Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-07-07
FOURTH OF JULY NOTES.
GENERAL HOLIDAY-STORES CLOSED
DECORATIONS PIC-NICs-FIRE WORKS
ANn MTTSJC

GENERAL HOLIDAY-STORES CLOSED
DECoRATIoNs-PIC-N WORKS
AND MUSIC.
&C., &C., &C.
IF the celebration Of the Centennial
Fourth Of July in Staunton was not impos-
ing it was at least the most spontaneous
since the war; all the demonstrations were
done without concert among the people.
The military had gone to the Philadelphia
celebration, which deprived us of that fea-
ture, but the genial hilarity over the day
kept things up to fever heat. On the day
before Hon. VIM. L. Balthis, the Mayor,
issued the following proclamation
MAYORS OFFICE,
StauntOn, July 3rd, 1876. :
In accordance with the wishes of many
citizens, [ respectfully request that all
| places of business be- closed tomorrow the
one hundredth Anniversary of the Decla-
ration of Independence.
The heart of ever patriot sWells with
emotion of reverence and love, for the
great and coed men, who pledged their
| lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor
| in defence of civil liberty.
| Let us give such expression of our devo-
| ton to the principles enunciated a century
| ago, as the occasion and circumstances by
| which we are surrounded seem to demand.
w. L. BALTHIs, EayOr.
| Tuesday morning about 4 A. M. there
was beating of drums and bell ringing
and enough of huzzaing to make a sleepy
man wish the Fourth wouldn't come in
| another hundred years. By sunrise the
streets were well sprinkled with vehicles
| waiting for picnic parties. All the stores
were closed with the usual exceptions and
there were some national flags hung out.
In the window of Levy Bros. store was a
Goddess of Liberty well swathed in Ma
tional flags and in front Of Gladke's there
| were decorations in National colors.
THE PIC-NICs.
The largest picnic party that left the
{ city went to BreWs dam about three miles
from New Hope, numbering At, persons.
| Messrs. John NJ. Hardy, J. B Scherer, Jr..
and other gentlemen with their families
composed the party. Any quantity of fish
were caught which helped, with any guam
tity of nice things brought along by the
| party, to make u delightful dinner. The
party returned to the city about O'Clock
! in the evening after most pleasant day.
Another pleasure party headed by Prof.
+ Kerber went to a point on Middle River
and had delightful day with fishing
| thrown in.
The cars took few citizens out of town
to the convenient watering places.
| TEMPERANCE CELEBRATION.
| About 2 O'Clock after some preliminary
| ringing of the fire bell, the experiment of
pumping the water into the pipes by the
| new engine was tried, and members of the
Augusta Fire Company put hose on sever
al plugs both in the lower and higher part
of the city. The operation created great
! interest. The stream was very strong and
plug on Gospel Hill threw a stream
| over the house of Mr.. D. A. Kayser. From
| plug corner of New Court House and
New Streets through Il inch nozzle
| with a strong wind blowing, the
| stream went over the Virginia Hotel, a
four story building. The water pump
worked with rs pounds of steam. There
were only three breaks in the old service
| pipe of the city, and one of them came
from a wooden plug having been used. 1t
is expected that the new reservoir will be
ready for use in three months.
CLOSE OF THE DAY.
AS the day closed and the picnic parties
commenced returning, preparations were
made for an exhibition Of fireworks on
Carriers Hill overlooking the town. This
end of the holiday had been actively en-
gineered during the day by Capt. E.W. Bay
ley and other gentlemen. and the pleasing
result was brilliant Illumination at night
including bonfire, fireworks and 10 forth,
the so forth being the cheers of the crowd
who had assembled to witness the exhibi-
ton. Men were on hand with muskets to
help out the fire crackers. There was some
fine music by the Stonewall Band led by
Prof. Turner. About 10 O'Clock the scene
ended and with it the Centennial Fourth
of July. 1t is a matter of regret that so
many persons who were present will be de-
prived of the pleasure of being at The next
one.