Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-07
THE SPIRIT OF ,s6.
no" independence Day was Observed
in Augusta.
ou' VIVA Beils-A Carnival of Fire
cAefs and Fish Horns-The An.
"ques and Horribles-What Our
Ciuzens Did with Themselve,
Monday,

An ar OF rest and quiet hung over the .;,,
ue sun disappeared behind Burnt Hill
sunday. The average tax-paver congratula,
Gu himself that he should probably enio,
good nights rest. But as the evening mi
came stealing up the Kennebec valley anf
'ne little stars peeped out of their dark frames
ms antlcipations began to be shocked by un.
Pheasant forebodings. Even on the peaceful
ar OF the Sabbath, the occasional sba,r
'wang OF tin horn would ring out: but tbi.
was the signal for the prompt appearance q,
policeman, and upon his advent the vouth.
Iul musician would hastily scoot down the
nearest alley-way TO get out of his clutches
| When tile city clock struck the hour of II
Doys seemed to spring out OF the ground as il
Dy magic. In five minutes bells were ringing
aii over the city, accompanied by tremendous
blasts on tin horns and explosions of powder.
Prominent citizens in undress would stick
| their uncombed heads out of the windows and
howl at the youthful serenaders somewhat as
follows: ''Boys, get out of this. or TN bave
every BANKED one Of you in jail :" But this
ana no good, and in a short time people gen.
| orally made up their minds that there would
| De no rest till morn when youth and pleas
ure meet, and returned to their beds to fume
and toss about and pour excavations upon the
heads OF the young patriots until the east was
Redeemed with the rays of the rising sun.
he tumalt was kept up until about o'clock
! when the
Fantasies
from Cushnoc Heights began to arrive in
sight 1t was the best display of the kind
that has been seen for several wears, and was
1 hnn al,
very funny. The scow Louisa D. was in
the procession IN all its glory: and there was
a barber shop with masked artist perform
ing his tonsorial operations upon a small bow.
The ''open bar excited the risibles of people
along the line of march, while the ssTogus
stage, ''Snow balls Band" ''Roostook or
Bust and other wagons made up very good
| procession. The young men who got up the
affair. and particularly Mr.. Frank Chase who
worked night and day, deserve vote of
thanks for proving that Augusta is not quite
gone to seed. Next year we hope the city
will consider it a piece of financial wisdom to
| appropriate a sum sufficient to give us a good
celebration, and bring the people from sur
rounding towns into Augusta. While on the
march photograph was taken of the fantas-
tics by Henry Bailey.
| The Band Excursion.
AZ U CLOCK III the morning the ''Della
Collins" steamed down river with a large and
merry party on board, en- route for Fort Pop
ham. IIallowell, Gardiner and Richmond
sent accessions to the company, until the
| Della had about as many excursonists
as she could comfortably carry. The
sail down was delightful, and Fort Popham
was reached about noon. After dinner part
of the company tripped through the merry
| maZes of the dance. while others explored
| the hooks and crannes of this interesting To-
| cality. The steamer left for Augusta at 4
| o'clock. arriving at the wharf in this city at
| about 10.
The Day in Town.
A death-lke quiet hung over the streets in
the afternoon. Many of the stores were
closed. The air was hot and sultry, although
| as the day waned cool breeze sprung up
| from the east few adventurous people
went to ride: more stayed at home and
amused themselves with croquet or by taking
! a siesta in the hammock. Even in the after
noon ever and anon the roar of detonatiens
of powder was hearl, indicating that the ir-
repressible small boy was not entirely sub
dued. The Gauls at the North End tripped the
eight fantastic toe in one of the palaces in
that section and their antics attracted large
crowds of spectators. There was
little drunkenness seen, and no arrests
made. In the evening there were sew
eral very good private displays of fireworks
in different parts of the city.
TOgus.
There was quite an extensive display OF
pyrotechnics at the Soldiers Home. which
was witnessed by the inmates and about SIX
hundred spectators from the outside world.
Owing to the skill of the parties having the
fireworks in charge, there were no unpleas-
ia
DISPLAYS of meteoric fires compensates for the
slight danger in carefully using them, and no
better measures can be devised of letting the
Heavens share in the iubilations of earth
| Everybody has been told that the Chinese in
vented fireworks. The first to Introduce
their use into Europe were the ltaiians
Probably Paris has seen the most stupendous
pyrotechnc demonstrations of any place II
the world, during the reigns OF the Frencf
emnerors The Chinese first used rockets II
warfare. fixing steel barbs on them and pour
ing them in the faces of the enemy. Inc
chief ingredients of fireworks are gunpowder
Nitro. sulphur and charcoal. The most prii
liant fires are produced by metallic fiilngs aho
borings in combustion copper niihes g.'
an intense green light. Zinc filings produce
the beautiful blue of the Roman candle. Rec
is produced by lamp-black, and pink o7 nitr'
in excess.
| Hans and Mfshaps.
We are glad to say that no serious acciden
occurred in this city, Monday, although there
were several minor casualties.
Jimmie Emery, on Court street. hau pul
let put through his hand by the prema'ur'
discharge of toy cannon, which liz W."
loading. ola c;rI
.nn;e Iarcombe. nine-years-old girl
- ,,,rorts reside on Cushnoc Heights
nal mart of the hair burned off one side he
head by blank cartridge. She was hurried
" running in front of boy who was excited ;1,a
" blazing away when ''bang" went the p,s a',
r;obt in the little girls face, soaring her pau
Iy. She is now doing nicely.
The Governor and Council at their sesS'o'
,or1.,- transacted the usual routine pusi