Matagorda County TXGenWeb
Celebration A Big Success
Six to Eight Thousand People Attend the Giant Celebration at Palacios July Fourth.
Probably the largest and most successful 4th of July celebration ever held in this section of the Gulf Coast, was celebrated when Palacios honored her Matagorda County heroes.
The city was in gala attire, every business house was appropriately and lavishly decorated. Juniper Pluvius took a day off and Old Sol shown forth in all his glory—casting sunshine into the hearts of the happy throng.
Crowds began to arrive on the 3rd and by the time the excursion train steamed in from Bay City the city fairly hummed with activity.
Prof. G. Martino’s band of 50 pieces, made up of Bay City and Palacios men, started the day off by playing a concert at the depot as the excursion train arrived.
Prof. Martino deserves a great deal of credit for the excellent band he gave us, considering the space of time for rehearsing.
W.C. Gray in charge of the soldiers, sailors and marines big dinner, handled this, the biggest even of the day, with the skill of a general.
Mr. Gray was well supported by a large committee of ladies. The heroes formed in company front at the depot, then headed by the band, marched to the B.Y.P.U. grounds, where each man registered at a booth in charge of five or six of the prettiest girls in Palacios.
The soldiers caught the contagious smile that greeted them from that booth, but this smile broadened into a open mouth grin, when the men beheld the attractive tables piled high with food prepared by the loving hands, by our own good patriotic women.
A number of prominent ladies arranged the tables and the honor feast was served by a bevy of pretty girls of the Junior Red Cross, all dressed in the immaculate white costume, ornamented with the crimson red cross.
One red faced, boyish soldier was heard to remark to one of the red cross girls, never mind the sugar, just smile in my coffee. And did those young heroes enjoy their honor dinner? Well if you could have seen them eat and heard the yum, yum.
A great throng heard the speaking at the auditorium. Ex-Mayor Ruthven made the speech of welcome for the city and was received with enthusiasm.
Mayor G.A. Moore of Bay City, in an excellent address responded for the visitors.
Judge Norman G. Kittrell, of Houston, made the address to the returned soldiers, his speech was masterly and well to the point.
Hon. R.R. “Dick” Lewis, of Bay City, responded in behalf of the soldiers - his address was chuck full of brotherly human interest and touched the keynote as well as the hearts of the large audience.
Hon. Waverly Briggs, Commissioner of insurance and banking at Austin, delivered an address on patriotism and after the war co-operation.
His speech was pronounced by many to have been the most masterly and comprehensive bit of oratory ever delivered in the state.
The audience was held spell-bound during his address and as he finished a great ovation was tendered him. Mr. P.F. Campbell, who secured the speakers deserves great credit for inducing, this group of big caliber speakers to come here.
The first attraction of the afternoon was the horse races and tournament, which was a big success. G. A. Salisbury had charge of this event and handled it in a very able manner.
The track was in excellent condition and a large crowd witnessed the exciting sport. In the first race J. E. Harmon was 1st, and J. O. Rodriguez 2nd. In the tournament Chas. Wiley was 1st, and Virgil Wheeler 2nd.
Immediately after the horse races the ball game between Bay City and Gulf was staged, and let it be said this was a real ball game.
Every man played like a big leaguer and like his life depended on the outcome. Much rivalry has existed between the two teams and the game the 4th was the outcome of much argument and speculation.
It is to be hoped that Palacios may be able to secure these two fast teams again in the near future, as the score 3 to 4 in favor of Gulf did not decide which was the team. Eleven innings were played. The players were loud in their praise of A. G. Skinner, who arranged and put in shape the fast diamond.
The diving and swimming contests in charge of T.L. Tucker, were exciting and refreshing. Events for men were won by Mr. Williams, of Matagorda, who swam so fast and dived so far that no one else had a look in.
Master Fitzpatrick won the boy’s race.
Miss Margarete Travis, a most graceful swimmer won the ladies race, likewise the diving contest for women. Miss Travis is a wonderfully graceful diver, but did not have the opportunity of displaying her ability as a high diver.
The sail boat races were well handled by Pete Williamson. Geo. Hicks, sailing, White Wing, was first and the Denver second.
Motor boat races were fast and exciting. The Edison, of Port Lavaca, was first and the Alamo of Palacios, second.
James W. Sartwell was grand chairman of all afternoon events. The excellent results were the fruits of his untiring activity.
The water sports closed the afternoon’s program.
The midway leading to the pavilion was a blaze of splendor at night with scores of electric lights.
Promptly at eleven o’clock p. m., the fireworks display on the bay, in charge of J. J. Burke, broke loose with all the magnificent coloring and lighting effects known to that art.
Tres Palacios Bay was never more beautiful than under this weird, strange profusion of lights and colors.
Thus ended the never to be forgotten celebration on our first 4th of July after peace has settled once more upon the earth.
High Spots on the Fourth
Who did it?
Few people in Palacios realize the amount of work and planning it took to stage the big 4th of July Celebration.
John Wolf, president of the Board of Trade and assistant cashier in the Palacios State Bank and live wire leader of all big events, is the man who has worked and planned untiringly for the past three months that this 4th should eclipse all others. Back him and help him and next 4th will be a half a dozen times as big.
Nobody got sick, mad, into a fight, hurt, went hungry or thirsty. Just one young lady fell into the bay as she was about to step onto one of the pleasure boats.
However she was quickly rescued.
This one was big, let’s make next 4th bigger.
Several thousand people enjoyed the bathing in Tres Palacios Bay.
Dancing was a feature on the 4th. Good music and good flavor enticed a large crowd of dancers.
Arrangement for parking cars on the bay front the 4th was excellent. This should be made a permanent scheme. A few posts and an old cable would do.
Palacios Beacon, July 11, 1919