th of July celebration ever held in Rensselaer was that pulled oft Monday. The extreme high temperature of the past few weeks took a decided tumble Sunday, and Monday was cool and pleasant—just right for the big crowd of people here but a trifle too cool to make the sale of ice cream and lemonade as brisk as the dealers would have wished. The sun kept hid most of the day, and it was therefore pleasant any place. There was a good big crowd here, though not as large perhaps by 2,000 to 3,000 people as that of the big celebration of four years ago, when special trains were run on the Panhandle and Monon to take the people back home, thus bringing several thousand people here by rail that did not come this year because rhe matter of securing special trains was not thought of soon enough to take the question up with the railroad officials. However, there was a big crowd here. Large enough to handle nicely and not become unwieldly. The program was carried out to the letter, so far as we have been able to learn. There were no regular delegations from the out-townships. therefore the flags were not awarded. In the automobile parade there were a large number of machines though but few were decorated to much extent. Dr. J. H. Hansson won first prize S2O for the best decorated auto, and Amos .Alter of Union township, second prize. SlO. Both had gone to considerable expense in decorations, and they were very hand- 1 some. George Terwilliger also had a nicely decorated machine. But the simplest, neatest and most appropriate for a country community like this, was the auto of Jay W. Stockton of west of town. He used stalks of corn, wheat, oats, timothy and clover and a few small flags in the decorations. and without the aid of bunting or expenseive decoration had arranged it so neatly about the machine that it evoked much praise from the spectators. The “Flying Baldwins" in their areal acts, the colored jubilee singers, the day fireworks and the balloon ascension were all good. The balloon ascension was one of the best ever seen anywhere, the ballqnist going to a great height and making a splendid parachute drop. The band music was good, and in their new uniforms our band presented a neat and / attractie appearance. A large crowd witnessed the monument unveiling and listened to the remarks by Judge Hammond and ex-Congressman Posey. In the ball game. Rensselaer defeated Winamac by a score of 11 to 2. the Winamac players losing their heads in the last half of; the game and allowing the Wrens to pile up the big score. The restaurants and stands all did a good business, and no complaint is heard from any quarter. But one arrest was made and no badly intoxicated man was seen so far as we could learn yesterday morning, which speaks well for the character of the crowd. ■‘John Doe,” a helper on the mer-ry-go-round, in a dispute with Rex Ott. a son of George Ott of Barkley township, pushed the > latter off the machine and used some abusive language to him, it is said, besides striking the boy in the face. He was arrested on the charge of assault and battery I' V ■

and given a fine of SI and costs on a plea of guilty, $4.35 in all. This was the only arrest made, and only two or three persons were seen, and that along in the evening, who were under the influence of liquor, and they were attending to their own business, though they wobbled a little in the legs. Some four or five of those infernal blank cartridge revolvers were taken away from would-be noisy celebrators early in the day, and this had a very good effect. No 4th of July was ever experienced here so free from ear-splitting noise before. The committee is getting .shaped up to find out where they stand financially, and expect to make a report as soon as everything is fixed up.