The Dalles Daily Chronicle Friday, July 5, 1895 THE COMPETIVE DRILL While the hose teams were getting ready for the contest the competitive drill was going on in the elegant new armory. The large hall makes a splendid drilling place, and it is very fortunate that it was done in time for yesterday. Company A of Wasco and Company G of The Dalles were the contestants, and a great interest was taken during the entire drill. Company G was the first to drill, and went through the evolutions in good time and form. They set a high standard for the Wasco boys, and many thought that Company A would not rise to the occasion, but it did. The visitors went into the competition determined to give The Dalles boys a close rub, and when their part was over the opinion of the audience was divided as to who had won. The judges decided that Company A was entitled to the medal, having a percentage of 90, while Company G had 87. Gus Bartel of G Company received the prize for the best drilled militiaman. The competitive drill was one of the best features of the day. THE FIREWORKS AND BICYCLE PARADE A large crowd gathered in the public school yard just before dusk to witness the fireworks. The orchestra band was present and played during the interval between the fireworks. The rockets, Roman candles and different varieties of shooting stars were sent off from the high bluff by the old reservoir and were easily visible from all parts of town. The display was very satisfactory and served to please the audience. Through some accident a box of Roman candles were set a fire and the whole number went off almost together with a very brilliant effect. Instead of marring the program it added to it and many thought it was part of the play. The bicycle parade took place during the pyrotechnic display, and was one of the prettiest portions of the whole celebration. A large number of wheels, gaily decorated with Chinese lanterns, paraded through the streets. All of the designs were very tasty, and some of unusual cleverness. Through some misadventure there were no judges selected to award the prizes, and consequently the official announcement of whose was the best cannot be made. The parade was much appreciated by all who witnessed it. THE BALL AT THE OPERA HOUSE. The Fourth of July exercise closed with the grand ball of the Jackson Engine company. The large floor was covered with dancers while many spectators occupied seats. The music was the very finest and the floor in good condition. The ball lasted till 3 a.m. and with its close ended the celebration of 95, which can be called successful at every point. NOTES OF THE DAY page four The judges in the hose contest were W.L. Bradshaw, L.E. Crowe and Thomas Haslam. Messrs. John S. Schenck, J.P. McInerny and T.A. Ward acted as timekeepers. Tom Driver was the starter, as being a county official he was supposed to know how to fire a pistol. The Orchestra band cannot be praised too highly for their part in the days celebration. They played nearly the whole time: in the morning in the parade, in the afternoon at the hose contest, in the evening at the fireworks and afterwards for the dance. They worked harder than almost anybody and added vastly to the success of the day. The celebration could not have got on very well without them. Not only did they play often but well and the strangers who were in town yesterday, can go away feeling they had heard the best music that could have been obtained. Success to the orchestra! It was a lamentable oversight that no judges were provided for the bicycle parade. Many of the cyclers had gone to great pains and expense to decorate their wheels, and feel as if their work was in vain. It was not a case of loves labor lost, however, for the different designs were much admired by the spectators. Miss Edna Glenn was a pretty goddess of Liberty and the little girls representing the different states made a pleasing picture. The liberty car is always the center of interest in the parade. F. Jacobsen was on hand with a competitive piano exhibit. Our business houses were gaily decorated and Second street was a sea of bunting from one end to the other. Flags floated from all the flagstaffs and the city had a holiday appearance. In the matter of Fourth of July celebration or anything else The Dalles is all right. END OF ARTICLE Written permission to reprint given by The Dalles Chronicle, The Dalles, Oregon Copied and submitted by Earline Wasser Member of Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society c/o The Dalles/Wasco County Public Library 722 Court Street The Dalles, Oregon 97058 http://community.oregonlive.com/cc/genealogy Browse http://historysavers.com/orwasco/ recently updated information regarding Wasco County - Links are at the bottom of page http://searches.rootsweb.com/ "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you plant." Robert Louis Stevenson _________________________________________________________________ Want to check if your PC is virus-infected? Get a FREE computer virus scan online from McAfee. http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963