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Dewey Schley Day Undated
articles. The original source
for first article is unknown; the second article is believed to be from
the Madison Times.
Extracted from the newspaper article collection started in 1879 by
Mrs. Nannie Brown of Madison, Missouri.
(Submitter’s
note: This celebration was held to celebrate the end of the
Spanish-American War. Rear
Admiral George Dewey’s forces destroyed the Spanish fleet in the Battle
of Manila Bay/Cavite in the Philippines.
Commodore Schley was the commander of the U.S. Navy’s “Flying
Squadron” and later the USS Brooklyn, a key unit in defeat of the
Spanish fleet in the Battle of Santiago in Cuba. LPP) (Unknown)
in Attendance and Everyone was Seemingly Happy. “Madison’s
celebration of “Dewey Schley Day,” Aug. 18th, 1898, has
passed and gone, but the parade, the speeches, the dinner, the crowd, and
the many happy incidents of the occasion have found lodgement in the minds
of the people who were present, and it will live in the memory of all as
the biggest, best and happiest celebration ever attempted in Monroe
county. The parade attracted
much attention and elicited frequent rounds of applause from the
multitudes that witnessed it. It
was headed by Higbee’s celebrate band – one of the best in the State
and consisted of two floats, one bearing beautiful little girls, the other
winsome young ladies, all costumed in pure white, which (motivated) that
part of the crowd which were admirers of youth and (beauty) in its purity. Following
the floats came the battleship “Iowa”, with its big (guns) booming
forth a welcome to (all). Next
came the Rough Riders (and) Cuban Insurgents, all under the command of
Capt. J.R. Chowning and his aides. The
Rough Riders numbered (nearly) an even hundred, and was (made) up
principally of young gentlemen of this locality, and of (unknown) the
youth and beauty (being) the ladies, were enthusiastic in praise of the
gallant and (manly) appearance of each of the Rough Riders.
The Cuban Insurgents were a surprise and the cause of much
(unknown) merriment. They
didn’t (look) quite as handsome, gallant (unknown) fortunate as the
Rough Riders. No, not quite,
but they all (had) a very favorable degree of (unknown) and applause from
the (crowd). If
there was a man, woman or child on the ground who did not get all they
wanted to eat, ‘twas their own fault.
Our livery stables were taxed to their utmost capacity.
Farrell & Garnett fed 178, and Frank Brown, 207 head of horses
and mules. J. R. Chowning,
Marshal of the day, was said to be the handsomest man on the grounds –
Newt Atterbury and Dave Ball were absent when the remark was made.
Huse Matthews and Sam Lehman, popular wet-goods dispensers of
Moberly, were here taking in the sights, shaking hands with old friends
and making new ones. Col.
Henry Newman was the general favorite.
It was remarked that hades itself would become a popular summer
resort if the Colonel was there to drive full care away. Editor
Blanton, of the Appeal, and Alexander, of the Mercury, took in the
beauties of a big celebration in the afternoon, and no doubt went home
well pleased with their visit. Of
course Drs. W.A. Hulen and H.L. Lightner could not stay away.
They think too much of Madison, and Madison too much of them to let
an occasion like this slip without getting together.
Joe Atterbury, Dr. Gillaspie, Orville Chowning, Dr. Dunaway, and
Karl Pfeffer, Aids to Commander J.R. Chowning of the Rough Riders, were
just too cute for anything. So
said the ladies. Prof. W.C.
Williams, Principal of the Montgomery City Public Schools, who for a
number of years filled a like position in Madison spent the day pleasantly
(talking) over old times and future (… unable to read rest of line).”
(Unable
to read title and first few lines of second article…) Col. H.A. Newman,
Jar. R.B. Bristow, and Hon. James H. Whitecotton, entertained them with
splendid addresses, and each received much praise for the masterly manner
in which they handled the live issues now before the people of this
country. The
crowd has been variously estimated at from 3,500 to 7,000 people, but
being more than pleased with the number present, no matter what it was,
the Times makes no estimate of
it. Suffice it to say that it
was the largest, most orderly, best looking and best dressed and most
enthusiastic assembly of people, ever gotten together at one time in this
part of the moral vineyard. There
was no drunkenness, no fights, no accidents or misfortunes to mar the
enjoyments of the occasion, and we have yet to hear of a single complaint
from any source. Many of the people thought that the Barbecue would exist
only on the program, and to guard against going hungry, brought
well-filled baskets, but they found the Barbecue a fact, and plenty to eat
for all who went up to the tables, and (unknown) abundance left after all
had (been) satisfied. (Another)
Dewey-Schley celebration (in) Madison has again placed her reputation for
genuine (whole-scheduled) hospitality in the front (unknown) of Missouri
towns and (consecutively) proves that our citizens (are) wide-awake,
enterprising and (up-to-date), and know how to entertain their guests
handsomely. (Unable to read
next few lines…) Garvis, came over to mingle with friends and draw fresh
inspiration and business. L.K.
Richardson, the big, brainy and busy shoe man, of Moberly, whose adv.
Greets Times readers each week,
and who enjoys the confidence and esteem of all of them, was with us.
He has more friends in the West End of Monroe county than any man
in Moberly, and of course, he was kept busy all day shaking hands and
saying ‘howdy.’ ‘Buck’
Kelly, the genial editor of the Moberly Monitor,
was here shaking hands with everybody.
‘Buck’ and his Monitor are
known all over Grand Old Missouri, but in no particular spot, better than
in Monroe county. In the
Daily Monitor of last Friday,
he gives (a) good write-up of the day, and speaks very kindly of many of
our people, and his friends, all of which is duly appreciated by Madison
people, and will result in dollars for the Monitor. Chief
of Police, Quayle, came in on the noon train, but found everybody so happy
and is such a good humor, that he didn’t stay long, but hurried back to
Moberly to tell his people what a delightful time Madison was having.
He is one of the best plice officers in the State, none excepted.
He is full of life and energy, kind, courteous and as brave as a
lion, and he numbers his friends by the tens of thousands, and many of
them live right here in Madison. We
were sorry he didn’t stay longer.” Copyright
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the use of their patrons. Kathleen
Wilham 2
Sharon Drive Shelbina, MO. 63468-1562 |