New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-04
THE WYOMING CENTENNIAL.

lhE PRESIDENT MAKES A BhlEF SfEECu'
POOR TRANSPORTATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BY CABINET oFFICERs-THE DAY GENERALLY
OBSERVED.
The success of the centennial celebration at
Wyoming, Penn, yesterday, was inter-
fered with somewhat by the poor trans
pOrtation arrangements and the Oppres-
sive heat. President HayeO made
brief speech, and declared that the Govern
ment should be prepared always to pro-
tect the white settlers on our frontiers,
and to make the red man submit to
law and order. Speeches were made by
some members of the Cabinet also. The day
was generally observed throughout the Valley
THE CEREMONIES AT THE MONUMENT.
BAD TRANSFORMATIONS ARRANGEMENTs-A TALKA-
TIVE CROWD on THE GROUN Ds-THE DAY OBJ
SERVED THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY.
tFRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrBUNE.l
WYOMING, Penn, July 3.-The distance from
WIlkesbaTe to Wyoming is four miles, and it is up
the river From Scranton it is sixteen miles in an-
other direction. These two railroad centres
Wilkeabarre and Scranton-have been crowded
since yesterday afternoon with strangers coming
from all parts of Eastern Pennsylvania to celebrate
the centennial of the Massacre Of Wyoming. Luz
Icfue lOunty HAS pIODdDly never SCH greater
congregation of people in her two generations.
How to transport these people to the
scene of the celebration was hard
problem, and it was not solved at all. From Scran-
ton the only route was by train; from Wkesbarre,
ono could 90 by tram boat. The Scranton trains
were crowded to the last square inch of the plat
form steps as early as a. III. At 8 a. NJ there was
another rush and more confusion. and some people
waited an hour before they could 90. 1t might
seem that the boats from Wllkesbarre would have
furnished pleasant way OF going. But they made
trips said the advertisement, only " once every
hour" Each boat could carry, perhaps 200 people,
aud there were thousands who wished 20 go. But
the water was so low that the boats did not run
every hour. "ThcY could not get over the riff"
sad police officer. The only way remaining from
Wiikcsbarre was by way of Kingston, which
lies on the opposite side Of the Susquehahna
one mile away. Street-cars ran TO Kingston once
every hourw Tie result WAS that people walked
and the road was one cloud Of dust. made by the
passing private teams-a cloud of dust dense
that one sometimes could hardly see. The heat
was M among the niuetics. Heat and dirt COM
bned with a mile and half walk was the initia-
ton most people had to the celebration. At King
s,on there were no trains IN waiting for the vast
and melting crowd. The ticket agent did not know
when there would he train the tram dispatcher
said there would be one in about twenty-five
minutes" In half an hour more one came hut
il was crowded to the edge of the platforms.
Perhaps forty men at Kingston got into 1t, leaV-
ing n thousand people behind in despair.
At Wikesbarrc, Scranton, Wyoming and Pitts
ton to-day, flags. evergreens and other decorations
were conspicuous in all public places, and private
houses were profusely adorned. Not shop-keeper
nor hotel proprietor failed to make his doorway
and windows brilliant with ornaments. The little
villages too, OF the county. all along the wyoming
Valley showed in many ways their recognition of the
awful tragedy that took place here a century ago.
Railroad stations engines cars and bridges, ana
even watcr-tanks were respondent with banners
and frsoons. On the highest point Of every coal
breaker an American flag floatcd in the breeze. The
day was one universal holiday everywhere. There
did not seem TO be human being who did not in
some manner recognize the centennial. In the
presence of such feelings it is deeply to be de
plored that some preparations could not have been
made to transport the great crowds anxious to
reach this village. Committees III abundance were
apponted: theTe wers Mt least fourteen, with from
ak TO ten men on each. But they succeeded only
IN one respcct-in securing great crowd. Manage
il they could not; give il comfort and secure order
i'm it's movements they did not. They raised several
thousand dollars in money; they built triunphal
arches, and they put up tent what else they dld
il IL difficult to learn.
Among the distinguished guests here to-day were
the President and Mrs. Hayes, Secretary Sherman,
Mrs Sollace Ia friend of Mrs Hayes, Bnrchard ana
Webb c. Hayes, Attorney-General Deycns, y. l..
Prudcn assistant secretary to the Presdent, Gov
ernor aud Mrs. Hartranft, and their two sons and
two daughters The presence of these distinguished
guests. and the near approach of the Fourth OF July
Il f..Vt hat na al
had given new attractions to the day. On the
grounds adjoining the monument canvas tent was
erected. and there beneath the broilng sun,
great hrong swayed to and fro during the long cere-
monies. There was no order, or any approach to
order In the immediate vicinity of the stage u few
hundred people, from force of the outer pressure
wore stationed; but they were not silent, They
talked necessarily, and struggled to be free, and
perspiration poured from every face. After tue
opening prayer had been offered, President Hayes
was introduced. For moment there was compare
tive quiet but he had not been speaking hye
minutes when voices broke out III various quarters
and before he had finished his address 1t was impos-
sible TO hear him plainly ten feet from the stage
Those who could hear cheered him warmly.
His remarks on the Indian problem
were received with enthusiasm. He said:
II woud be impossible to he heard by this vast mum,
Der OF people but ht Is NOT pdnt' a" Ynnare here
~ conmemoruie an important event OF history This
anniversary entirely from all previous eehten ZEN
nal ANNIVERSARIES Living. we do, In period IOO
vears after the Revolution, we have IHllen III
ybe midst OF a number Of centennial anniversaries
PennayIyana ha wing borne important ana honorable
!, mari In the transactions OF hundred years
AGO she had a large share of these celebrations Ihey
are to be attended by mutitudes who delight
TO honor the memory OF warriors ana states
men who participated In the events when lea 10 lhe
iormaon of the Republic TO-days celebration Is pecu
liar IL Is not the celebration or victory IL ~
nioneer celebration OF the virtues OF Tue
irnen and women who reclaimed the wilderness Every
mart OF the country has it's pioneer history All hau
similar disasters And to-day III Dakota ana AIizona
aud on rho borders of Texas, the people are
I,i,a virtues aud hardwood OF