1903- Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Celebrations

The following are four articles relating the May 20th celebrations for the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Charlotte Observer 5/21/1903 p.6 and 5/21/1903 p.6; The Charlotte Daily Observer 5/20/1903 p.4 and 5/21/1903 p.6

THE GLORIOUS TWENTIETH. 5/21/1903 p.6 HUNDREDS HERE TO ENJOY THE DAY.   Although Nothing but Races Had Been Advertised, the City Was Filled With People – The Races Were Up-to-Date – Gun Club Shoot Witnessed by a Large Crowd – Incidents of the Day.  

There had been no advertisement of the 20th of May celebration in Charlotte this year, outside of a series of races at the fair grounds. There were no band contests and no firemen’s races on the programme, as in the good old days, yet when business people came up town yesterday morning they found the streets thronged. It was the 20th of May, the weather was good and warm, the railroad schedules were favorable and the people just naturally had to come to Charlotte. The throng at the hotels was unexpectedly large and by noon the standing room sign was put up. The streets for two blocks in each direction from Independence Square were crowded with people. The visitors had evidently expected no show, outside of the races, and they put in their time mainly in riding on the street cars. About 11 o’clock a fire alarm was turned in from Ward 2, and there was a dash of engines, reels and trucks through the square. The race of the fire department apparatus was an exciting one, and truth to tell, was about the best thing that Charlotte put up for the entertainment of the visitors. The alarm proved to have been a false one, but the run of the fire department was a great show.  

During the day the people stood about the street in true 20th of May style, drank soda water, smoked cigars and exchanged greetings. In the afternoon the tide turned toward the fair grounds, where the races were to take place and the swiftly moving cars soon emptied the streets of the overflow. The races were of a much better character than on the previous day and the crowd was very much larger, the grand stand being almost filled.  

The races were first-class. In the opening races the first prize of $60 was won by Eminence, the five-eighths of a mile dash being made in 1:15 4/5 minutes. The second prize of $25 was won by Flat Denial, and the third, of $15, by Lariat.  

The Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence race was run in three-quarters of a mile heats. The first prize, of $275, was won by Postmaster Bailey, who beat the best two in three heats. The time was 1:18 2/5 and 1:17. The second prize of $68.75 was won by Cabin Boy, and the third prize of $41.25 was won by Meadow Maid.  

In the consolation race of seven-eighths of a mile, the first prize of $45 was won by Dr. Worth. The second prize of $20 was won by Flat Denial, and the third prize of $10 by Miss Rosser.

TWENTIETH OF MAY VISITORS.  5/21/1903 p.6 A Partial List of the People Who Were Here From Adjoining Towns. Among the visitors who registered at the Central were: James S. Turner, of High Point; J. M. McCracken, of Graham; E. L. Little, of Gastonia; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Johnston, of Atlanta, Ga.; J. C. Robertson, of Columbia, S. C.; Miss Barksdale, of Abbeville, S. C.; G. T. Leach, of High Point; E. I. Lowe, of Lowesville; C. C. Sikes, of Monroe; R. I. Howard, of McAdenville; Miss Mary Morris, of Chester, S. C.; John L. King, J. S. Barnes, W. R. Jenkins, William Armfield, of Greensboro; Fred N. Tate, of High Point; H. N. Howard and A. T. Cathey, of Mooresville; E. W. Holton, W. W. Somers, C. R. Parker, of Statesville; J. W. Yates, of Monroe; H. M. Sloan, of Davidson; V. C. DuBose, of Columbia, S. C.; Miss C. N. Simpson, of Monroe, and R. M. Knox, of Mooresville.  

At the Buford were: C. A. Dilling, J. H. Williams, W. P. Fulton and F. N. Hannon, of King’s Mountain; J. E. Lindsay, J. F. Pursley, Iva and Zuba Pursley, A. A. McLean and Moses Roman, of Gastonia; Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Brown and son and J. P Buchanan, of Monroe; W. F. Allen, of Taylorsville; Fred Autrey and Miss Allie Autrey, of Marshall; Misses Nannie and Mamie Gaddy and Miss Caraway, of Wadesboro; L. L. Little of Ansonville; E. C. Robinson, of Wadesboro; F. M. Hubbard, of Laurinburg, and E. V. Copening, of Statesville.

LET US CELEBRATE THE 20TH. 5/21/1903 p.4

Yesterday was demonstrated, what has been demonstrated before, that people will come to Charlotte on very slight provocation. There were not attractions here yesterday except the races; no others were advertised, and no effort was made to bring a crowd; yet there were a great many visitors in the city – country people from this county and adjoining counties, in holiday attire, and people form many adjacent towns. A good many of the visitors must have been disappointed that, excepting the races, no entertainment had been provided for them, though none had been promised. The instruction to be derived from the circumstances is that we must put our heads together and provide something for the people on future 20ths of May. We owe that to them, to ourselves and to the event which the day commemorates. The country people, in particular, have too little amusement – the 20th of May celebration in the spring and the circus in the fall; these are about all. It is wrong to deprive them of the spring event. There is proof enough that the people from all the region ‘round about will come when they are invited. It is pleasant for them to be here, agreeable to the towns-people to have them here, and helpful in many ways. The cost, equitably apportioned among those who are the beneficiaries of a crowd in town, of a day’s entertainment, is inconsiderable, and no future 20th of May should be allowed to pass without a proper celebration and a general invitation to the folks of all the surrounding towns and country to contribute their presence to it. If what is said above needs any reinforcement, it is found in the Fort Mill, S. C., special in this morning’s paper – the people from that place and points below crowded the trains yesterday and were disappointed that Charlotte did so little for their entertainment. There are in that special also suggestions about special rates, etc., which deserve the attention of the business men of this city and which should be taken up and acted upon.

