Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-10-27

, ever, for he stumbled when he had gottel
> through but "a few linesS and had to start owe
, and begin afresh to catch the thread. h
tripped up three times and had to repea
over sentence or two to get going again
What he said, however, was to the point ant
was received with generous applause. hi
allusions to the French and German guest
beside him were especially applauded, ant
were received by the recipients Of the compli
ment with low bows and broad smiles Mons
. Max Outrey, one of the French dignitaries
arose to respond to the President. He pre-
faced his remarks, which he read in English
from manuscript, with bow, which brough
his head in close proximity to the table il
front of him. He is dark-haired little man
striking ugly, but surprisingly graceful. HI
spoke pretty fair English, but his voice be
ing weak, he was not heard save by those
Immediately around him. He was received
enthusiastically, and at the close of his re
marks was cheered vociferously.
Count Rochambeau, descendant of th'
revolutionary naval officer, followed Mons
Outrey, delivering his remarks in French il
q quick jerky style, as if his sole object wa
to pet throug with it. His illusions to the
kindly relations which had existed between
France and America for one hundred years
and his hope that the children Of those pres
ent would, with the same spirit, celebrate this
day one hundred years hence, was received
with great cheering
Col. Won Steuben, the oldest living descen
dant of the revolutionary Won Steuben, who
was present with seven other descendants, re-
sponded as the representative of the German
Empire. He spoke in German, and alluded
kindly to the progress and prosperity attained
by America during the century, expressing
the hope that the friendly relations always
existing between the United States and Ger.
many would never be interfered with.
He was followed by James Barron Hope
of Virginia, who read his Centennial poem
with fine effect.
The oration by the Hon. R. G. Winthrop
of Massachusetts, which followed, consumed
the rest of the day, occupying two hours in
its delivery. The attendance at the stand,
which numbered fully ten thousand when be
| started, had dwindled down to about two
thousand when he stopped, and the remaining
programme was cut to save time.
The singing of the odes and anthem was
not extraordinarily fine, the chorus number
ing only fifty or sixty voices, in place of the
three hundred advertised. 1t is striking
fact that the majority Of the people pay no
attention to the ceremonies, although they are
supposed to be the attraction. Out Of the
twelve thousand soldiers in Yorktown to- day,
not one hundred, outside Of the regular army
officers, were present during the ceremonies,
and large numbers of civic guests, from all
the States, could be seen walking or driving
over the surrounding country, examining the
British batteries and surveying the present en-
campment of the troops. The ceremonies are
too long and the people get tired of them and
leave before they arerhaf over: There is
good deal of exclusiveness about the ceremo'
MES, and the seats are closely guarded for the
favored ones with tickets. Aside from large
display of policemen, however, to keep back
the crowd, the arrangements are very common,
and consist merely Of large board platform,
and amphtheatre of seats and small wood
en- stand covered with flags. I have seen
Hampton speak from twenty stands in South
Carolina which would throw the one here in
the shade both as to size and tasteful decora
ton. When it is considered that the Chief
Magistrate of the United States and the rep.
resentatives from two Of the greatest Euro.
pean countries were invited to speak from
that stand to day, it is enough to make an
American blush.
At the South Carolina encampment to day
everything passed off without special incident.
The men slept all night and no sick are re-
ported. This morning they had stewed oys-
ters, hominy, bacon and beef with coffee.
The arrangements for getting the men their
meals have been much improved since yester-
day. A detail of four men from each compa.
ny receive the food for their respective com.
panes from the caterer in bulk, and serve it
up in the tins. This saves long and weary
waiting. The men still have to hold their
plates in their hands, and will probably have
to continue to do so, as there seems no chance
Of getting any lumber to construct tables
The officers of the battalion and the officers
of the companies were invited to the head.
quarters of the 18th New York Regiment
this morning, and were handsomely treated.
The Michigan troops and the Maryland troops
have also extended many courtesies. Lieut..
Vodges, of the 9th Artillery, who is we'll
known in Charleston, called on the South
Carolina troops today in company with Col.
Loder, who is in command of Fortress Mon
roe, where Lieut.. Vodges is now stationed.
They were received warmly and extended
earnest invitations to our troops to come over
to their headquarters and make themselves at
home.
The Chatham Artillery is the only Georgia
company present, and the only one which
will be here. They are located next to the
South Carolina troops to the east, and are
nicely fixed. Governor Colquitt and aides
have arrived, and some of his staff will occu-
py tents in the encampment. The Chathams,
at noon to-day, fired salute of one hundred
guns from two brass pieces captured from
Cornwalis, one hundred years ago to-day, and
presented to his corps by Gen. Washington in
l779. The guns have been in the possession
of the Chathams for ninety years, and are
the centre of attraction.
The South Carolina troops had full dress
parade at o'clock this afternoon on the pa
rade ground near the encampment. They
were reviewed by Col. Thompson and Adju-
tant- General Manigault, and presented a
slendid appearance. 1t is in no boasting
spirit that it is said that the South Carolina
troops have attracted more notice and receiv.
ed more compliments for their appearance
and soldierly bearing than any regiment on
the ground.
| Tie Congressional delegation are very anx.
ious to leave for Washington tomorrow night,
and it is rumored tomorrow and Friday are
to be consolidated and everything closed up
by to morrow night. This, however, is not
defnita J. X. B.