Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-12
Centennial Celebration.

PHILADELPHIA, July 5.-The real
cotnmemoration ceremonies commenced
last night by asgrand parade of trade
organizations About 5000 men ahc
boys marched through the principa
streets, hich were thronged with gooo
natured people. whose sole object seem
ed to be to make as much noise as pos
sible. Every building along the line
of march was ablaze with light and
festooned with flags. independence
Hall was fairly smothered in bunting
and around this central attraction an d
in the adjacent streets at least two
hundred thousand people we're gather
ed. At eleven o'clock, "America'
was sung, every throat joining in the
CHORUS The whole city responded to
the 6tful glow of fireworks, and re-
sponded with firearms At IL
o'clock (nidnight) the new Liberty
Bell, which has replaced the old one
SO long venera'ed IN the tower of the
hall, pealed the opening of the CEN
tury @
The sound of the bell was lost am; d
the roars of applause that followed,
which, like huge bllIows, rose and fell.
tldlng from street to street until lost in
the distance. Bells were rupg. can
pops were fired, young and old cheer
ed and embraced each other. and the
safety of the nation was pledged ia the
demonstration of our citizens For
three hours the procession continued
marching In review, and the spectators
remained voclferous witnesses.
At the break of day salutes were
fired. and few bells were again rung.
From that time forth the noise on the
streets grew in strength and numerical
importance. Before 7 clock people
bean streaming down town, coming
thus early in order to secure good Sit
cations whence to see the military pro-
cession. Particularly noticeable were
the farm wagons gayly ACQUIRED with
green bouquets, aud flowing over with
hearty lads aud bouncing lasses in
their Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes.
Many OF the latter were clothed in
white, wltn green or red sashes, and
pretty roses stuck all over their hair.
Large numbers of residents of neigh.
boring cities and counties came in on
the accommodation trains, swelling the
already unprecedented crowd of stran-
gers, while at the same.time disappear
ing in the throng like drops of rain in
the ocean.
Hali-past 7 o'clock was scarcely
struck before the line of the military
parade began to form on Broad street
with Gov. Hartranft as commander-in-
chief. The soldiery manifested great
training from the start. In less than
half an hour the line was complete
and the march begun. Forty-niue or
CARNATIONS were represented either by
companies or whole regiments. A
number of visiting companies from
other states were called out together in
one command, forming what was called
the Centennial Legion. This embraced
detachments from the Light Infantry
Of Rhode Island; the Clinch Rifles, oil
Georgia; the Phil. Kearney Guards
of New Jersey; the American Rifles
of Delaware, the Fifth Regiment, Of
Maryland; the Boston Light Infantry
the Old Guard, of New York; the
Fayetteville Light Infantry, of North
Carolina, the First Battery, of New
Hampshire; the New Haven Grays, o1
Connecticut; the State Fencibles, Of
Pennsylvania; the First Light Artillery
Blues, Of Virginia. The legion form.
ed south of the main line on Broom
street, and was commanded by Gov.
Heth, Of Richmond, an ex Confeder.
ate officer.
At 8 o'clock the line of march was
taken up, proceeding directly east on
Chestnut street to Fourth, past indie
pendence Hall. At the head rode
Gov. Hartranft and his aids, making a
gallant show of feathers and gold lace
They were mounted, and were follow
ed by the Philadelphia city troops, al
so in the saddle. ,.
The head of the procession reached
the State House at nine o'clock, and
marching to the grand stand. was re.
ceived by General Sherman, who, with
Prince Oscar of Sweden, and Don
Cameron, Secretary of War, were
stationed upon the grand stand erected
in front OF the main entrance to the
building. The stand was also occu
pied by many distinguished people, in
Guiding foreign commissioners and dip
lomats, the governors of dozen state,
and manJ other distinguished men.
The commemorative exercises of tn,
day were held in Independence Squar
and at 10 o'clock every available spo
] in the square aud on the streets il