Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-07-07
INDEPENDENCE DAY.
How 1t was Celebrated in this
Vicinity.

worthy OF record. There was no excite
ment, very little intoXicatiOn and few
fights, making up, altogether, as quiet a
Fourth as the city ever witnessed within
our recollection. The greater part OF
the day was too intensely warm for ex-
ertion, and numbers OF our people very
wisely sought the woods Tor shelter and
endowment. Picnics afford but little
scope tor the proverbial 'facile PEN OF
a reporter, and with brief mention OF
each, we put them on the record.
AT LITTLE WASHINGTON.
Poor Wheeling she has again made
an unsuccessful clutch for military hon
ors. A second time, though most unde-
servedly, has prize slipped through
her fingers, and with beating hearts and
bated breath, we await the lucky third
attempt.
Little Washington enjoyed, on Fri
dav, memorable epoch in her history,
a history of which the college and the
great men it graduated form preface,
body and conclusion. The pretty vii
lage was crowded with strangers, and
wore a gala air on every feature. \ large
number OF eXCusionlSts from this city
left their touches at an unearthly hour
10 be present, and from their experience
did not regret it, either. Fewer soldiers
than was anticipated represented the
military, who accepted the cordial invi-
tation extended by Company ii, OF the
Tenth PENNSYLVANIA, at Washington, the
Golf Guards sending about thirty-siX,
and the Mathews Light Guards and
Sheridan Rifles nearly the same number
Jointly. Capt. Newt. Lynch refused to
20 with so small a number of his men,
so the two latter companies were con-
soidated under the command OF Capt.
John Dickey.
As the military exercises were to COM
menre Immediately after dinner, the
forenoon was put in by wandering about
the streets and visiting the beautiful
cemetery and famous college. The
crematory did not offer sufficient in
ducements TO tempt many to the long
climb under the July sun, though afew
did muster up enough energy and en-
durance to successfully perform the
task
About o'clock the performance OF
the soldiers began. The column was
lOIllltNl at lllt Npull llohoO anu MAJ
down Main street 10 the Fair Grounds,
which if they have no other attractions
To offer, are at least easy of access. After
everybody had arrived they enjoyed an
hours rest during the delay which
seems inevitably TO attend every mill
tary spectacle hereabouts. But at length
all was ready and the contest began.
The prize was a handsome sword, OF the
pattern of the latest regulation and
| heavily embossed and Ornamented with
| gold. The donor was Homer SCamOn, a
| Washington jeweler. There were three
! entries: The Golf Guards, Company c,
| of COnnellsville, and Company h of
| Wavnesburg, the latter two OF the Tenth
| PENNSYLVANIA. The Judges were Mr..
Fred Roller, of this city, Major MCKib-
ben of Washington, and Major Lynn,
| umpire, of Pittsburgh. At the COnClu-
sion of the drill, it was the almost un-
animous verdict by the spectators that
/ the prize should be awarded to the Golf
Guards, but two OF the judges decided
that Company X was entitled to 1t, and
it was accordingly presented to Captain
| Kent.
Had the competition been governed
/ bv the ruling which was observed here
on May 3Oth, the successful company
| would have been ruled out on
Il departure from UptOn's tactics,
/ viz: the manOcuvre OF bringing
| their pieces 10 a LEFT shoulder arms. But
| in spite OF this and a bungling of the
! command to load, to say nothing OF sew
| eral important errors i'm foot movements,
| they carried off the palm. From the
/ first it became evident that Company &.
was virtually out OF the contest, the few
men they had performing the manGu-
vres i'm a stumbling way. The COTS
were never better handled. Major
Lynn said their marching time was en-
/ tircly too slow, certainly true, but the
| only fault, as otherwise their ground
movements were faultleSs.
The victorious company deserve a
complimentary notice, rs they are COM
paratively young in service and brought
over fifty men To the ground. Some OF
their execution of the manual was beau
tiiul, noticeably the inspection, arms
when the pieces came up as one and
the bayOnetS were admirably aligned.
1t was not that they failed TO do well,
but that the COTS did better, that the
latter should have had the prize. Capt.
Otto was greatly enraged over the
decision and his wrath was seconded
more or less 10y all of the Wheeling and
many OF the Washington people. \
second match may yet be the result, in
which case the contest will be held on
neutral ground, Ohiomost likely, where
an impartial judgment may be had.
The Wheeling people returned about
midnight, the train, which was to have
left at midnight, having been unaccoun-
tably delayed until eleven.
Every one spoke in terms of the
warmeSt qualification OF their pleasant
and hospitabe reception at the hands of
the WaShingtonians, which will make a
lasting impression and leave favorable
recollections OF pleasant day andpretty
place.
AT BELLEVUE.
The picnic at the grove in the rear OF
the new hotel was a most ENJOYABLE al
flir and hiplly SDOEpn of nv the plrtiri-