Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-07-06
The Fourth In AuRusta.

The Fourth was allowed TO PASS very quietly in
this city, as far as any public demonstration is con-
cerned. The boys were up betimes and were at
it with tin horns, FIRE crackers, torpedoes. and
miniature cannon, aud managed to ring spssmod,
cslly several of the church bells. The boys kept
up their fun day and evening. and very late into
the evening, ending happily, without any acct.
dent of any account or the destruction of property
The church bells were not rang at morning, noon
and night, as usual, but Major Farley, at The L.
S. Arsenal, fired a national salute at noon. Mr.
j. w. Clspp contributed his share Of fireworks
though he ought to have waited until night before
letting them of. The effect would have been far
more startling. In the evening were displays Of
fireworks at various points in front of the resi-
dences of our citizens, though not nearly extern
sive as in former years, the disasters resulting
from the use Of fireworks by amateurs, in other
places, being . warning that was needed. The
Atlantic engine company, with mixture Of men,
bers of the Pacific, attended the fremens muster
at Wsterv lille, as did also the Common Cadets, sc-
comrsnied by quite number Of our citizens.
Others went on the excursion down river, stih
Others took private teams and went out among the
green fields of the county, while the larger n o.
portion remained quietly at horne, and enjoyed
the Fourth with their families.
Iteration at Sk awhegan.
For several years past the boys encouraged by
the carelessness Of the police, have been accu,-
toned 10 commence celebrating" on the e!e o.
july 3d. Esp cially was thi. not lceablc the pres
ent Fourth. Evei, hing went smoothly TIL mid
night, when slmu ltsn, Gus two or three bells be-
gan 10 ring ard TIN hons, pans, old barrels, fire
crackers, guns, ETC., furn.h, the usus amount Of
music. Suppleme ut to this The prodigous yell, Of
the boys, aud GU have scene hat heggars de-
scriptiou. All night long they kept up this hor-
ribe tootny. while hundreds OF their fellow be-
iog. lay in bed philosoIh zing on the dcprsvty of
those street Arabs. The morning at last ds~ Led,
and SION the rural population ssgsn to pour in
We usually have large number of this class es-
pecially Of unsophisicsted youths. who, With their
sweebesrts, make an excursion TO oar village
every Fourth of July. The exercises of the day
were under the charge of the Changers After a
very considerable delay the procession was focmed
at the High street church, headed by the Skow-
hegan band-which, by the way, one of the
best in the State. They marched directly to the
grove the island where the exercises took place.
Mr.. McIntire, of Scion, presided. Rev. Mr.. Aver
made the opening prayer Alonzo Smith read
the Declaration Of Independence and Rev. H. c.
Munson delivered the Grafton; relating more es.
pecially to the interests of agriculture. The COM
pany then held picnic dinner. Afterward speech
making and music finished their programme.
Some 500 Changers took part in the exercises,
and all compliInented their good appearance. and
the successful Entertainment they gave. Literary
exercises and sociable in the ing given by the
Unversslist society completed our little celebra-
ton.