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Next came a large wagon, tastefully covered and draped in white, and drawn by four spanking horses. The occupants of this vehicle were some twenty young color ed girls, chiefly dressed in white, wearing wreaths of roses, red scarfs, etc., the whole effect being very striking, and forming de cidedly the most attractive feature of the procession. Following this came the music, then came more men afoot, then the Ora tor of the Day, in a buggy drawn by two beautiful white horses. Several plain wag ons, filled with colored visitors from the country, brought up the rear, and enabled us to close our estimate of the number of persons in the procession, which was about two hundred, including men, women, boys and girls. The time of the procession was through First North street (the principal street and center of the city) to Elm street, out which it moved to Greggs’ Grove, a beautiful spot of ground located about half a mile north east of the city. Here the real festivities and interest of the occasion commenced. J. J. Bird, of Cairo, the well known color ed orator, delivered the principal address, and acquitted himself in an able and credit able manner. Another colored man, named Oliver, from Salem, also made a speech , and remarks were made by Rev. Mr. Dell, Rev. Mr. Stark, Rev. Mr. Robinson, Rev. Mr. Mahan, and B. Zick, Esq. About five o'clock, the procession was again formed in line, when it moved back to the city and dis persed. A ball at Reeder’s Hall, which was largely attended, closed the proceedings of the day and gave the ‘light fantastic” finishing touches to the commemoration of the Fif teenth Amendment by the colored people of Centralia.
Newspaper Details
Centralia Democrat
Centralia, Illinois, US
Thu, May 05, 1870
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Bob D.