MECKLENBURG STAKE TO-DAY 5/20/1903 p.6FINE SPORT EXPECTED AT THE PARK. Spirited Horses Will Compete for the $200 Purse – Winners Yesterday: Lariat, Postmaster Bailey and Cabin Boy – All the Losers to Compete in a Consolation Race To-Day – The Personnel of the Visiting Band. The races at Latta Park this afternoon will be the principal attraction for the 20th. The first event will take place promptly at 2:30 o’clock and the following is the field: No. 7. All ages, five-eighths mile dash, weight for age, purse $100. – Minnie H., ch. m., G. J. Engleking, Richmond, Va.; Flat Denial, ch. m., O. E. Jordan, Dublin, Va.; Lariat, ch. h., P. J. Bane, White Gate, Va.; Miss Rosser, ch. m.; Dr. B. E. Kell, Chester, S. C.; Eminence, bro. m., G. J. Engleking, Richmond, Va. The second race will be the principal feature of the spring meet. It is the purpose of the officials of the Mecklenburg Fair Association to make the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence stake an annual event that will attract to this city the best class of horses. The starters in the race will be: No. 8. Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence stake, all ages, three-quarters of a mile heats, weight for ages, purse $22. – Flat Denial, ch. m., O. E. Jordan, Dublin, Va.; Meadow Maid, b. m., O. E. Jordan, Dublin, Va.; Cabin Boy, bro. g., P. J. Bane, White Gate, Va.; Postmaster Bailey, bro. g., Thiers Leach, High Point; Miss Rosser, ch. m.; Dr. B. E. Kell, Chester, S. C.; King’s Pride, b. g., G. J. Engleking, Richmond, Va.; Dr. Worth, b. h., B. L. Shaw, Charleston, S. C. After the conclusion of the third race there will be a consolation race for a purse of $100, in which will enter horses that have not won a race during the meet. At least five horses must enter. 

THE WINNERS YESTERDAY.

The races yesterday attracted a fairly large attendance at the park and the three contests of the afternoon were spirited affairs. Owing to a misunderstanding on the park of the owners of several of the horses there was a wearisome delay in pulling off the first race. Secretary Harden announced, through a megaphone, to the audience in the grand stand that the race was cleared off, but at the suggestion of Dr. R. J. Brevard, president of the Mecklenburg Fair Association, the dilatory horses were allowed to run anyway. In the first race, five-eighths of a mile dash, the entries were: Flat Denial, owner, O. E. Jordan, Dublin, Va.; Lariat, owner, P. J. Bane, White Gate, Va.; Miss Rosser, B. E. Kell, Chester, S. C.; Eminence, G. J. Engleking, Richmond, Va. The race was won by Lariat, in 1:05 ½; Flat Denial being second and Miss Rosser third. In the second race, three-quarters of a mile dash, the starters were: Meadow Maid, owner, O. E. Jordan, Dublin, Va.; Postmaster Bailey, owner, Thiers Leach, High Point; Lariat, owner, P. J. Bane, White Gate, Va. The race was won by Postmaster Bailey, in 1:19; Meadow Maid being second, and Lariat third. In the third race, seven-eighths of a mile dash, the starters were: Cabin Boy, owner, P. J. Bane, White Gate, Va.; Flat Denial, O. E. Jordan, Dublin, Va.; King’s Pride, Mrs. G. J. Engleking, Richmond, Va.; Dr. Worth, B. L. Shaw, Charleston, S. C. The race was won by Cabin Boy, in 1:32 2/5 with Dr. Worth second, Flat Denial third and King’s Pride fourth. It is expected that a large proportion of the residents in this city will observe half holiday to-day, and the attendance at the track side should be large. It is declared that the racing will be far better than that of yesterday; and apart from the pleasure of witnessing the racing, social Charlotte should enjoy a good time merely by being part of the assembly in the grand stand. 

A GUN SHOOT TO-DAY.

Among the other attractions of to-day will be a gun shoot, to be given by the Charlotte Gun Club at Latta Park this morning at 9:30 o’clock. The events are:Preliminary event, 15 targets, prize, box Havana cigars.Event No. 1, 20 targets; entrance $2.Event No. 2, 15 targets, entrance $1.50.Event No. 3, 20 targets; entrance $2.Event No. 4, 15 targets, entrance $1.50.Event No. 5, 20 targets; entrance $2.Event No. 6, 15 targets, entrance $1.50.Event No. 7, 20 targets; entrance $2.Entrance includes targets. Money divided 50, 30, and 20 per cent. Merchandise prizes for fourth place in each event. Extra events arranged on grounds. 

THE BAND.Music for the races is furnished by the Mt. Holly Band, a most creditable organization, which is constantly improving by practice. Composing the band are: Solo, B. D. cornet, W. F. Holland, director; solo B. D. cornet, Bob Herndon; solo B. D. cornet, W. G. Rhyne; first B. D. cornet, P. S. Fite; solo alto, W. T. Johnson; baritone, R. A. Wilson; B. D. clarionette, C. V. Fite; E. D., clarionette, J. M. Wilson; E. R. clarionette, C. S. Drake; slide trombone, Prof. Warburton; slide trombone, Dr. E. C. Boyte; first tenor, Chas. Johnson; second tenor, T. E. Fite; first alto, S. J. Dellinger; second alto, Paul; second alto, G. D. Jenkins; tuba, John Holland; bass drum, John Tipton; snare drum, Willis Holland; drum major, J. A. Costner.