The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-05-03
Railroad Celebration at Nep5erR, ". c.

WELDON, N. c., May l, 1855
great many of the " Newbern Celebrators'
have returned, and some were pleased while others
were not. Some Jared we'll, in fact excellently
while others didu't fare at ell. for the town
entirely overlooked with people, and / doubt ex-
ceediugly if the old town, even in the palmisst
days of that Arch Royalist, Gov. Tryon, ever
dreamed OF having such humber of people with
in its bounds. The crowd has been estimated at
from eight thousand to fifteen thousand people
and although this may not sound very large in
Richmond, it is nevertheless laundering big
crowd for North Carolina town. There were ten
military companies in attendance, among whom
shone conspicuously the Oak City Guards, Captain
X 8. Tucker, of Raleigh This company had EN-
ploysd the Armory Band OF yeur city, and of course
they bad the very best sort of music, for Captain
Smith and his company know how to blow it out
of every sort of instrument. l was not at the
celebration, but FREUD has very kindly given me
the benefit of his Dotes, and will kindly trans.
fer that benefit to you.
Trains Of cars crowded with people went in from
the North Carolina, the Wilmington and Weldon
aud the Raleigh aud CASTOR Railroads, and that
from the Wilmington and Weldon Road consisted
of ten passenger cars and freight car, and carried
Gas ascertained through Capt. Morrison, the con-
ductor,) ctyitt hundred and ftty persons. Besides
these, the trains belonging 10 the North Carolina
and Atlantic Railroad Co. were running in with
crowds of people from abont Monday till Thursday
morning.
Rev. Francis L. Hawks, of the Protestant EMS
copal Church, was the first speaker introduced by
the Hon. John X. Donnell, (who acted as chair
NAM aud after his speech of about an hour. Hou.
Henry w. Miller was introduced, and spoke about
three-quarters of an hour. Both speeches ELECTED
considerable applause, but great many persons
were debarred the pleasure of hearing, as the
crowd was 80 large that they could not get near
enough.
The dinner WAS sumptuous affair. The tables
was two hundred yards long by actual measure
nent, and it iarly groaned under the load of edi-
bes. Among other things there were over
thousand pies. Here let me make an extract from
my friends notes: walked into the engine house
where the tables were spread, felt thirsty, but
found an abundance of ice water u huge tubs with
pitchers and tumbiers convenient. | had awaited
myself early in the morning of an invitation to
inspect the tables, stepped of their length, and
found them to be too hundred yards long. At din.
ner the table was so full that there was not room
on it for another plate. Was informed that $500
had been expended in crockery for the occasion
The pie plates We're each covered with pies f6IT
deep, all sliced. There large tureens of oys-
ters, with pyramids of bread and crackt rs heaped
around them. Fifty bacon hams had been boiled
and sliced, and l could make no estimate of the
beet, mutton, shoat, &C., but cart loads of it, and
barrels OF bread were spread on the side tables for
repenishing purposes. There was also the great
est abundance OF champagne wine aud old North
State rye whisky And after thousands had
eaten voraciously, the table still so full that
itappeared as if parcel of children had onIg been
playing with the food and had eaten none After
dinner, walked down to the railroad bridge which
crosses Trent river. 1t is a beautiful bridge and
all the pillars built of stone some feet above
the water, and from that to the wood work, OF
brick. The bridge is all of six hundred yards long,
and has draw near the centre for the passage of
vessels. This bridge cost $50 600, and is an ele-
CANT and substantial structure"
There was free ball on Thursday night, and of
course was attended by large crowds, 50 much so
in fact as to preclude enjoyment.
Having written you already longer letter than
| intended, or will be pleasant to You, will now
wind up In haste. f.