Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1898 — The Fourth at Rensselaer. [ARTICLE]

The Fourth at Rensselaer.

Not a Very Satisfactory Success. The weather was all that could have been asked for yesterday, the orowd was a very large one, but in many the celebration here fell far short of promises and anticipations based on those promises, and it is probably no exaggeration to say that practically all of the people went away dissatisfied and disappointed. The one particular feature whose absence caused, the most disappointment, was the balloon ascension. This had been contracted for and was promised in good faith. The contract was made with Walter W. Newman, of Chicago, and the aeronont was to be George Love, a man of much experience in his liae. He agreed to give an ascension with parachute descent, riding on a bicycle. He was to receive $75 for the exhibition and expenses. He failed to come however, and sent no explanation why he did so. Probably he got a better offer from some other source. There was no opening parade, whatever. Even the the bicycle parade for which considerable preparation had been made, finally fell through. The first feature was an exhibition run of the two hose companies. Each ran two blocks and attached 300 feet of hose to a hydrant. No 1. had its stream going several seconds before No. 2. The rival hose companies created considerable amusement for the spectators, by turning their respectives streams on each other. It was a performance more enjoyed by the spectators than by the firemen. The sham battle by Capt. Halstead’s cavalry was one of the leading features of the day. He had 50 uniformed and pretty well drilled men, and after dividing into two parties, they charged and counter charged, keeping up a continual fire, with blank cartridges. The division which represented the Spaniards was finally driven from the field, with great slaughter. The actual casualties of the battle, was a horse shot with a gun wad, but not much injured. All reports that some of the riders were injured, were without foundation in fact. The attempt to secure Gov. Mount or some other eminent speaker from abroad, was begun too late, and failed. There were therefore but little exercises at the stand. Jesse E. Wilson made a short address, and then Uncle Peter Foulks, of Milroy spoke awhile, and Judge Thompson recited a poem. The bicycle race took place soon after noon. It was from the Stockfarm to McCoy’s bank, a distance of about a mile. There were four in it. Jay Sayler, Frank Bruner, Charley Chipman and Julius Tayler. They came in all in a bunch, but Sayler was first and Bruner second. The 100 yard foot race was run by Van Grant, Ist, Fred Parcells 2nd and Merle Gwin 3rd. The ball game took place at the ball park. It was a fair game, and very largely attended. It is to be regretted however, that the money raised for the balloon which did not come, had been used to pay for the ball game, this making it free to the people. It was not certainly known, however, until the 1:55 P. M. train arrived, that the balloon would not come. In the evening the moving picture exhibition, in front of the court house was quite a successful performance, and presented many novel and beautiful features. The skirt dance, after the moving pictures, was very fine, but un-

fortunately, a large proportion of the crowd left before this took place, under the impression that the performance was over. The bowery dance, in,Roberts’ hall, managed by Kellner & Bushey, was a great success. In conclusion of the whole affair, we may-say that many of our business men and others worked hard and faithfully to make the celebration a success and to fulfill every promise, while many of those who are now roaring the hardest never have and never will, devote an hour of their time to working up an affair of this kind. 19 to 7. The score tells the tale. Delphi came over to play ball but she merely gave our colts a good frolic. Their league battery was not what report had said it was and our boys had their batting eye with them, making two ruus in the first. One (a home run) in the second, two in the fifth, five in the sixth, two in the seventh and seven in the ninth. Delphi made four in the first, one in the sixth, a pretty steal home by Lackey, and two in the ninth.’ The game was a pretty exhibitition of our national game. Our boys are gentlemanly players and played good hard earnest ball, making several errors of course, through insufficient practice. They hold their heads well and play a losing game with the same vim as a winning one. Delphi on the other hand, with her hirelings and pick-ups was continually ragging and quarreling in a way to make the crowd sick. This game shows the folly of employing a few out of town professionals. They lack the good feeling of loyality to home, and don’t play the same snappy game that home boys play. Reynolds pitches a good game, —Brinley on first made some good plays—and a few bad ones, but with practice he will make a star. Muller played a good game both in the box and at short. Tharp plays well but seems weak at bat. Rhoades was not in good form the early part of the game but retreived himself at the end. The field played well. Merica behind the bat played a good game, unfortunately having two passed balls, which though they must be marked against him, were unavoidable. Altogether Rensselaer should be justly proud of her colts, whose record bids fair to rival that of Ansons’ Colts of several years ago, when they were at the top. NOTES. Fully six hundred people must have seen the game, and all went home satisfied. The grounds are now in good shape for a grass diamond. Maloy and his megaphone were in evidence at the game.