ONE  GLORIOUS  FOURTH

                                                  NORMAN  V.  KELLY

 

It was July 4, 1879, Independence Day, right here in Peoria, Illinois and its citizens were out to make the most of it.

For the young kids the fun was down at the river’s edge watching the steamboats, packets and luxury boats of all shapes and sizes pulling up at the end of Main Street. From early morning until sunset, July 3, 1879, they came to enjoy the hospitality of Peoria, Illinois.  A huge ice barge maneuvered for a docking spot as hundreds waved from the shore welcoming it and the hundreds of rugged passengers.  From LaSalle Peru came hundreds more passengers aboard the fabulous steamer, The Joe Fleming.  The fourth of July was here and no place in the United States was it revered more than Peoria, Illinois. The deep-throated foghorns, the shrill whistles, the calliopes and the occasional flash of fireworks fired from the boats added to the excitement and chaos.  All along the river, vendors of every kind hawked their products, walking about, selling trinkets, flags, whistles and of course food. Fireworks of all descriptions were available in every nook and cranny, and it appeared that most of the city’s population of over 28,000 people were already downtown. Thousands more would pour into the city from many miles away.

                                           THE  PARADE’S  THE  THING

A huge contingent of military in their spotless uniforms led off commanded by Colonel Kirk of Havana, Illinois.  The crowd cheered and old vets saluted as the colors passed. One by one the military was followed by members of the Knights Templar, The Fort Clark Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and members of many different churches, dressed in bright colors of red, white and blue marched along. Tall, strutting Drum Majors from colleges and high schools across the state led their lively bands along the route, receiving wild applause from the massive crowd. There were floats of every description being pulled along by dazzling, beautiful horses, or strong men smiling at the crowd. There was a Goddess of Liberty, and countless carriages carrying dignitaries of one sort or the other all dressed in the finest of clothing, waving and smiling. There were numerous fire brigades marching along, followed by the most modern equipment of the day. One float contained an entire block of coal, as the miners on board cut it into small chunks of coal.  The jubilant, raucous crowd enjoyed everything that passed by them.

                                                              IT’S  NOT ALL FUN

His name was Albert Schlack, but his friends called him ‘Bismark’ and he met with an accident on July 4, 1789 that caused his death. Albert was with some friends enjoying the holiday on the site of the old woolen mill on South Adams Street.  They were firing an anvil, in lieu of a cannon, making as much noise as they could.  Bismark had taken a quanity of gunpowder out of the can and packed it in a cigar box that he carried under his arm. Somehow a spark set the powder causing a large explosion. Al lived several hours before succumbing to his severe injuries. Three other young men were also injured, but survived. Albert Schlack was a member of the new Peoria Fire Company Number 4. The entire fire department, led by Professor Trauvetter’s Band and the department’s equipment turned out for the burial at Springdale Cemetery. His fireplug tombstone has brought a lot of curious questions from folks over the years, now they know the truth about ‘Bismark.’

Editor’s Note:  Next month Norm will bring us another story from old Peoria.                                                norman.kelly@sbcglobal.net