Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1866-07-11
Celebration of the 4th.

IN III - eoI wv VI NS
s~plendOrs of a clear. calm morning sky. feeked
with crimson and gold. presaging a day of JOY and
beauty. it was ushered amid clouds and tempests
torrents of rain and bowling winds, more in har-
mony with bleak November than leafy, rosy
July. Still. despite the untoward aspect, the patri-
otic impulses that the day naturally inspires in
patriotic hearts. could not be suppressed, and the
gun-squad Numbered out the early morning salute
while from dome, steeple and belfry there were
rang out by the iron tongued bells. glad tdings
of great joy" But as the storm continued fol
several hours, most people seemed resigned to the
conclusion that the celebration must prove a failure
At about s O'Clock the clouds began to break, and
Young America" who had been up from early
dawn, and whose well-flled arsenals of fire crack
ers and torpedoes were in danger of explosion be-
cause of the irrepressible patriotic fire that ami
mated the souls Of their youthful possessors. now
sailed forth to give vent to the Spirit of '76."-
An ~incessant fusilade was kept up as long as ;he
ammunition lasted, or a dime was left Il rspienish
with.
Owing to the rain in the morning, the Committee
of Arrangements deemed it best to defer the open
ing Of the exercises of the day until after noon
This proved a successful plan, as the after part Of
the day was delightful. and the assembling of the
people, which was impracticable in the morning,
and unprOmising as to number. became lively later
in the day, and continued until several thousands
had assembled TO participate in the celebration
At half-past u, P. NJ. a procession. under the
MarshalShip of Col. S~trattOn. and his assistants.
was formed consisting of the Band in their chariot.
and a number of citizens in carriages followed by
the artillery squad, the gun drawn by four hor-
ses, and the artillerists in uniform, riding upon
horses. The next in procession was Fire Co. Ma
honing No. l, their engine drawn by four white
horses, and the hose-cart by two horses Of the same
color. The men wore a uniform Of a red shirt and
black pants. and marched after their machine
This company had q fine band of martial music.
whose enliving notes impaired much of that ami
nation and good feeling which the fife and drum
seem to naturally inspire.
Neptune No. >. presented a very attractive ap-
pearance. The men wore a uniform of a red shirt
and black pants. and were topped out with regular
fre-hats. which helped their appearance by giving
them a more distinct fireman look. Their engine
was gaily and handsomely decked with evergreens
lower and ribbons. In the centre of the machine
was a young lady appropriately appareled to rep
resent the Goddess of Liberty. while six small boys
dressed as ZouaveS. occupied suitable Positions
The arrangement was really in coed taste, and
the display was highly creditable to the company.
The procession after passing through some of the
prlnclpdl SIIeeSt euLeE6u Tue L AIR. where arrange
ments had been made, By the erection ofa stand
and seats for accommodating those VIII should
participate in the intellectual exercises of the day.
The assemblage was called to order by MayorWeeks.
President of the Day. Rev. George Pierce. Chap
lain of the Day. openedth the exercises with appro-
pirate prayer. breathing the spirit of christian
patriotism. and love of liberty and true progress.
The Declaration of Independence was then read
in a clear and impressive tone by Rev. C. S. Alb
bott. The band then played a national air, after
which, Hon. Alphonso Hart. Of Portage county.
the orator of the Day. was introducedto the assem-
bly,. We, of course. in our limited space. will not
attempt to even to epitomise the eloquent speech
of Nj. Hart. 1t will suffice to say that it was conce-
ded 10 be one OF the most successful efforts Of the
kind ever heard in Warren. 1t was practical. soul
stirring and full of the animating. progressive
spirit Of these ~eventful times.
At the conclusion of the grafton, and after the
band had given some of their finest strains, the
President announced that the next business in or
der was the
ToAsTs AND RESPONSES.
L. The dog ace Celebrate, may the encircling years
add to its glory. Response By the Band-Hail
3. Revolutionary Heroes-May their love of Lib
erty be inherited and their memory be ever cher
ished BY a greatful people Response BY the Band.
s. The President Of the United Stafes-TheE xecu-
tive head of the greatest nation on earth. May. he
in future as in the past. firmly stand ythe patriots
of the country and the principles Of our Govern
ment.
4. Washington and Observation-Disclosures the
father, and Lincoln the preserver of our country.
Response by Rev. B. Excel,
5. United States-0nea and inseperable. Hon. G..
6. Stars and stripes-The emblem of universal
may their eolors never be struck. Res
nsf S.sdI5.r. 81 dn SPFaia agRNd 5lPn s6ns of Patriot
ie sires. may they be rewarded for their perils and
Response-Music.
s. 0hio-The mother of Generals. Response
Hon. A. Hart.
9. The Governor of Ohio-Our Executive whom
delight to honor, whether as a General on the
councils of State. Responsibilities.
10. Western Reserve-NOted for its Patriotism.
The Press-May it ever be free to defend the
right and denounce the wrong. Mr.. Walter B.
II Religion and Education-The essential ele-
ments of a free people. Rev. Mr.. HOisington.
l3. The LGdtes-OURa arms their surest defence.
THEIR arms our greatest reward. Response by I.
j. McLain.
After the toasts and responses had been gotten
with. it was announced that the fun was
not all over. but that
wHEELBARROw RACE
was to ONE of about 5, D. m. in which the con-
testants for the prizes were orun around the Park,
with wheelbarrows, the one coming out ahead, to
receive apurse of SO. The race came of in due
time, a young man from Champion outstripping
all competitors. making the score in good time,
amid any amount Of enthusiastic yelling. A purse
of S. was raised for the person who should blind
folded go from the northwest to the southwest
corner of the Park. the quickest. with a wheel
barrow. A white boy and a eOlored man were the
racers. The eolored Individual started of well,
but soon coming in collision with a horse, was
thrown of the track. and his white competitor was
the victor. The fact that the latter was enabled to
make a bee line for his destination. induced the
belief that he had not been properly blindfolded.
but it subsequently, leaked out that he had a con-
federate who ran along side Of him. and by using
the terms gee" and "haw. kept the wheelbarrow
from going out of the way to the right or left
This was considered of doubtful fairness, but in
view Of the sharpness of the game, the stakes were
delivered.
There was quite a large number of persons re-
manned in town to witness the
DISPLAY OF
in the evening. A fine entertainment of fire.
works had been generally anticipated. Unluekily
the works had been deposited for a day or two in a
damp room. and when the time came to use them,
it was discovered they had been damaged. as a
consequence some Of the pieces failed to go of. 9TH
ers but partially burned, and while there were q
few fine displays. the general display was not q
success. The Grove however, took the matter
pleasantly, and broke up. most of them, with the
apparent conviction that there is no place like
home"
Township Correspondence.
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