The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-07-10


of Portland, who for fifty minutes held
the closest attention Of the audience
while he delivered the Grafton Of the
day. His effort was one Of the best
of his life. His eloquence was of
lofty character, and he wildly pictured
the patriotic deeds Of the nations
heroes, broaght tears to the eyes of
many old soldiers as they remembered
the dark days in the country's history.
At its conclusion he was warmly CON
graduated by all who could reach
him to shake his hand. After Cyan
kce Doodle" by the band and three
cheers for the orator, and three cheers
for the people of Oregon and Wash
ington the audience dispersed to feast
as best they could under the trees
and in the hospitable homes of Van
couver citizens. The city park which
has Of late been greatly improved dis
played fountain, and an immense
platform tor dancing, neither of which
unfortunately were in demand during
the day owing to the rain. Booths
for ice cream and other refreshments
were literally provided. The steamer
Lur1ine with the barge Autocrm in
tow left the foot Of Alder street,
Portland, at ! A. NJ, with nearly one
thousand people, and arrived at Van
couver at ll:20, making two trips.
She was preceded by the 4. 4. Ne
Gully with large delegation from
Oregon City. The Voocouver also
made special trip, carrying large
number, and the steamer Lat0na took
two hundred people from the Lewis
river country. Great credit is due
the Vancouver transportation com
pany and the other steamers for the
ample and speedy conveniences af-
forded the public to visit Vancouver.
The celebration will be long remem-
bered by all, both by reason of the
pleasant and unpleasant features of
the day. 1t is estimated that tho
Lurline and TaNcoUcer carried fully
two thousand people to Vancouver
from Portland.
From the Portland Telegram.
The people Of our sister town across
the Columbia are to be commended
and vet piticd for their efforts to cell
citrate tie natal Day, ana the unfor-
tunate disappointments resulting from
too much water. Great preparations
had been made and fond hopes enter
tanned that Cor once, in something
less than thousand years, Vancou-
yer awoke from her Rip Van Wrinkle
slumber, and its citizens concluded
to pull together to demonstrate that
there were life and vitality among
them. BY inv5aation and unusual ac
commodations iy the way of steam
boat travel, at least one thousand
people of Portland and several hum
bred from Oregon City. Albany and
other towns on the Willamette Wis
tied the beautiful post, and were met
at the wharf by large numbers Of the
citizens of Clarke County. At ll:30
o'clock a procession VAS formed by
the Vancouver Fire Department, a
liberty car and long line of country
wagons, preceded by she Twenty
First Infantry Band, marched through
the principal streets and to the hand
some park which had been much i'm
proved for the occasion, where the
usual ceremonies were gone through
with, interrupted, however, at the
commencementby a drenching shower
of rain. The Grafton by Hon. John
+. Caples was a masterpiece Of ora
tory; and we venture to say that its
superior was not listened to by any
congregation Of people on the Pacific
Coast yesterday. 1t was somewhat
lengthy; but the audiance showed no
signs of WEAKNESS. and would have
listened longer, even at the expense
of plug hats and spring bonncts. No
other exercises or tournaments were
INDUCED in, much to the chagrin
of the base ballists, etc. The ladies
of the Episcopal Guild had made
ample preparations Of ice creams,
etc, which were partaken ofsparingly
and with chilling lips, with the ex-
ception Of the bacon and beans. 1t
is to be hoped that the people of Van
couver will not become discouraged
by the sad disappointments of the
day, but keep their patriotic fires
burning until another Fourth, when