The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-11-14 00:00:00

THE CELEBRATION OF THE "
DORCHESTER.

A marked contra—at to the limier and disorderly
proceedings of the past few years was the well-
managed, and magnificent display witnessed on
Monday evening in celebration of the great gunpowder
plot of 1605, demonstrating to the letter that the
young men of Dorchester know how to conduct them-
selves, and are men who can be relied upon when they
promise that there shall be no disturbance if they are
granted but reasonable concessions. That " the
powers that be" acted wisely in eventing permission
for the torchlight procession on Monday none will
deny, and that the promise that the peace of the town
should be preserved was equally well performed, will
not be disputed.
Several gentlemen of the town, including the Rev.
H. Everett, Captain .1. F. Hodges, Dr. Robinson, &c.,
put "their heals together," and • eubscripti was
started, heartily responded to. a goal rimed sum
raised, anti the arrangements completed, which were
that a torchlight procession should be organised, and
that a grand display I d fireworks, with a huge Isinfire
on Poundluiry, should complete the evening's cele-
bration. To carry out the arrangements several
meetings were hell, awl a committee chosen, who
were entrusted with the necessary details. About
50 gentlemen interested enrolled themselves as a
guard to keep the procession in onler, and guar-
anteed the peace of the town. Twenty companies
of 10 men each, with as ninny captains, were formal.
and each of these wore a card showing the number of
his company, the captains wearing distinguishing
colours. A I...rge .m.intity of fireworks were purchased,
and these were judiciously dispensed over the entire
=lon, which was formed in line four abreast in
da' rowl at 8 p.m., and headed by tie
Dprchester Town Band. all wearing ilistuise. marched
neD the street. To say the least, it was a magnificent
spectacle as the immense concourse emerged from
under the deliditful avenue, the whole line being lit
up with a continuous display of various coloured tires.
There was no undue excitement, no yelling of a law-
less crowd, but one and all seemed to vie in making
the display a perfect success.
On Poundbury hill had been deposited in a huge
rick several thousand faggots of furze, and as the pros
ceseion entered by the western gate a b ilt was made,
and then at the command to "advance," given by the
captains, each c.inipany niarched to the rick. and with
the fume on fire. Standing in
semi-circle, there was such a display of fireworks as
has iieblom been seen in Dorchester or any other
town. The rick continued to burn, the hand playing
at intervals, until about eleven, when " God save the
Queen" brought the proceedings to a close, and in the
most orderly manlier the vast concourse (estimated at
from 5,000 to 6,000 persons) left the field, and by 12
o'clock the town hail resumed its wonted quiet. The
=
ling. had been a great success, and the
of the whole town are due to those gentlemen
who Mlle forward and interested themselves in
organising the affair, and the precautions taken by
the magistrates by swearing in a number of special
constables to preserve good order were proved to be
unnecessary, as all had determined, having been
granted the concessions asked, that they would have
nothing but orderly proceedings. All honour to
them! May the good feeling created by the affair
I