Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1858-07-10
Our Minneapolis Correspondence.
MINNEAPoLIs, July 6, 1855

MlNNEAroLIs, July 6, 1853.
| To the Euitors Of the -Ninnesotidn:
The celebration Of our National Independ.
ence passed Of yesterday July 5th) in tho
most enthusiastic manner Minneapolis ,it
St. Anthony united their forces and succeed
ed in spending tie "GlOrious Fourth" in as
! joyful a manner as it ever was my good for
tune to witness. OF course the want Of fund,
in these hard times prevented an extensive
display, and the full, free venting Of mucl
patriotic feeling; and the Committee of Ar
rangements notwithstanding their earnest en-.
deavors were much embarrassed in their op.
erations.
The ladies of the two cities came forward
to their assistance, however, in the most gen
erous and patriotic manner and loaded most
bountiiully the long lines Of tables that were
built in the beautiful shady grove on Nicolet
Island.
Capt. TAPER brought up artillery from
| FIT. Smelling and commenced the pogramme
OF the day by firing off a National salute of
| thirty two guns at sunrise. simultaneously
with the first boom of the Capt's big gun all
the church and school bells in the two cities
rang forth on the morning air many exulta-
tons of liberty and joy. The booming OF
cannons and ringing of bells awoke our pco-
| pie from their slumbcrs and babe them forth
to the exercises Of celebrating for tie eighty
second time the natal day of our freedom.
The work of collecting the provisions pre-
pared by the ladies commenced early in the
day. Vehicles were running constantly for
several hours between the residences of our
| citizens and the tables on the Island BY
twelve o'clock vast quantities of good things
were tastefuly arranged Oh the tables by the
committee men and their lady assistants
Nearly ten thousand dishes were usel to
serve up the feast, yet the cloth had received
piles Of bread, pies, cakes, confectionery, etc.
IIogshcadS Of water, wagon loads of ice, bar
rels of sugar and boxes Of lemons were
consumed in making lemonade, and still tho;i-
sands suffered with thirst. More than sixty
thousand feet Of lumber were used in making
seats, tables, dancing floors, and other ar
rangcments on the grounds. The COX" was
served up in an excellent style the roasting
was conducted by an efficient corps the
meat was fat, tender, and ''done, Just enough.
The whole animal was carved up in small
slices, and served on the table nicely.
At twelve O'Clock the second salute Of 80
guns was given and the bells again rung-
The procession, one from each town, then
moved forward to the Island, under the COM
mand Of the Chief Marshall of tic day, Dr.
j. II. Murphy of st. Anthony.
They were received Oh the grounds by the
President OF the day, Gel. Cyrus Aldrich. OF
Minneapolis. All the seats and grounds in
the ncighborhood Of the rostrum were soon
densey crowded Seats for over five thou
sand persons were compactly fled, and thou
sands listened to the proceedings from the
grounds outside the circle of seats. The
Declaration of independence was read BY W.
J. Parsons, Esq, of Minneapolis. Judge
Atwater delivered pathetic Grafton in ans
wer to the toast, "The day we celebrate" IN
a very effective manner, and abounded with
sentiment that found response in the hearts
Of all present.
Other toasts were replied to by E. NJ. Will
SON. Of Minneapolis, Chas. Hoag, Esq, of
,1;rne.nolis. C. c. Andrews Of st. Cloud,
Horny Bcman, of Minneapolis, Eb. Williams,
;r and many others of both cities.
Croffut, of the .Neacs, was, hear it said,
chosen by the Toast Committee to reply to
"The Press" and after accepting the position