The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-27
SALEM'S RED LETTER DAY.

THE OLD WITCH TOWN CELEBRATES THE CEN
TENNIAL OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGo-coMMEMoRA-
TIVE MISREPRESENTATION OF DIR. LORING.
SALEM, Mass, Feb. g. 1875.
This Is indeed period OF centennial observ.
snces Besides the stupendous one at Philadelphia
in 1875, Massachusetts has few on hand which
are OF equal national significance Lexing ton and
Concord viii each cele rate on an extended scale
IN April, and in June the Battle OF Bunker Hill
Will also be observed BY a grand centennial
demonstration. But these are not all. The Revo-
luton was not commenced either in Lexington,
Concord or Charlestown but down here IN the old
witch town OF Salem, and the date OF its
beginning was Sunday, February 26. Just one
hundred years ago to-day, on that beautiful ana
spring like morning, Colonel Leslie, with British
regiment from Boston Castle, embarked on board
q transport ana landed privately at the neighbor.
ing town OF Marblehead. The citizens were Just
going to church, out the sight of the troops inter-
fered with their devotional exercises. 1t was
known that the object OF the raid was to go to
Salem and get possession OF some cannon which
were stored there and one OF the daring citizens
OF Marblenead went forward ana shouted to the
good people of Salem that 1.-The regulars were
coming" The citizens were in church at this
time, but the alarm was sufficiently early
for them to rally, and. under the lead.
ership OF Colonel Timothy Pickering, they
proceeded to the North Bridge, and by opening
the draw the British forces were prevented
from entering the town. Violence was threat
de leaed. Colonel Leslie abandoned his RAID and
retreated to Boston. This was. OF course, blood
less engagement; but 1t was nevertheless a begin
ming oi the Revolution, and the cltizens Of Salem
could not allow the centennial anniversary OF the
event to slip by without taking some little notice
OF 1t.
COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES.
The commemorative exercises were observed in
Nh n LSQo ondU nro
OF strlkingly appropriate and interesting char
acter. The auoience present was sufficiently large
TO comfortably h the edlfce.
THE GRAFTON OF THE DAY.
Dr.. George b. Lolng, resident Of the State
zens, was nttlngly selected as the orator OF the
occasion. In commencing, he said that the I'M
be estimated by inelr magnitude but by their
significance. The incident, whose anniversary tho
cit CITIZEN. OF salem we're celebrating. was hardly
reliable record. AT the close OF tue first century
since its occurrence. Abiding to the early
in long continued career OF Individual and
popular greatness that the conflict at North
Bridge became interesting and Important,
a career 10 which salem had, rom the
beginning, stood foremost. From the time when
resistance TO the Stamp act and the Port Bill
commenced to that when Parliament declared
that 1t would ''interd1ct all commerce with Amerl-
traitors and rebels and General Gage had aeser
mined to seize and destroy all sores of arms and
munitions OF war found in the colony, Salem had
taken an active part
THE AFFAIR AT NORTH BRIDGE.
The speaker gave thrilling anu eloquent &C.
count oil the affair at North Bridge and attributed
TO Rev. Thomas Barnard the credit OF being the
peacemaker. 1t was he who cautioned the British
colonel against SHINING against God and humanity
by committing deeds OF violence, and cOunseed
his fellow tow nstnen to ADOPT calm and moderate
measures His counses finally prevailed The
draw oil the bridge as slowly lowered, and Les.
lie and MS forces marched, by PicKerlngs consent
thirty rods across the bridge and wheeling, re-
turned to Marbenead and thence to Boston.
After concluding his narrative OF Leslie's expe-
ditiOn and retreat, Dr. LOring PAID very high
euOgy to the memory OF COlOnel Timothy Picker
ing, whom ne characterized as the historical hero
and sage OF North Bridge. The remainder Of the
address consisted OF many brilliant reflections on
the genius OF the Republic.
Dr. Loring having concluded, the '.National
delivered by Rev. T.. b. Wilson, pastor OF the
North church. The exercises were then closed by
the audience joining in the singing OF "America."