Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-27
Mlistellaueuns &eading,
THE YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL.

THE YORKTOWN CENTENNIAL.
YORKTOWN, October 1S.-Notwithstanc
ing slight shower and subsequent clouds
the scene on the river front to-day was il
spring. Men ofwar, passenger steamers
tugs and pleasure crafts we're profusely deck
ed with flags and streamers. Salutes wer
constantly being fred in honor Of arrivin
dignitaries, and the air was filled with musi
by the numberless bands, while the gay uni
forms of the Templars and military and tn
great crowds of people who gathered to wit
ness the display contributed to make seen
of great interest.
The steamer Excelsior, with the yorktown
Congressional Commission on board, arrived
this morning and received salutes from Gen
Hancock's camp and war vessels in the harbol
Shortly after. the Dispatch and TaLlapoos
hove in sight and were saluted by the cam
and gunboats. President Arthur left tn
Dispatch about half past II o'clock and pro
ceeded to Lafayette Hall where he was re
ceived by the Governor of Virginia.
At one o'clock, Governor Holiday and hi
staff in Lafayette Hall, which was beautiful.
decorated, met and welcomed the Governor
of the States and other distinguished guests
Gen. Hancock called and paid his respects
and the interchange of pleasant greeting oc
cupied the time until the arrival of Presi
dent Arthur and the French guests. A
1890 p. NJ. Masonic procession, under thu
direction ex-senator Withers as marshal
marched into the hall. President Arthur
accompanied by secretaries Lincoln, Hun
and James, was escorted to the stand amlt
the cheers of the crowd.
The ceremonies were then opened witt
prayer by the Rev. DR.. Nelson, grandson o.
Governor Nelson, who commanded the Vir
ginia militia at Yorktown. He thanked Goo
for the one hundred years of blessing vouch
safed on this country, for Washington, tol
our allies and for our victory. He prayed
for peace among all nations and for fraterna
concord among the sections of our own coun
try At the conclusion of the prayer the
band played the "Star Spagled Banner" with
artillery accompaniment.
Governor Holiday then delivered the ad
dress of welcome. Senator johnson, of Vir
ginia, chairman of the Congressional commits
sion, made few appropriate remarks, con
cluding by saying that the column now to be
raised was to commemorate not only the VIC
tory of the Colonies, but the part taken in thai
vicinity by France. The recognition and
acknowled cement of aid given by France k
this country was solemn duty left by the
Continental Congress to its successors, and
now, after lapse of one hundred years, the
Congress of thirty. eight States and fifty mil
lions of people is fulfilling that duty.
The corner stone Of the monument was
then laid with Mascuic ceremonies under the
direction of the Grand Master of Virginia
Peyton S. Coles. The gavel used was an
historic one, made from timber from Commo'
dore Perry's flagship, the Laurence, and was
used on the occasion of laying the corner
stone of the monument at Monmouth, N. j..
and of the Egyptian obelisk in Central Park
in New York.
At the conclusion of these ceremonies, the
Presidential party and the foreign guests re-
turned to the war vessels on the river. Mill
tary bodies continued to arrive until late in the
evening.
The first Delaware battalion, three hun.
dred strong, arrived to day. This is the first
and only National Guard organization Della
ware has had since the war. The Ninth
Massachusetts arrived this morning from
Richmond, where they had been visiting
Their conduct was such as to call forth Of
fetal complaint from Gen. Hancock to Gen
Grubb, the officer of the day.
Some of the Richmond troops did not ar
rive until late in the afternoon, having been
detained three hours en- route, and the three
hundred vocalists who were to sing the Ma
tional songs set down in the programme for
the day, were also on the train with the Rich
mond troops, and were likewise detained, so
that this part of the programme was necessa.
rily omitted, much to the disappointment Of
the people.
The pyrotechnic display tonight was a
success in every particular. All the war
ships in the harbor were brilliantly illumi'
nated presenting beautiful sight On the
flagship Franklin, lights were so arranged
as to show the outlines of the ship and rig
ging with magnificent effect. There were
also other designs, such as brig and schoon'
er apparently under sail. In addition to
this yacht anchored in the harbor sent up a
constant stream of rockets, &c. The night
was dark and the display was, therefore, most
brilliant.