The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-06
Lewiston and Auburn.

promise OF nne weather. line elements SEEM
| ed to have conspired to concoct day fitting
the occasion. The previous rains had taken
| care of the dust in a very thorough manner.
The sun arose somewhat earlier than usual, at
| least so it seemed to the disturbed majority of
| the community, and during the forenoon pat
| riotic breeze cooled the celebrating brow and
swung the flags and banners most Loyalty. The
| decorations were quite extensive. Flags were
flying from all the public buildings, many of
the stores displayed the national colors in fan
ciful combinations, and very many private res
| licences were decorated in artistic manner
| Among the latter were the residences of ex-
| Governor Nelson Dingley and Congressman
| Frye.
| The salute of one hundred guns, and the bell
| ringing from 30 to $50 in the morning called
everybody, who had not already been aroused
| by the hullabaloo of Young America since mid
night, from bed in season for the fantasies.
These drew their Horrible length along the
street for few hours to the immense amuse-
ment OF old and young. 1t was well carried
out and some of the local hits were very anus
ing.
| The crowd now began to pour in from out of
| town. The railway stations were thronged
with companies and bands in their bright uni
forms, and the streets with turnouts from the
rural districts. tDobbin was hitched in the
shade and with his rations in front of him left
to ruminate the day out. The Maine Central
had about one hundred cars in special trains,
and large numbers came by the Grand Trunk
| regular and special trains. There were proba-
bly, from $4,000 to $1,000 strangers in town.
The first victory of the day was for the Bates
College club who defeated iths Androscoggins
by score of to 1. The game in the afternoon
between the Drigos of Biddeford and the An
droscoggins was called at the close of the third
inning when the latter club was far ahead.
The procession was one of the finest ever
witnessed in the state. The uniforms of many
of the companies were new and the engines of
| the fire companies were .prettily decked with
| flowers and evergreen. 1t occupied twenty
minutes in passing given point 1t consisted
| of six military companies, representations from
| six encampments of Odd Fellows, two lodges
| Knights of Pythas, nineteen fire companies
| and thirteen bands, including Chambers IA
nous band of Portland. At noon the process.
sion disbanded at the park where, after prayer,
the Declaration of Independence was read and
| Grafton delivered by Judge Morrill, of Nevada.
At this stage in the proceedings heavy
| shower suddenly made its appearance and en-
| trely overdid the thing. The military and fire
companies and other guests of the city adjourn
ed to the big tent on the park where 1900
plates were laid for their entertainment A
| little after o'clock it cleared up and the re-
| gatta came off. But two crews were entered,
the Union and Portland Rowing Clubs, both of
| Portland. 1t was claimed that a foul was
| made at the turning stake when the Unions
i stove hole in the Club boat, and as a conse-
| quence came in alone. The Unions claim the
race by reason of the foul as the other boat was
| in their water. The matter will be decided
| hereafter.
The shower also interfered with the stallion
race that was to take place at the park and
| that purse was not trotted for. At the three
minute race the first purse of $75 was won by
Little Dick, the second money went to Lady
Young, the third to Rocket and the fourth to
| Morrill, Knox.
| The engine trial drew a large crowd to Rail-
road Square in Auburn where they assembled
in season for heavy shower. The prize for
| the. first class.was won by the Gen. Berrys' of
Rockland, playing 222 feet Il inches, and the
| second by the Torrents of Halowell. In the
second class the Niagaras of Brunswick played
1913 feet inches, Androseoggns of Topsham
| 195 feet Il inches, GARDENERS 1877 feet inches.
Long and anxiously did the crowd wait
| about the park for the ascension of the balloon
City of lewiston" which was to have gone
| up at o'clock. 1t was o'clock before it was
l fullv inf1atad and the ronae cast off Sp1an.
| did assent was made. 1t went directly up to
considerable height and then took north
easterly direction, still rising. The shower
had OPPORTUNITY cleared away, affording fine
| opportunity for witnessing the spectacle. In
| half an hour from the time of starting, the
balloon descended one and half miles from
Ltchfield's Corner.
OF course everybody was disappointed that
| the fireworks could not be set off in the even
| ing. From o'clock until 10 the showers held
| up and the crowd assembled on the park de.
| termined to enjoy ITSELF Chander's Band &C.
cupied the band stand discussing most excel
| lent music and did much towards atoning for
| the disappointment.
| In spite of the inclement weather Of the af-
| ternoon and evening the programme was we'll
| circumstances. The best of order was observed
and the least drunkenness was seen among so
| large number. 1t was credit both to the
| cites and the visitors.
Kennebunk-A Sad Accident.
KENNEBUNK, Jnly 4-The well laid dust yes
terday, the bright sun and clear air of this
| morning, the perfected arrangements Of our
| numerous committees, and the enthusiasm of
| the citizens, all indicated most satisfactory
centennial celebration for our people, and the
printed order of exercises was being carried out
| with promptness and activity agreeable to all
| until the noon hour. In addition to the
| flags of our numerous ship-masters and others,
liberal supply from the Kitterg navy yard,
assisted in the tasteful decorations of the pub
lie buildings and many private residences. A
brass cannon had been brought from Boston,
and the u o'clock salute was being answered
by thesEillage bells, when following the third
| report from the cannon, near the north corner
| of the large tent, a premature discharge forced
| the ramrod across the breast of gunner, Mr..
Jesse X. Webster, tearing open his body to the
| vitals, causing his almost immediate death.
Mr.. Webster resided short distance above the
2. S. & P. depot in this town, and leaves a
widow and six children. He served in the
Sth Maine regiment, company f.
| This sudden calamity brought great
sadness to his numerous acquaintance
and check to the well-orderednce of
the day. which were carried forward with re.
duced numbers in the procession and subdued
| propriety at the tent and the tables.
A. b. G.
Alfred.
| ALFRED, July 5.-The celebration of the
Centennial Fourth at Alfred was complete
success. The historical Grafton by S. M. Came
Esq, while embodying full sketch of the his
tory of the town, was thoroughly fresh and
lively and filled with happy turns and poten-
tial applications 1t was in all respects an able
effort and held the individual attention of the
audience to its close. Amos L. Allen, Esq,
followed with capital centennial speech, and
stirring remarks were made by Rev. Mr.. Ives,
Ira I. Drew, Esq, and others. The dinner
provided by the ladies of Alfred was abundant
and excellent in quality. On the tables were
many pieces of ware of ancient date, prominent
| among them being wooden plate owned and