Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-07-06
THE RUTLAND HERALD
THURSDAY, JULY 6. 1871.
Celebration of the Fourth.
THE FIREmEN,s TOURNAMENT
An Immense and Entnusias'ic
Gathering.

An Immense and Ehtn"si"s'o
Gathering
~, ,ryrrr yoRo BEARS OFF THE FIRST
PRIZE!
The Fourth of July in this year Of grace
1871, was ushered in in the peculiar
American fashion which has prevailed
since the glorious occasion which the day
commentaries, by which it would seem
that the proper measure OF the patroitic
feryor that fires the heart, is the amount OF
noise that can be produced. Indeed the
enthusiasm of many youthful patriots
could not bide the progress Of the "heavy'
footed hours" and long before midnight
our streets resounded to the din of horns,
the rafting explosion of fire-crackers,
eommingled with shouts and yells that
would have done credit to a bowling Der
wish or Digger Indian. Gould the shade
of the eloquent patriot who predicted
that the day would be celebrated in COM
ing generations with "bonfres and illu-
limitations" have been permitted to look
from the spirit land upon the scene,
doubtless he would have thought amidst
the strange diablerie of sound that In
these latter days his prophecy had been
more than fulfilled, and that the noble
sentiment Of patriotism had taken a re.
markable descent from the sublime to the
ridiculous. All through the "wee sma
hours of the early morning, the patriotic
din increased, and happy were those who,
blessed with the somnolenee Of Grip Van
Winkle," could slumber undisturbed.
The morning dawned brightly, few
fleecy clouds only dotted the sky, and the
forebodings of storm which the previous
evening had excited, heightened by the
unfavorable prediction of the official
"weather clerk" were happily dissipated'
A strong southerly breeze, however,
sprung up as the morning advanced,
which while it lent a grateful GOODNESS to
the sultry air, raised clouds of dust from
the streets, and was ominous of mis-
chieyous interference with the arrange
ments for the most interesting part OF the
davis celebration-the fremen's tourna-
ment.
At about 8 o'clock public interest be-
came conferred about the depot as the
EXCURSION TRAINS
bearing the various visiting companies
and the crowds of people in holiday attire,
who had come in to participate in the
festivities of the day began to arrive. A
train Of thirteen crowded cars over the
Rensselaer, & Saratoga Railroad, brought
the J. J. Gray No. l, Of Cambridge, N. z.
the Union No. /, of Salem, N. Y, the
Phoenix No. 3, of Whitehall, and the
Eagle No. 1, of Castleton with their ma
chimes and hose carriages. The locomo-
tive Of this train was gaily decked with
wreaths and festoons of evergreens. The
regular train from Bellows Falls arriving
at Q o'clock, consisted of twenty well
filled cars. The Abenaqui No. /, fire
company of Bellows Falls with their en-
gine arrived on this train.
A special train of eleven cars from Ben.
nineton, over the Harlem Extension Rail.
road, arrived at 10 o'clock, and brought a
large representation of the "beauty and
chivalry" of the Aourishing towns along
the line. The locomotive "A. l.. Miner"
az we'll as the "Hiland Hail." of the
Harlem Extension road were deliberately
decorated with wreaths and trimmings OF
evergreen interspersed with flowers, and
attracted general notice and admiring
comment. The excursion oars were also
decorated with evergreens, atfording at
once ornament and shade.
The special train from Burlington ar
rived shortly after ten, and consisted OF
twepty.two crowded cars. 1t brought
the Boxer No. of Burlington with their
machine, the Volunteer Hose of Burling-
ton with their handsome hose carriage,
and the engine and hose OF the Seth
Warner No. . of Waterbury, but in con-
sequence of failure in making railroad
connections this company did not arrive
till 11.85. The special train also brought
the st. Mary's Cornet Band of Burlington
and the Brandon Brass Band The loco
motive of the train was handsomely de-
corated with the national colors.
The special train from Brattleboro,
which was expected at ten o'clock, was
unfortunately delayed till lilo. 1t con-
sisted of twenty-eight crowded cars, and
brought the Hydropath of Brattleboro
with the Brattleboro Band, the Deluge
No. of Keene, N. H., with the Keene
Brass Band, the Torrent No. 2 of Gardner,
Mass, with the Gardner Brass Band, the
Torrent No. 2 Of Marlboro, N. H.. the
Hamilton No. of Troy, N. H., and the
Alert No. 1 of Winchendon, Mass, with
drum corps, with their machines and
hose carriages. The several companies
were received on their arrival by members
of the reception committee and assigned
to the different hotels. The Torrent No
| of Marlboro, Mass, had arrived on the
midnight train, Monday, with their en-
CINE and hose carriage. This completed
the list of companies which were expect
ed to take part in the contest, with the
exception Of the Horizon of Pittsburgh,
which is understood to have been de-
tanned by fire on the evening previous
THE PROCESSION.
The procession formed on Merchants
Row as the different companies arrived,
the Rutland Brass Band and the Brandon
Band, which bad been consolidated for
the occasion under the accomplished
leadership of Prof. Wilson, discoursing
patriotic music in the meantime. The
non.arrivsl of the train from Brattleboro,
with the excellent bands of music, sadly
dissrranged the order of the procession as
originally designed, and was the cause
for universal regret. 1t was deemed in