The Portland daily press., 1877-07-06
THE FOURTH.
Celebration Of Independence Day in
this City and Throughout
the State.
What Portland Didn't Do and
What Other Towns Did.
A Quiet Day in This City.

L
Independence was observed in the simples
manner possible in this city. The observance
| consisted of salute at sunrise and sunset
| ringing of the church bells at morning, moo
| and night, two band concerts and two stere op
ticon exhibitions for the children at City Hall
| The latter feature cost the city the sum of SIS
and was,well worth the money as the chldre,
| were finely entertained at both exhibitions
The band concerts of course drew large crowd
of people and the music was very fine. TIL
| salutes and bells though probably had the mos
hearers, although perhaps they were not al
| appreciative. The base ball game in the morn
ng, the horse trot in the afternoon and tn
| several excursions out of town were well pat
| rOnized. The result was that the streets of thu
| city were deserted the most Of the day and but
| for a stray fire cracker now and then one nigh
have mistaken the day for hot mdsumme
Sunday when no one went out unless they wert
obliged to.
Marshal Bridges and his force did finely il
maintaining order, not only in the day timt
but the night preceding, and at the close of the
day when the streets were crowded. Mayor
Butler appreciated the efforts of the depart
ment and Wednesday morning addressed the
following complimentary note to Marshal
Bridges:
CITY OF PORTLAND,
Mayors Office, July A, 1877.
c. K. Bridges, Esq, City Marshal:
l wish to thank you, Mr.. Marshal, and
through you the whole force individually, and
also the specials for carrying out so effect vely
my directions concerning the preservation OF
the peace and quiet of the city throughout the
night preceding the Fourth of July. Itswas a
duty well performed and the feeling of Salts
faction at the result is universal with .all good
citizens.
No city in the country, believe, can point to
more faithful and efficient body of police
than our own existing force.
L remain yours very respectfully,
M. M. BUTLER, Mayor.
On reading the same to the officers they pro-
posed three cheers for Mayor Butler, which
were given with will.
The only disturbance of any account during
the day or night was caused by crowd of
Lewiston roughs who took possession of the
Maine Central Pullman train on their return
from Biddeford. On the arrival of the train in
this city word was sent to the police station
for aid. Deputy Black responded to the call,
and with ten men visited the Eastern depot.
Here was found the train standing in the de-
pot in possession of about 200 of the toughest
men to be found in the state. The police en-
tered the cars and after hard tussle elected
all who had other than Maine Central tickets.
This improved the condition of things and the
train was allowed to proceed. The crowd was
then driven from the depot and they spent the
rest of the night in making the residents of
the city unhappy. In pass ing the residence of
Mr.. A. M Sawyer, corner of Free and Centre
streets, they fred double barrelled gun, a
tullet from one barrel entering the sitting
room, and the other passing into his bed cham
Der and lodging in the head of the bed.
The Light Infantry went to Cushing's Island
on an excursion. They dned at the Ottawa
House and enjoyed the day very much. There
was base ball match, target shooting, &c., on
the island. The disputed prizes of the 9th of
June were shot for again, ard Fred Warren
took the first and Lieut.. Jacksont the second.
In the prizes offered for that day B. A. Norton
took the first and Frank Scott the second.
Twenty car loads of people from Lewiston
passed through the city. via the Grand Trunk
and Boston & Maine, to Biddeford, and seven
from Bangor and towns along thu Maine Cen
trail. The Ogdensburg sent out thirty extra
cars and the Boston & Maine seventy. A pic
mic party from OxfordIcame to the city over
the Grand Trunk and went to the islands in
the Houghton.
Incendiary Fires.
There were number of small fires during
the day and evening, and but for the vigilance
of the police they might have resulted disas-
trously. Soon after nine o'clock an alarm was
sent in from box is, coused by fire in the old
Cross house near the corner of Middle and
India Streets The fire was discovered in bed
in the attic and was undoubtedly set. 1t was
put out with but little damage by fire, but con-
siderable from water. The house is owned by
Reuben Higgins of Cape Elizebeth, and is in
sured for 800 in the Commerce of Albany,
with Dow, Coffin & Libby. The house was oc-
cupied by two families, Solomon Reuben and a
Mr.. Hoyt. The formers policy ran out the
day before the fire, while Mr.. Hoyt had $500
in the agency of W. d. Little & Co. Just as
the firemen got to work on this fire a second
alarm was struck from the same box by some
one. Unfortunately some one counted it IA,
and two steamers were sent to Washington
street to attend to fire in that vicinity. The
mistake was discovered before the steamers
had reached their destination.
A fire was discovered in the roof of an old
wooden building near the corner of Clark and
Commercial streets, by officers Jackson and
George Harmon. With the assistance of mem
beers of Cumberland steamer No. 3, the fire
VIC vii uni ahod Unit ~ la, Co.
was undoubtedly set by tramp who was seen
in the vicinity.
Mr.. Clarke's house on Grove street took fire
rom swapping crackers about 2 p. M, but the
flames were extinguished without an alarm
with slight damage.
A fire was set under the back steps of
house on Pine street, but the neighbors extin-
guished it.
PresumpscOt Park.
A fair number of people assembled at Pre-
sumpscot Park in the afternoon to illness the
three races advertised. They were all good
races, but the patience of the people was ex-
hausted by the senseless scoring at each and
every heat of the three races. The time made
was good and if the horses could have been
sent off promptly the people would have 60 ne
away decl airing it one of the best races ever
given in New England. There was about three
hours racing and two hours scoring. The first
race called was the
2.44 CLASS.
Five horses appeared and were given posi-
tions in the following order: Thurlow Knox,
Pratt, Topsey, Ivanhoe and Riverton Knox.
This class was started soon after go o'clock
First Heat-Thurlow got good start and
took the lead, holding it throughout the heat
Topsey was second at the first quarter, but was
closely followed by Pratt who by running
succeeded in passing the mare Topsey kept
at her work and took second again and held it
until near the finish when Pratt spurted and
come in second. Time A. Topsey was third,
Riverton fourth and Ivanhoe fifth.
Second Heat-The start was in the same Or
der as before. The race was appearaatly be-
tween Topsey and Pratt, Thurlow taking the
lead with no opposition. Pratt tried so hard to
get second position that he ran nearly all the
way round, especially under the wire, and was
set back to the third position for SO doing while
Topsey was given second, Ivanhoe fourth and
Riverton Knox was dstanceo. Thurlow won
easily in 2.45.
Third Heat-Th;s heat rather reversed the
order of things, and instead of Topsey COM
petingiwith Pratt she stepped forward and
grappled with Thurlow. Ivanhoe did not ap-
pear ia this heat. After long time spent in
scoring start was had with Pratt running at