East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-07-19
cor'esPondeDes Of the hagop Signal
Fhe Fourth Of July in Saginaw
Goderich, Q. w. Jnly 9th. 1850

be an eye witness Of the festivities IA,
e took place in the thriving city of Ia,
Saginaw, on Wednesday the S4th ann
yersary OF the American Declaration ,
Independence and as, from circumstance,
, this event had peculiar interest TO IN
people OF Goderich, in consequence of th
invitation from the Firemen of Saeinay
to our Firemen of Express Co. No. il
particular, and 10 our citizens generals
to be there, i must endeavor TO give VOL
some idea of the manner in which W,
were received and treated by our eousin
across the pond.
But to begin with the beginning. NJ
doubt you as well as Others, are aware
that on Friday last, the Niagara, was nd
vertsed to leave Goderich on AN Fx.
curs.on trip to Saginaw to assist in cele
bratlng our Yankee cousins grand dav.
The boat was to leave at l p. Nj. but in
consequence of slight accident she was
not ready for an hour afterwards, but I
am afraid 1t was more difficult TO get the
Company together than to repair the
boat, for it was nearly 3 p. M. before the
ilremcn were on board AT first we were
TOR although u very -nd.ru;J.-.h. N;oo.or.
fine propeller, she had not the clean and
neat appearance, nor elegant accommo-
dations of the 'Sciota' and l have no
doubt, from all have heard, that our
enterprising owners lost many an ex-
cursionist by the change of boats but the
disappointment was only temporary for
We had jolly Captain and crew, an. the
Niagara proved herself to be anything
but slow coach, as We made the passage
in Is hours. besides the detention of tow
ing o vessel into the River. At 7 o'clock
we were on shore in Bay City but had
only time to see that it had the appear
ance of busy sndt hriving place Just be-
fore we started for the East Town the
Forest Queen arrived with another band
of Firemen and Excursionists from Port
Huron. So we hurried away as fast as
possible and the Queen after us, trying
to get up with her batch first, but we had
mile start and fast as the Queen is, it
was too much for her. When we got off
East Saginaw, the Queen was still half a
mile astern, but here, what a pageant
burst upon our view. The wharfs were
fairly covered with as brilliant an as.
semblage as fancy can picture. Military
companies artillery, firemen, two Bands
banners flying, men cheering, music
playing, and last, but not least, such a
display Of beauty and crinoline as L can
not attempt to describe. Suffice it to
say that l lost my heart to all eternity,
and If l don't get one of them Yankee
gals for wife why then Pm no true Fire
men, that's all Well, by the time our
share of the cheering was done and we
were preparing to go ashore up comes
the Queen, and our captain like a jolly
and true hearted sailor as he is, made
room for the Queen to put her bow
aside of our stern, to enable him to land
his Passengers at the same time as our
selves, and enjoy with us the honors of
the reception; but fancy our intense dis
gust to find that the Queen instead OF
being content with share of the wharf,
steamed right up inside and thrust our
vessel out altogether. A greater display
of bearishness l have never seen. The
consequence was, we were obliged to cast
off our vessel and back down to another
wharf, but our friends, Pioneer Go. No, 1
and Osborne's Band at once detached
themselves, and with banners flying and
music playing, came to receive us, and
then, Mr. Editor, commenced an ovation
with an enthusiasm that beggars all de
scription. Pioneer Go. No. l, which il
composed Of the very elite of Saginaw
constituted themselves our especial hosts
and guave us such welcome as only
firemen-and only Yankee firemen Al
that-could give. BY my faith it would
have made you, Mr. Editor, adozen years
Younger at the very least. Why weren'
you thar? Well, they had fairly got
possession of us-I mean that literally
for each of us / believe was taken charg,
Of by two OF our entertainers, and saw
the Mayor and CO.! Little take posses
sion of Captain who Was with US, ant
headed our procession-and pretty con
siderable one we made tell you, will
the band at our head. They marched u
off to Pioneer Cos Engine house wher,
magnificent Luncheon was prepared TO
us, anu DctWctu buc IA tiiiciy ming saiutc
, outside the windows and the fusilade o
champagne corks inside, together will
some Of an uproar, / began to think W.
were engaged in pretty smart skirmish
but it was only getting through the pre-
r lude, for the real business was yet t
, come, and as time won't stand still, on
, hosts were trying to put as much tai
feeding and glorious Champagne as pos
: sible into us in the shortest possible time
T and tell you they did it too.
But as soon as possible, " Firemer
away p was the call, "and form process
sion; for you must know ours was only
small part of the pageant Of the day, a
the other Fire CO., Excelsior No. 2 wer
entertaining their guests in similar style
and both had to meet the military anc
5 civic guests and citizens at centra
point. So, as fast as we could be 60
|, outside, we were formed into procession
: To the Goderich -Fremen was given tn
: place Of honor next the band headed b
q the bands of the two Cos, and then wa
: seen the strange anomaly some woul
say, / say the glorious sight of the oil
red flag and the stars and stripes side b
e side celebrating the anniversary Of Amer
r, can Independence; the British flag carrie