The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-09-18
HISTORIC BOSTON
Celebrates It's 25Oth Birthday.
THE PRESENT DOING HONOR TO THE
PAST.

Boston, Mass, Sept. H-Notw outstanding
the threatening assurances of bad weather
which were current yesterday, the early part
of to-day as in all respects perfect fall day.
The effect has been to bring into the city thou
sands upon thousands by early trains and con-
veyances, until the streets which the process
sion was to pass and the adjacent thorough
fares were crowded to that extent that it was
difficult to move through them. The visiting
military from New York, Brooklyn and other
points arrived, and after an informal reception
and hasty refreshments marched to their as
signed positions. As early as 9 o'clock win
dows along the route began to FILL while at
every point where it was possible to place
chairs or benches spectators had established
themselves, charging from half dollar to two
and three dollars % seat according to location.
The streets were blocked with wagons filled
with people from the rural districts and outy-
ing wards of the city. business was partly
suspended, and there was every indication that
the memorable Bunker Hill celebration would
be dwarfed when compared with to-day events
The literary portion of the celebration was
held in the Old South Church, and commenced
at 8 o'clock. AT that time there was gathered
within the walls of this ancient edifce the
Governors of States and mayors of cities, tine
invited guests of the city, who occupied plat
form extending the entire length of the church.
The exercises were opened with prayer by
Rev. George e. Ellis, ID. D., after which His
Honor Mayor Prince delivered an Grafton The
exercises occupied two hours, and at the con-
clusion the mayor and guests were taken i'll
carriages and escorted into the line OF process
sion.
All along the route of the procession decora-
lions were lavish, the public buildings, stores
and residences alike were crowded with bunt-
ing, flags, notices and emblemS commemorate
ing the day. At the old "Crade of Liberty"
the decorations were costly but simple, bunt-
ing being used mostly inside, while outside
the main entrance was made into an arch with
the Goddess of Liberty surmounting it and a
round-piece:-"First settlement of Boston,
September 16, $780,
AT the historic Old South church the effect
Of bunting was fine and consisted of an ele-
CANT canopy and a festoOn draped around the
galleries, while all the various portraits were
draped finely. The outside arrangements were
not extensive.
City Hall presented beautiful sight
streamers, national colors and flags of all
nations meeting the eye. Tie centre windows
were covered with the large city seal with
a background of the American, British,
French and German colors. On the balcony
was the inscription 1880, September II, $780,"
The site of the old Webster mansion, now
occupied by business blocks, had an elaborate
display. The entire facade was covered with
Duntlng and hegs, and near the centre was
large gust OF thai illustrations statesman
RESUME resi- On an anIh, On Which is inscribed his
On High street there was an elabOre4a dis
play, nearly all the buildings being decorator.
The Batchelder building the most elab-
crate and was covered from sight with bunt-
| ing and flags, and the dates 1630-1880, were
prominently shown. All the warehouses here
| were finely decorated, all this district being
| the spot where fifty years ago were the paa-
| tial residences of the city.
That part of Washington street included in
the route was mass of decorations, the
| principal feature of which was that offered by
| Jordan, Marsh & Co, The entire front of the
| building was covered with scenic decorations
| representing Boston in 1880, with her three
| hills and one cabin, and underneath Boston is
1880" with the picturesque view of the city
| from the harbor. All this was surrounded by
| the State and city seal and flags and bunting
Near this was Shuman's new building where
| there was painting of the Ancient and Hon
orable Artillery of 1888 and 1880, and appro-
| pirate notices.
| The Equitable Insurance building on Post
| Office square was Respondent with flags and
| bunting, and as the procession passed by a
| large eagle of historic fame in connection with
| Gen. Grant, passed gracefully from the top OF
| the tower on an inclined curve to the building
| across the street. Residences on Colu mbus
avenue were hidden from view by decora tions
| and every building on this avenue was covered
| with flags, streamers and decorations-in fact,
all through the line of march, the reside noes
and store showed that the occupants had
| spared neither time nor money to present as
| gay and attractive an appearance as possible
] in this great celebration of Boston's 250th
birthday.
| Boston Common was alive with human be-
| ings. Every part was crowded with anxious
| people seeking place from which the process
| sion could be seen to advantage. Columbus
| avenue, one of the finest avenues in the coun-
| try for parade, was packed almost solid,
making locomotion extremely difficult.
| Chief Marshal Gen. A. P. Martin and staff
formed on the parade ground and under escort
OF the second corps of cadets marched to the
head OF the procession, and at precisely IL
o'clock the column moved.
The parade was grand success. The pro-
cessior was three hours passing given point,
but there was no delay nor imperfections in
any of the details. The applause heaped upon
passing display was unparalleled in the
history of Boston professions. The continue
ton OF the celebration tc-nigh. was not less at
tractive than the ceremonies of the day. The
torchlight procession was principally devoted
to allegorical tableaux under the auspices of
the German Tnrnverain- Sneiatp- ranresantinG
prominent events in American history happen
ing in this section of the country. The tab
leaux were illuminated with calcium lights
and were very strikingly presented. The
crowd has not lessened in numbers, and at
midnight the air is still filled with martial
music and the streets thronged by tired though
delighted thousands. A distressing feature of
to-day's record was an accident which occurred
to Gen. A. B. Underwood, surveyor of the
port, who, while on his way this morning to
take place in the line, was run into by a
drunken milkman and suffered a severe frac-
ture of the leg