Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-07-09


it, OratOrs has come and gone snd some Of Us ere
wiser, some perhaps better, ell OIdsT. twas usher.
cd IN by the booming Of cannon. the ringing ofbeIs
the shouts Of the young. the prayers Of the good,
pure and patriotic, the smiles of Innocence and
beauty. A thin cloud yelled and sOfteued the rays
Of the sun, and light COOL breeze made the atmos-
phere delicious. Party feeling, private aumOsIes'
everything calculated TO the pleasure disturb
the harmony ofthe muItituden rcty, were buried.
All the children Of one great family,-AIl snx
ious to honor the birthday Of the Nation.
Scarcely had the sun risen ere crowds Of persons
came pouring into our city 10 different directions,
and long before the procession was formed, our
streets were crowded with IN eager and delighted
multitude. A magnificent National dag, forty feet
in length, waved gracefully from the majestic Lib
erty Pole on the Plaza, and all along the line Of
march and In fact at all our hotels and sAOonA and
not few private dwellings, our proud Gag noatcd
| 10 the breeze"
Each company Of the Fire Department, precisely
at the hour appointed, formed In front Of IL house,
and at 10 O'Clock Confidence Engine Company No.
l. the Placervillc Band Of S head, took up the line
Of march through Center street. escOrtng Hope
Hook and Ladder Company. u Coloma street. where
the procession Was JOiued by Neptune Engine Com
pany No. 9.
At given signal the procession, under command
Of Chief Engineer James Turnbull, moved through
Main street to Upper PAcerville, returning through
Main street, passed up Sacramento street, and back
again through Main street to the Theutc the upper
portion of which was crowded To its fullest capacity
by ladies and gentlemen Of this city aud county The
lower portion being reserved for the Fire Depart.
mcnt.
Confidence Engine Company No. !, as members,
uniform, black cap, red shirt and black pants head
cd the procession. Their engine waS drawn by eight
black horses, led by groomS aud mounted by boys,
in full uniform Of the company Neat black cloth,
with silver trHrrngS, covered the horses. Follow
ing the engine were four robust PioueerS members
| Of the company on each side Of whom were lads
bearing gilt lamps. Their engine was tasiefully
decorated with Gags and flowers, the levers glowing
with silver nlars and upon the gallery, with Seli-
satisfied and somewhat defiant look, emblsmnic Of
the gallant Confidence boys, WAS live game cock.
Two lovely little girls. Mas Thompson and Miss
Person, dressed In our National cOlors, stood on
the front and rear Of the platform Of the machine
Their graceful appearance their faces glowing with
pride and joy, added much to the Sttractivencss Of
carried along the line Of march by Lewis, negro
boy.
Hope Hook and Ladder Company M. !, 40 mem.
bers-uniform, black bats, blue shirts aud black
pants, followed. Thirty.seven men on the truck,
four muscular pioneers, aud one carrying the neat
banner VI the pioneers. perfectly rugged ScbOou.
er, made Of white. red aud blue CLOTH with slender
masts sails flying and Streamer floating from the
mauSaA, was placed upon the ladder truck Of this
company. II was beautifully painted and hand.
somcly trimmed with small banners and wrcaths Of
flowers. AZ the helm, In full sailor custume seem.
ngly impressed with the responsibility ofhis posi-
ton and determined To MI II maufuly, stood little
Johnny CrandAll. noble specimen Of y Dung Amer.
lea. With IN alertnesS remarkable 10 one 90 young
at every difficult point no turned the wheel with %
much energy that the Precipitation fairly strcamed
| from him. Each Of the original thirteen States was
represented by smiling little beauty, Creased IN
white. with neat chapst upon her brow. All had
scNts assigned them In the schooner. The goddcss
Of Liberty, grave and graceful appropriately dress.
ed sat in the stern Of the boat With Minerva ct her
side. The latter held In her right hand q small
banner bearing the motto Eureka" and In her left
. spear. Taking IL altogether II was Q charming
1
Next came the "Huuneman" Engine Neptune
No. Q, accompanied BY Hose Carriage. and the en-.
tire strength OF the CompAny--6O mem uniform,
blue caps, red shirts and black pAnts-with eight
volunteers In similar Dress Both Engine and cur.
riage are painted an ulTamarinc blue, striped and
tipped with gold, presenting nn elegant and beaut-
full combination Of colors. Her order Of march wus
arranged with admirable taste. First came six
Pioneers, bearing axes tipped with gold, with gilt
No. marked upon the blade. Then followed James
Bailey, bearing alOfl the rich and splendid banner
Of the company, having ON one side the name and
date Of organization, and upon the other tho motto
Of thecOmpany-" We're Ready" Masters DcGroo,
and Fitch held the guide strings and MasicrA Gran.
dali and Wondorly, each with gilt lamp, adorned
with Sewers and ribbons, marched BY the aide Of
their young companions. Then followed the bear.
ers MASTERS NurgOttcn aud Barr Of the blue ak
| guide HAgH, trimmed with gold bullion. Next the
Engine, fully manned, exquisictIy decorated with
wreaths Of the choicest flowers, and dressed with
National cOlOFs, trimmed with silver stars and
fringe. The pedestal upon which stands the figure
VI Neptune was handsomely relieved By q wreath If
roses and four diminuve flags. Neptune held IN
the LEFT hand silver No. In the right he graspcd
the trident, which was surmOunted by . very small
American flag. Next came the neat aud elegant
silk flag, presented To the company by ladies' of PlA
cerville, borne by Dir, W. Shepherd. The Hose
Carriage, With rich establishment Of flowers and
gay cOlors. adorned with gold aud silver trimmings
brought up tue rear. The carriage 10 surmouniCd
by an eagle, from whose beak WAS held suspended
= large figure 9, around which was thrown cluster
u flowers and gay ribbons. Altogether the effect
was most pleasing. and showed lAudable desire on
the part Of the company to surpasS all competitors
in the beauty, variety and richness Of lie dccoFa
tiOns. Not u member Of the company but was
proud Of their Little Beauty" as their Engine has
not been appropriately termed.
Pho martial bearing Of the members Of the De.
partment. the perfect order with which they march
ed. the stirring music Of the Band, the decorations
Of the Engines. tho sweat little Misses who repre-.
sentcd the "od thirteen" &C., the haga, banners,
and emblems Of the FirCnen, all presented . scene
at once novel, attractive and pleasing; aud the lA.
dice testified their delight by repeatedly waving
their handkerchief in token VI appreciation.
About ~ o'clock the procession entered the Thea.
ter Tho stage was decorated with tiags and en-
blems Of the Department, conspicuous amons W hch
was the magnificent banner Of Neptune Engine
Company. The stage was occupied by the Chief
Engineer, Chaplain, Reader Of the Declaration, Or.
stOr Of the Day, invited guests, and members Of tho
Department Seats were ranged In . Ssmi.CircO
around the stage in the centre of which sat the god
dess Of Liberty, Miss Hannah LlOwland, Eureka =