The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-07-07

Never before in the history of our
country, was the Fourth of Jnly so gem
orally end enthusiastically observed as
il was on this, its one hundredth re-
currence since it was sigRalized by the |
great event of 1776. Everywhere,-east
and west. north and south, the spirit Of
loyalty to the grea, principles which |
the heroes of the Revolution asserted |
and maintained, and successfully trans
mitttd to us formulated in the freest and
the best Government in
the world, rose to height and mani
tested itself in a manner, that can posi-
bly, leave no doubt as to how the whole
people would act in case some great
danger, threatening the existence of the
Government, should Suddenly present
itself
1t is gratifying to know that this par
ticular locality was not behind others
in jealous endeavor to fiitingly celebrate
the day. and that the efforts OF those
who had the matter in hand, were
crowned with a glorions success that
will long be remembered by all who
participated in the demonstration.
AT MIDNIGHT,
When the first salute was fired, the sky
was clear, and those who were aroused
from their slumbers by the booming of
the cannon, and the ringing of the court
house bell and all the church bells in
the village, were in high anticipation of
fair day. At the firing of the sunrise
salute, the fair weather indications were
not so good, and as the time wore on,
they became still worse, and finally at
about o'clock in the morning, the sky
within our range of vision was entirely
overcast with clouds, and the rain be-
gan falling in that easy, drizzling sort
of way, almost invariably indicative Of
a regular Settler" To say that the ar
men who had labored so earnestly and
incessantly to make the celebration a
success, was considerably cooled BY the
days inauspicious beginning, would be
hardly strong enough to adequately ex-
press their state of feeling at that time.
In fact, everybody was more or less de-
pressed, but as il was one of those things
that could not be regulated to suit hui
man arrangements, all wisely concluded
to quietly await further developments" "
The rain lasted only short time, and
as soon as it bad ceased, preparations to
carry out the programme were resumed.
The cannon. manned by Wm. ii.
Russell, r. w. Levitt. Chas. Sickle,
Geo. j. Dittoe, Scott McMasters. and
! Thos. Smiih-all soldiers of the War OF
the Rebellion thnndered from Market
Square Hill assurance to the people OF
the surrounding country that the cele-
bration was to go on; and ere long dele:
cations began pouring into town from
all directions. Captain Loughman's
Martial Band made the wtlkin ring
and caused many to straighten mp. and
fail into the soldiers pace; while the
Somerset Cornet Band, rendered the
Star Spangled Banner. The Red Whits
and Blue, and other patriotic airs in a
manner that seemed to make everybody y
feel hundred per cent. more patriotic
than they every did before. Capt II
c. Greiner, as Chief Marshal, and Assis.
tant Marshals Nat. Barns, and Samuel
Kagay, were by this time pressed with
their duties in arranging the incoming
delegations for the grand procession. II
soon became apparent that their share
of the work was not the least important
in the programme. We all expected a
liberal turnout, but We question il
the most sanguine co--worker in the
Common cause" anticipated any such
influx of people as came from all direc-
tions to participate in the celebration
To appropriately receive, and dispose
all these in the line, was an arduous
task, but it was gracefully and effective
ly performed.
Jackson township sent mp "rousing'
delegation, under the Marshalship o
Col. n. F. Hitchcock. Accompanying
this delegation was the fine Corne
T Band of Junction City.
A large delegation came over from
Rnshville-the particularly beautiful
and impressive features in which were
two decorated cars-one containing I
number Of handsome young ladies, rep
, resenting the different States of tn,
Union, surrounding one Of their numbe
representing the goddess of Liberty
The other contained number of gen
tlemeD, attIred in Continental costume
surrounding table-representing th
signing of the Declaration of Indepen
; dence by the Continental Congress.
A large delegation also came from
Hopewell township; and many othe
delegations, made up just as people drov
from differert directions and difleren
townships into the same road, cam
pouring into town, until the streets nn,
alleys of the "historic" village wer
jammed full Of vehicles, teams and pee
pie.
About IL o'clock the procession too
!, up the line of march for the Grove, tn
), Somerset Cornet Band in front. Al res
e the line extended from near the resi-
r dence Of Thomas Seallon, Esq, three
& fourths of mile south of town, to th
! Public Square; from there, out Mali
street to High; north on High to Nortl