National Republican., 1874-07-06
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
ITS OBSERVANCE IN TIE DISTRICT
OF COLUMBII.

L
EVENT DULY CELEBRATED-sC
INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTs-THE DAY
ELSEWHERE.
The ninety-eighth anniversary OF American
Independence has come and departed, and
probably some of the scenes that transplred
on that day will cause it to be ever memorable
in the minds of many of the citizens of this
community. Especially are the closing hours
likely to become so. The terrible storm that
swept across the city just before nightfaIl, up
lifting trees and doing considerable damage,
surpasses in severity anything within the recol-
lection Of the Oldest inhabitaut, and probably
will not be equaled for many years TO come.
The anniversary of Americas natal day is
always anticipated by many persons as the ap-
propriate time for relaxation from labor and
business, and q fitting occasion for rest and
endowment Hardly had the clock in the bel
fry of St. Aloysius noted the birth of the new
day ere the booming Of guns and reports Of
pistols proclaimed its arrival throughout the
city. and made the fact manifest to those
sleepers who at that hour preferred their COM
Portable bed to participating in an early cele-
bration. As the day grew on the firing in
creased, and was continued until dark, when
rockets and fireworks, to come extent, were
substituted. The storm interrupted this fun
for about an hour, but when the sport was re-
sumed scene was presented most beautiful
to look upon. The rockets moving heaven
ward, leaving long trail behind, then burst
ing and emitting a myriad Of brilliant Yarie-
gated stars, Roman candles and fower-pots
and other pyrotechnics, made display on the
blue-blaCk field that covered the sky that
brought forth admiration from all beLolders
During the day bunting was displayed in
Profusion from the public buildings, hotels,
houses, and private residences, both large and
small flags being brought into service to attest
the patriotic spirit Of the citizens. The city
bore the appearance Of q Sabbath daY, and,
generally speaking, most excellent order was
preserved; disturbances were few, and most of
those that did occur were Of a trivial nature
1t was prOphesied that drunken men would
line the sidewalks and roll in the cutters, but
this was untrue, for few cases OF intOxication
were noticed, and the reports Of the different
police precincts show that throughout the en-
tire city only thirty-Oue men were arrested for
drunkenness. This is a very fair showing, in
consideration Of the day and the many induce
ments profered to men to be soCiable with
each other. The exodus from the city was
probably greater than on any previous oCca-
sion, and K is estimated that fully ten thou
sand people participated IN the excursions on
the river, or piCuics in some Of inc woods adi ia
cent to the District. ALO-S Lose remaining
at home was
THE OLDEST INHAgITsNTS' ASSOCIATION,
who held their annual meeting in the morning,
and celebrated the anniversary a 4 becoming
manner in the criminal cOur. room ut tie City
Hall.
Previous to entering upon the programme
arranged for the dag. a business meeting was
held, Dr.. J. B. Blake in the chair, and J. Car
roll Brent, secretary. Tie C2Lcwing gentle |
men were chosen officers Tor the ensuing year |
PraLF1a-f TNr
JeDk:n Thomas, John Pur1y. Francis Hanna, |
Chauncey BeCtor, John L. Clark, Dr.. William |
GuI:Ou, James Adams, Samuel StettiHius |
William II. Williams, ERASMUS :. Middleton |
Peter ". Pearson, John W. Martin and Dr. |
William Waters; treasurer, Nicholas Callan;
marshal, Seraphim Alsi; recording secretary,
J. Carroll Brent; cores gOLd.ug secretary, J.
NQidsbCrouch Br1f.
