The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-07-20
Currespunarntt.
NEW YORK.

-. ND" IUhh.
The Fourth Of July-IManner of spending il
Ne'o Variety Of Amusemsnts-
Military Pdrdde-Fires and Accidents
Riot IN The Ninth Ward-The Summer
Heat and Health Of the City-Destructire
Iornado-Hs Effects in williamsburg
Explosion Of the Steamer Ne,o World
Three Ltres Lost--The Crystal Palace
Inauguration Erercises-Price of Season
I'eketS--Co'i'Ti6uiiOns FROM Abroad
Foreign Commissioners d-c.
New YORK, July s, 1859.
Mr.. EDITOR 1T is the fifth of July,
time of reaction and fatigue for if one day
of the year more than all others calls into
action the energies of our people, it is the
anniversary of our national independence
Every one is bound ou that day to enjoy
himself to the utmost; and not few 90 so
far as to make an actual toll of PLEASURE
Even those who have to strain hard to make
both ends meet during the rest of the year,
manage to l"y by something for this great
occasion, and spend their hard-earned savings
as freely rs if they had the exhaustless purse
OF Fortunatus himself. AS various rs arc
human tastes, so various are the amusements
of the day. Some embark on the various
excursion boats which leave our wharves,
black with pleasure-seekers others eschcw
the crowd, and make quiet pedestrian ex-
ploration in the ncighborhood, or perhaps
try their fortune piscatorially In some invi-
ting brook, blessing the memory of old
lzaak Walton; n third class celebrate the
festival by catering with more liberal hand
than usual to the appetitcs of the inner man !;
but the great majority show thSf patriotism
by lavish indulgence in gunpAwdcr. Es-
pccially is this the case with the juvenile
community, whose universal investments in
iire-crackcrs, pistols, guns, torpedoes, minia-
ture cannon, and whatever other pulminating
compounds or engines can make day hdous
with internal noise, are enough to drive a
nervous man into the slough of despiration.
Not satisfied with the day itself, they com.
mencc the night before aNl he must be
some kin to the seven slccpers that can set
their din ut defiance, and snore down the
everlasting explosions that assal his cars
The celebration Of the day commenced at
sunrise, by the firing of salute on the Bat
terry by the Veteran Artillery Corps Mas
ses of clouds at this time obscured the hca-
vens; but these soon broke away, and the
day was rs pleasant as could have been de-.
sired. The first Division of New York Stats
Militia, embracing twelve regiments, parnded
in the morning and made fine appearance.
The seventh Regiment, made up of the Ma.
ton Guards, and numbering about six hun
dred muskets, attracted universal admiration
They are regarded as the most effective body
among our city militia, and are usually called
on, in preference TO any other regiment, in
cases of riot. They, it will be remembered,
quellcd the Astor Place disturbance on the
occasion Of Macrcady's performance in this
city.
fourth of July never occurs without nm
unusual share of fires and accidents. OF the
former We had rs many as three, though.
thanks to an abundance Of Croton water, the
damage was trilling. AS 10 accidents, four.
teen persons are reported rs having suffered
more or less seriously, from the lacerating
OF hand TO the loss Of an eye, by the ex.
Ploson or careless discharge Of firearms
We observed little or no drunk cnness in
the streets; although the hootings of some
that passed our window late in the evening
Indicated degree Of exhilaration that did
not seem TO have been produced in the nat.
ural way.
The day was signalized, however, in
manner which, alas for our reputation for
sobricty and good order, has Of late become
fearfully common. A desperate riot took
place in the morning, which lasted more
'han an hour and resulted in the severe in
jury Of several citizens and policemen. 1t
occurred in this wise, as one of Kipp g.
Browns stages was passing down hudson
street, at the corner Of Troy the horses be-
came frightened by the noise, and the driver
losing control Of them, dashed into process
sion Of Irish citizens, who were thus celc-
braiing the day, in number about five hun.
dred. At this indignity, Irish blood was
fired; tho Pugnacity which this choleric race
inherit from their sires, and which forms as
distinguishing feature of their character
here as it does in the old country, would not
allow them to pocket the affront They
headed the horses, pulled the driver from his
scat, and, without asking any questions pro-
cceded to beat him in the most barbarous
manner. A number of citizens who saw
what had taken place attempted to interfere
but were themselves assaled, and the fight
became general. Meanwhile intelligence Of
the riot had been conveyed to the Ninth
Ward Police, and eighteen officers soon ap-
pearcd on the field. They were shortly af.
terwards reinforced by the captain of the
Sixteenth Ward Police and platoon of his
men; but though they did their duty gal.
lantly they Were unable to cope with five
hundred Irishmen whose blood was up, and IL
was only after being assisted by our citizens
in great numbers that they succeeded in