The Winslow Mail

Flagstaff Offers Colorful Picture With "Days of '49"

"Tenderfeet" mingled with be-whiskered "Forty Niners" and crinoline clad maids of the same vintage in Flagstaff July 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, and the Skylight City's celebration of the Sesqui-Centennial of American Independence passed into history Monday night with an even higher record of visitors entertained, entertainment offered and efficient handling of crowds than that made in 1925, the initial year of the '49 celebration.

Flagstaff Elks, who have had the task of directing the entertainment for their local people and the swarms of visitors from all over the state, kept the whole town humming with activity and pleasure for the four full days. The able and willing co-operation of Flagstaff merchants contributed no small part to the success of the affair, and window displays in keeping with the eventful holiday were seen everywhere.

Every principal street in the city was gaily draped with flags of all nations, and the vivid colors were reflected by the Wild West apparel of most of Flagstaff's population. Every male in that city who could sprout whiskers did so, and the untrimmed chin-spinach, combined with flannel shirts, boots and six shooters, gave the Forty Niners an untamed look that added greatly to tourist interest.

The big midway, presided over by large and hairy men, wearing artillery on the hip, was reminiscent of the main street of a boom town of '49 days. The concessions that offered the temptations of games of chance, wherein a ham or side of bacon, or an Indian blanket was the stake, were dominated by replicas of the old time gamblers, with frock coat, brocaded vest, needle pointed boots and stove-pipe hat.

Enclosed by a miniature stockade of pine slabs, the '49 dance floor was mobbed at every dance by hordes of celebrants. The administrators of the music for the dance also were dressed and unshaven in the prevailing mode, and dangers of entangling their whiskers in the cornet keys and banjo strings beset the intrepid musicians constantly.

Everyone connected with the show expressed themselves as highly pleased with the second annual "Days of 49." Sunday's crowd of visitors alone was estimated at approximately 3,000.

Hotels were packed to the fire escapes, and private homes were mustered into hotel service to accommodate the large crowds.

Restaurants were crowded to capacity at almost every hour of the day, and by Sunday noon most of them were beginning to cast about for some method of rushing additional supplies of food into Flagstaff.

Barbers were the only ones who suffered, for few indeed have been the shaves and haircuts in the past several weeks.

Broad smiles wreathed the faces of the tonsorial artists Tuesday, however, as they prepared for the big rush of harvesting beards.