Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-07-10
Ghe 6ree press.
BURLINGTON
FRIDAY MORNING. JULY 10, 1868.

The FOURTH OF July was opened in Bur
lington in due form by what would-be quie
slecpers thought an extra-sufhcient amour
Of cannonading at an early hour. As tn,
day advanced people began to congregate anC
before noon the town was full 1t is esti
mated that five or six thousand people wer,
present, coming by trains and boats, on foot
on horseback. in single and double teams
alone, in couples, and whole families. baby,
cradle and all
The Boxer Engine Company appeared on
/ parade in the morning, headed by the jericho
Band. We should have supposed that
the other companies had all gone to the war,
five hadn't seen them at fires lately. 1t is
pity that they could not have been induced
to appear also.
Speeches were made from stand in the
Park, by Daniel Roberts. L. b. Engesby and
j. French, Esqs., and the intelligence just
received Of the victory won by the Army of
the Potomac was communicated to the crowd
and received with enthusiasm
The strong wind which prevailed nearly
all day rendered it hazardous 10 attempt
initiating in the balloon. much to the disap-
pointment Of the people but it could not be
helped. In the afternoon the wind lulled
and Mr.. Morat determined to 20 up. 1t was
so late in the evening however, before the
balloon was filed, that but few people wit
messed the ascension, which was a successful
one, reaching a height of50OO feet. 1t was
50 dark. that the Aeronaut did not take
long fight, but descended inabout ten min
utcs in Colchester, about six miles of.
1t is much regretted by all that the bal
loon could not be sent up in the afternoon as
advertised. Many who had come especially
to sec the ascension, IN their disappointment
denounced the whole affair as swindle. \
little reflection however, should show any
one, that the danger of filling the balloon in
50 confined a spot, during high wind, was
very great. 1t would have been impossible to
have prevented the balloon, while filling,
from dashing against the fences and trees, to
its certain destruction.
The fireworks on the Battery in the even
ing were very fine and witnessed by a vast
crowd of people. The Steamers ofthe Cham
plain transportation Company, returning
from their excursion trips,lay off the battery,
that their passengers might see the display,
and the rockets from the camp-ground were
answered by Others from the boats, and from
private exhibitions in several parts of the
town, making a very fine sight.
The Strawberry festival of the Ladies Re
lief Association at the Town Hall was great
success. Six bushels of strawberries, hun
dred quarts of ice-cream, and cakes, biscuits
and otter things in proportion were sold, and
much more would have been sold if it could
have been got. The receipts were S4l5, and
the net profits about $500, which will be
quite a help to the treasury Of this efficient
Association for the relief of our sick
and wounded soldiers.
The rush of people into town was very
much larger than any one anticipated, and
in consequence the hotels, boarding houses.
groceries, eating-houscs and many private
dwclling--whose inmates took pity on the
hungry crowd-were eaten bare of all pro-
visions early in the afternoon. Many went
away at night, having been unable to get
anything to eat Monday morning there was
not a loaf Of bread to be bought in town.
The weather was good, cloudy and at times
rather windy, but much more pleasant than
a hot dusty day would have been.
We have heard of but few accidents \
little girl from Westport got separated from
her parents and lost, but was taken and car
ed for by one of our citizens and found after
some search by her parents.
There was a good deal Of drunkenness /
early in the day, but by the efforts Of sheriff
Flanagan, most of the rum-holes were soon /
closed and liquor became scarce. There was |
but little disturbance Of any kind, /
and but one arrest was made
The despatch from Gen. Meade announc-
ing his success and the President s bulletin 10
the country in consequence, received by tel /
egraph and published in an extra FREE Pass
in the afternoon, increased the good feeling of
the multitude and added much to the ioyful
celebration of the day. Our steam press was
kept at full speed for nearly three hours to
supply the demand for the FREE Pass.