Litchfield enquirer., 1876-07-13
The Fourth m New Haven.

tional life.
 The Fourth Tn New Haven.
 NEW HAVEN, July 5, 1876.
 The one hundredth anniversary of our National Independence was celebrated in this city with great enthusiasm, and in a manner beGtting the occasion. Speaking of the passage of a resolution by the Con- tinental Congress, on the 2d of July, 1776, declaring 'that the. United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- pendent states, John Adams wrote "It ought to be commemorated as a day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfres, and illumi- nations, from one end of the continent to the other. from this time forth forever more." The event has indeed grown to be an annual jubilee, but not on the day designated by Adams. The 4th of July is the day of national rejoicing. for on that day the Declaration of Independence, :" that sublime document, was adopted. If the old man could have looked upon the scenes enacted yesterday, he would have been satisfied that his idea of a jubilee had not failed of it's accomplishment.
 Our people decided to have grand cele- bration, and as the city charter prohibited the common council appropriating over $1 .500 for such purpose, special act was passed by the legislature allowing the sum to be increased for this occasion to $5, ,OOO. But how to spend the money, was at first the query. and at one time the various conflicting plans bid fair to put q damper on the whole matter, but at last the committee settled upon the program me which was carried out. Young Amer ica, as usual, embraced the spirit of the occasion, and two weeks ago began to vent it's patriotism by the firing of crack CTS, but this being contrary to the bylaws of the city, and one or two fires resulting therefrom, few examples before the po- lice court to the tune of BIO and costs, had the effect of cooling this exhibition of juvenile aldor. One little shaver sent word to hls mother that he would be con- tented to stay in the country if she would send him ''some torpedoes and crackers and big cracker to tie to the cats tail and s>nd her higher than a kite" The desired explosives were forwarded.
 The programme for the celebration cov- orod the evening of the third as we'll as the day of the Fourth. Many public and private buildings had been decorated with flags for several days previously, and the streets presented gay and beautiful ap- pearance. Early in the evening beacon fires were lighted at many high points in the country surrounding the city. The buildings about the Green, public and private, were brilliantly illuminated, the City Hall notably so, and the arches formed by the double rows of trees oh the public square, were decorated by lines of different colored lanterns of new and elegant pattern. The trees on the College Green were each encircled by~a row of gas jets, while on frame work in the cen- Ire appeared in letters of fire the dates "1776, ""1876" and ''17OO'-the latter the date of the founding of the college. The illumination was the most magnificent that had ever been witnessed in New Ha- ven, the only approach to it being that on the occasion of the laying of the Atlantic Cable, some twenty years ago. At nine o'clock large fire balloon was sent up. Owing to some mi shap lot of fireworks, which had been fastened to it, became de. tached, and instead of exploding in mid air, "went off, on the ground, scattering rockets and tire-balls among the specta- tors. and severely injuring one boy who was struck in the breast by one of the fiery missiles. About midnight Admiral Foote Post, G. A. R., with the Foot Guards as guests, assembled at their armory and had a campfire and bean-bake," at which speeches and songs ruled the hour. At sunrise, under escort of the Governors Foot Guards, the only military organiza- ton now in existance that participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, the Post march, ed to the Green and raised the national colors on the flag staff, while salute of thirteen guns was fired, and the bells of the city were rung. About seven o'clock the Ancient and Honorable corps of Horribles and Antiques" assembled on the Green, and after forming in pursuance of orders from the Great Whangdoodle took up their line of march through the city. This unique and grotesque army afforded infinite amusement to everyone lucky enough to get Q glimpse of it. It was an assemblage that put J ack Falstaff's army to the blush. At half past nine the grand procession, headed by the second regiment, and followed by the ,colored battalion, started on the march. Follow ing the military came the Fire Depart ment, and this branch of the city defense never made more shoWy appearance than at this tune. They had in line the first steam engine used in this city, and the great improvement made in these ma chimes within a few years was apparant to all. They also had out old hand en- zine No. 8. and antiquated specimen of what was once the pride of the depart ment. Various civic societies helped swell the line. The eight-oared shell boat of the Yale Navy vas in the procession, followed by some of the crew who won the race, last week, at Springfield. The "Horribles" brought up the rear of the procession. To give a full description of