, 1879-07-10
OUR CELEBRATION.

That day ofal days, the 4th of July
opened with drizzng rain, and heavy
sky, and to one unacquainted with the
amount Of '76 spirit among our citizens
the first idea would have been that no
recognition would occur of that day-an
occasion when less than 100000 OF
sturdy colonists told hauthy parliament,
and gouty old king that they were wrong.
Time, that healer of bitter memory, has
etiaced the impressions a war for indie
pendence, lasting eight years, had left;
and now, on this our l03d anniversary of
an independence so bravely fought for, so
charity given, and so spunkily maintained,
our 45 millions Of people covering the
fai rest part of Gods green earth, can re-
view. with less and less acrimony at each
succeeding Fourth, the glourious story Of
our early history.
In spite Of the rain which precluded open
air festivities, land here we sympathize
with our baseball club. the town was full
OF people, and good humor and desire
to make the best of the matter was pre-
dominant. At an early hour a salute was
fired by tie cutter Wa!cott, and at the
fort. The Wolcott was especially notice.
able for the gay bunting which
clothed her mast heads, lent, rs 1t
unfolded in the breeze, additional attrac-
ton to this most beautiful vessel. AT $3.50
a. M, the Rescue Engine company, and
Port Townsend brass band formed on
sidewalk in front of the Engine house,
and, marching to Union wharf, received
the armet! crew of tie U. S. r. Cutter
Wolcott. Lieut.. Mcguire in command.
As the procession advanced up the wharf,
they were met by II. l.. Tibbals, Esq,
Marshal of the day. who took command,
and whose good management throughout
the day is worthy Of all praise. This gen.
tleman certainly deserves credit for the
pains manifested to make the days pleas
ures success.
The force from the cutter returned to
the vessel early in the day, but enough
was seen of them to show the people a
fine body OF men, whose marching and
general bearing was credit TO themselves
and their officers.
At2 p. M, the procession filed into
Good Templars' Hall, and, after music by
the band, DIR. n. ID. Hill took the chair,
and with few patriotic words, intro
luced the Rev. Mr.. Mactie, of the Presby.
terian church, who opened the exercises
witt, prayer. A most interesting part o
tile ceremonies, was the singing. This
was done BY some little girls, who had
previously figured in the procession, each
one representing one OF the l3 original
colonies. Miss Nettic Tibbals, as Con.
nerticut, sang: "A Thousand Years my
own Columbia, very finely, her u love
ly companions giving the chorus. Con-
necticut never had lovelier representative
DR.. L. i. Minor then read the "Declara'
tion," and, as he proceeded, one woult
f have thought that ii was production o.
Yesterday, and for the first time published,
so attentive were the audience to those
"bcd-rork" truths therein detailed. The
Grafton. by G. Morris Haller, ESQ.,, came
next, This production, though short, wa:
mll of interest, aboundlng, as it did, in
historical details, aud was delivered In the
speakers happiest manner. After the
Grafton the band gave another selection,
and the well satisfied audience dispersed.
In the evening well attended danes
wound up the obServanCes of the day. and
though the programme was material
f ly curtailed by the bad weather, enough o
patriotic etfervrscclCe was manifested tC
show the world we fully appreciated the
return of the glorious Fourth, and many
blessings conferred by tile Declaration
enuuciated OH tl'at day.
BgRN.-ln Port Townsend, July 3d.
1870 IN tho uifa nf Hunt CaJJa,,