The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-07-06
OUR NEW CENTURY.
One Hundredth Anniversary Of
American independence.
A Glorious oId.FsshiOned Fourth Of
July Celebration.


A Glorious old.FashIoncd Fourth o.
July Celebration.
Firing OF Cannon, Ringing OF
BELLS, Grand Concerts, Pro-
ccaSions, Speeches, Fire
- Works, Decorations.
IIlun,inations, etc. "
Three Cheers and u Tiger for thu
"Nall ciyl"
After days and months Of preparation
the Centennial Fourth dawned at last
In Wheeling, as in n thousand Other
places, II was ushercdin with blaze Of
glory, displayed in an atmosphere Of sui
phurous perfume. The volcanic erup'
tions commonly supposed TO extend only
to the young. American heart were ex=
emplified upon the streets without regard
to age, race or condition. Everybody
celebrated. Every patriotic heart was
fired. Tho populace turned out uni
yersally. At dark Monday evening the
principal streets were crowded, at
O'Clock they were jammed, at eleven Il
required the exertion Of all the physical
forces to move a given distance, and al
twelve. All that time the city be-
held perfect Pandemonium. May We
he made truly and suitably thankful that
il comes but once in hundred years!
The celebrating OF the opening new cen
tnry Of the nation began with the gather
ing OF the crowd on Monday evening,
Bands Of id-patriots, en- mGSque or IL pro
pria pesonp, marched up and down The
streets to tic melodious tinkling OF The
COW hell, the sweet notes OF the toy horn
and The harmonious strains Of tho horst
fiddle. Here the Centennial reyeille was
beaten upon II dozen ancient vessels O.
tin, there u pean went forth from the
month Of tlisused dinner horn. Bur
lesque formed no small part oil our open
ing celebration. II had been settled thai
The demonstration should not Come oul
strong" until the hour Of IL had struck
But the impatient thousands OF demon
srators couldn't wait, and fully five min
ules before the appointed hour a Bedlan
OF patriotism was unbarred. The torrent
Of noise became an ocean, tho storm was
hurricane. At l2eyery bell in the city
opened its Joyous throat and sent fortl!
siallsome peal, and every whistle shrick.
ed welcome to tho day, From Wheel
ing hill the University Cadets fired q
salute Of one hundred guns. Happily il
was all unattended with accident or mis-
hap Of serious note.
THE DECORATIONS.
The city never looked gayer and never
were taste, judgment and money more
profuscly used 10 the purpose OF decora'
lion. OF course the streets through
which the procession was to pass vert
the richest with flags and emblems, bul
there was hardly a house in any part o.
the city, however obscure, but threw out
flag 10 tile breeze. Main and Market
streets were all bunting. The very line
OF the buildings was lost in the waving
masses OF red, white and blue, and the
number OF standards stretched over the
streets gave the appearance OF canopy
Of the national colors. On many Of The
buildings were devices and notices. MOI
IL few exhibited portraits Of Washington
and wife. pnl the fact that il "'76" wa
forced to tho sight at every other build
ing. There was conspicuous absence
OF any picture Of President Grant, al
though Lincoln was exhibited IN nunler'
Gus instances. The triumphal ..arches
which we have already described, were
beautifully dressed with bunting and
wreatLes. D.
EXERCISES At THE CAPITOL.
At $50 o'clock on the morning Of th'
Fourth n national salute Of thirty.eigh
guns, fired by the University Cadets
aroused sleeping citizens from their Stun
bera and caused them TO make prepare
tions for'an early breakfast, in !order L
witness the exercises at the capitol build
ing, The streets OF the city soon became
crowded again, thousands OF people wend
ing their way TO the capitol. For several
hours the stream Of wagons, carriages
etc, pouring into the city from all parts
OF the country was almost without inter
ruption.
Att o'clock the societies, organiza
tiois and citizens intending to participate
In the procession reported to tho MARSHALL
on Market street. between 18th, and l6tl
Streets FOR assignment Of position. Wag
ons with industrial and other displays
passed, going east on 18th street, and re-
ported 10 the marshals on Eoif street,
facing south from 18th, except those from
East Wheeling, which reported on 14tt
street, facing west at EoiT street. The as
sistant marsllals received and conducted
all belonging 10 the procession TO the posi-
tons assigned them. At 1880 o'clock the
members Of the chorus, the State and city
officers, members OF Council and Of Cen
tennial committees and their wives, rep
resentatives Of the press and the Kramer
and Wheeling City bands were admitted
to the platform (which was erected at the
south front OF the building) through the
north door, on 14th street.
After music by Kramer's band, prayer
was offered by Rev. DIR. J. T. Mcclure, oil
the United Presbyterian Church. Whit.
tiers Centennial Hymn was then finely
Sung by grand chorus Of one hundred
voices, under the direction OF Prof. +
W. Bassett. The words Of the hymn are
as follows: E.....
Our fathers God | from out Whose hand
The centuries fall lIkeg grains Of AAnl,
We meet t01lay, united, lreN
And loyal TO our land and Thee,
To ihAnk Thee for the era done,
And trust Thee Tor tho opening one.
Hero. where Of old, by Thy dcsIgu,
The "a her spike tho worl Of Thine,
whosc echo 10 the glad feinin ira .n.
OF rendered bolt aud falling ChAin.
To grace our fe,tal time from ali
The DOnea OfhAFth our guests We ell.
Bat with US while tho New WOrI grrcla
The Old World thrOnging all Il, streets,
dwelling all the triuinphs won
by art or toll beneath the sun;
Aud unto common good OnlAln,
ThIsrlyalAhIp u hand aud brain,
Thou who hast herejn concord fIirlel
The war flags VI gathered world,
Beueath oar western skies fulfill t.r..
The Ofentb tllaton OF good wilt y =
And, ficigGted With loIe'sgOldeh aeOtC,
Send lncE tho Argonauts Of pea6s.
For art and labor met In truce,
For beauty made tho bride u use,
y We thank Thee, while wlthal W0uaVe
Tho aIsteTu, virtues NtrOng to save; Is
The honor, proof 70 placGor gold;
Tho manhood never bought or sold "