“Washington’s Birthday. The anniversary of Washington’s birthday was royally celebrated in this canyon. Patriotism cropped out exuberantly, and manifested itself so heartily that the full-blooded American bubbled over with national pride and looked on with a watery eye - frequently so watery that he couldn’t see the road. The celebration was inaugurated early in the day by a go-as-you-please procession from one saloon to another, the man who had the most money acting as Grand Marshal. By dark the crowds were ready to celebrate the birthday of anybody who would put up for whisky. Though knives and pistols were plentifully displayed, very few deaths occurred, and these only when a gun went off accidentally while the celebrants were running each other around stoves and such obstructions as a man could dodge behind. Taken as a whole, the day was one which should be forgotten as soon as possible.”
