Eva Cartney was a daughter of Bridgett Cartney, aunt of the late T. D. Preece.

In the early days about the only time people living on the farms would be in town after dark was on the Fourth of July and for the Christmas program.

Mrs. McIntosh remembers the early day Fourth of July celebrations held in Battle Creek. Reimer Gardels (Gene and Art Gardel's grandfather) was marshal of the day, riding a prancing horse and decked with a shoulder sash to lead the parade. Then would be Sam Thatch dressed as "Uncle Sam" in a red, white and blue suit with a striped hat. From about 1885 the Battle Creek Band would be part of the parade. Then would be Emma Tomhagen with long tresses as Columbia and girls in white dresses, each wearing a banner sash for each state in the Union. As they passed on a float drawn by horses they sang, "Oh Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" and other patriotic songs.

There would be an oration by some noted person and a raised platform of songs and speaking by promising youngsters. Races and games for the children, dancing in the Bowery. Fire crackers and evening fireworks.

One night when Billie Fuerst and John Brasher put on the fireworks display (they always had to wear black raincoats when performing this function), very early in the program a spark fell into the stock of fireworks to ignite it all at once. Roman candles, sky rockets and bombs were flying every way. No one was hurt.

When the Battle Creek boys from Company F in the Spanish American war returned from service in the Philippines they brought with them a small Filipino boy who had been the Co. F mascot. Mrs. McIntosh wonders what became of this boy. Does anyone remember him?

Upon asking the only living member of the group of Battle Creek boys in Company F, Frank Peterson, now of Madison, gave us the answer:

Frank picked up this boy in a wounded condition during a battle. Soon after Frank was also wounded (for which he received the Purple Heart). The two, with others, were taken back to Manila to recover from their wounds in a hospital there. The boy remained with Company F as its mascot and came back with them. He lived with Frank for a number of years. When land in the Scottsbluff Country was opened for homesteading Frank went out with him to file on 160 acres of land. He had no name so Frank gave him an American name — George Hastings. For many years Frank would hear from him and he occasionally came to Madison to visit. He has not heard from him now in the last 10 years. He did not marry and probably died without leaving a trace of ties with Mr. Peterson. Frank will be 89 years old on his 1967 birthday.

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