he secretary exhibited the second volume
% Ayers THAT bad ben rel1 Before the asso-
I'a1Ie and stated thai tie two volumes were
!Sy C"uLu Capt. Wm. Il. Many and presented
tL- 4SSC alton without charre. A resolution
VI 'II@sI"-h,wss then voted the gentleman for
tLt S ~ sliS-Y of his contribution. Mr.. Brent
auLC -LSSI e deaths Vi Joseph Bryan, sr.,
anu E.It rtS!LeI N,gruder, and OHered the follow
lEgI -, "LIIH y 9nG-doptcd By he recent deaths
vi yoSetn Diy@ r., auG Eicldcr Magruder
tl-ls "SsoC-aL-SL IS lost two of its most re-
skeC'eu HIeHiOea , ias,lud the community good
I nSL anu s.s soou Ct.IL'S identified with the peo-
. - a. T,o1Le Va Le city for nearly half
tlemen secured and de- S N,,o a
Of all who knew them IN tbs;E ,,,-tI;a n1I
private relations, and enJa reI tto,,soIros
their friends by their kGncss N bcart ,rCJ
courtesy Of pagngr
hSSc"6a, Ilat tins assocAion hereby gives
ieeO-e Uut sincere eN NpreHSl"h the regret and
distress Of the members on Il oco,,rTa1ce or
this visitation, and their a,r.S i've astiIn,s
Of the merit and Services Of tir 6ens-tei
brothers. '0N
Messrs. J. B. Bryan, John 8. An>rson 1obn
hCDermOtt, and I'd c. ECl.,59 W. oiootaj
members Of the association.
A vote Of thanks was extended the ,cretorv
used in firing the salute IN
recess was then taken, and the ar7lerv
posted to the north Of The building, fired Lrty,
seven guns in honor Of the day and numt- or
States in the cOntederaCy. After this ,os
over the members OF the association re- /
sembled, and Mr.. J. Goldsborcugh Bruff pi |
nounced an Grafton, and Gen. A. Bohrer rec
the Declaration OF Independence.
At the conclusion of the exercises the mem
bers adjourned to an adjoining room where a
fine lunch had been prepared for their enjoy
ment. Their appetites were rood. the food
abundant and they enjoyed themselves to the
fullest extent.
In the evening, at Masonic Temple, the
VETERANS OF uExICo
held their usual monthly meeting. The terrific
storm prevailing at tie hour appointed for the
Ueeting caused 4 slim attendance, and no
otHer business was transacted than reading
corrNspCn6enCe. Letters were received from
Col JNhn r. CofIey, First Alabama volunteers.
Col, L. Y. Berry, with account of proceedings
al oWensb0rO', Ky; Z. P. Swift, Fort Smith,
Ark-; VIM. z. Hawkins, Augusta, Ne: s. W.
Smith, Monnou:h. III, and many Others.
showing that in ell parts Of the Union a com
mon OBJECT is attracting the attention Of the
veterans Of lS46.
Inc Massachusetts GssC cation have accented
an invitation from the Rhode Island veterans
to be their guests at Providence on the 2lst of
July, and such members as reside elsewhere
and desire 70 attend the reunion. orc requested
10 advise Harry A. NCGlenoa, adJutant, POST
Office box 4OO2, BostoH, Mass. a good time is
anticipated at Rocky Point on that day.
From the report Of Secretary Kenaday we
ggthsr the following information, which will be
Of interest to a large number who were unable
to attend the meeting:
Since the issue, in April last, of the circular
from headquarters of the National Association, |
requesting State and county associations to |
forward the names Of surviving veterans Of the |
Mexican war desiring q pension under the till |
pending in Congress the first secretary reports |
ters, containing the post cff;ce address and mil
jtaTy record Of each applicant; that the efforts |
IN several localities have been earnest and eff
feCtive in complying with the request, hut the
imperfect organization as yet existing renders
an accurate estimate, IN The brief time devoted |
TO the subject, almost impossible.
From sUcb Information As has been received, !
how ever, the secretary feels warranted in as ,
sertfng that less than twenty per centum of the |
number enlisted during the war viii approx
innate the total Of survivors. The State re-
unions Of veterans, which usually take place |
in the South and West Simultaneous with |
the annual State fairs, VIII bring together |
the Representatives from the several counties
appointed last year, and POSSIBLY by the next |
session Of Congress information will be at hand |
on which to base more accurate estimate. .
One fact has teen demonstrated, to-wit {:
that the methods Of computing the numbers of
survivors adopted by the Bureau Of Statistics
is inapphcable TO this case, for the reason that
vast numbers Of the soldiers who served in
Mexico subsequently fell victims to their ad-
VeIturOus dispositions, (resulting from army
experience in that country,) during the suuab-
bles at Yucatan, Cuba, Nicaragua and other
similar expeditions occurring previous to our
late civil war, which terminated the career of
most Of those who were not already broken
down by disease and hardship The almost