The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-08
OLD POINT.

OLD POINT.
HOW THE NEWS OF THE ATTEMPTED AssAs-
sINATION OF THE PRESIDENT WAS RE-
CEvED-A QUIET FOURTH OF JULY-BEAU-
TIFUL FIREWORKS AT THE FORT AND THE
SOLDIERS HOME-THE HYGEIA HOTEL
WELL DISCIPLINED SERVANTS AND COM
PLETE FIRE DEPARTMENTAL FINE COM
PANY AND GOOD SEASON, ETC, ETC.
correspondence of the Richmond DiSp ltch.l
HYGEIA HOTEL, July 6, 1881.
or course. the one thought and topic OF
conversation here, az elsewhere, is the at
tempted assassination OF the President, ana
the official bulletins are awaited with great
anxiety by the crowd that surrounds the
telegraph office. The first news OF the das-
tardy attempt at the life OF the Chief Mag
istrate OF the land was terrible shock to
the hundreds on pleasure bent who were
assembling to Join in the celebration and
festivities OF the glorious F0uth. The wife
of a prominent general, upon hearing the
first exaggerated intelligence, threw up her
hands and in the most wOeful accents posi-
Bile, with prolonged whistle for an eXcla-
nation point, said "And, good Lord. are
we 10 have that rascal Arthur as President
for four years."
The officers and soldiers Of the army here
were, as might have been expected, greatly
excited and concerned over the unfortunate
occurrence; but the continued good re-
ports about the Improvement in the condl-
ton Of Mr.. Garfield has induced the hope,
and finally the belief, that he will recover.
Ia q general conversation yesterday AFTER
noon about the anxiety that was being felt,
Governor Woodfn said with great feeling !:
"PH lust tell you what it is, gentlemen,
| hnfOrp ahOIt
teen years, but ever since Saturday | have
offered up some OF the biggest prayers for
the safety OF the President that ever you
heard"
THE FOURTH.
Not for years has such quiet Fourth Of
July been pissed at Old Point as the last.
The excursion boats from Baltimore and
Washington, which would be ordinarily
crowded to OVERLOOKING, were but poorly
patronized. De Molay COmmandery, from
the latter city, was expected, but anxiety
for the President decided them to forego
the anticipated pleasure. Thus were num-
dreds deferred from visiting the Point on
Monday. However. the place was much
crowded in the afternoon and evening with
excursioniSts from Norfolk, Portsmouth and
! the surrounding country, who had come to
| in the Fort and at the Soldiers Home.
These pyrotechnics are made during the
vear by the soldiers, and IN their mauufac-
! ture great care and skill are required To
make them successfully. II is said they are
enoaped at work upon them from one
Fourth to the other. The display at both
! places was very fine indeed, and was Wit
messed by thousands. The beautiful grounds
of the Soldiers Home, as lit up by hun
dreds OF red, white, and blue torches, ana
illumined by the bursting rockets and other
fireworks, was a brilliant scene to behold
THE HYGEGA.
| The hotel has been filed for the past
week, but at no time OyercrOWded. Qule
a number OF Richmond people are leaving
this morning, though many other visitors
are coming in.
| A very pretty german OF some twenty
couples was formed on the night OF the
Fourth, and was gracefully led by Mr.. Meade
| Haskins, assisted BY Miss Sailie purcell.
The night was, however, so oppressive that
even the charms OF this fashionable Ounce
were lost In the incandescence OF the hour,
and the merry couples were for once pleased
to abandon il for the more quiet but GER
tainly more refreshing promenade along the
beach. or fsle d tste on the wharyes, which
are almost always swept by the ocean's
breeze. Speaking OF the wharves, Mr.. PbG-
bus f. lust completing one which extends out
some two hundred feet from The site OF the
new payilion. A pier-head IS being butt at
the end OF IT, with depth OF twelve or
fourteen feet at low water. This VIII fur-
nisb a private landing for steamers with
visitors TO the Hygeia. This wharf serves
also as q very charming promenade from
the nayjlIon, and Is furnished with benches
and ratings on each side, from which the
evenings breeZes may be enjoyed, or those
fond OF the sport may fish and crab during
the day.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
A great feature OF interesting enterprise
at the Hygeia, and one which IS not gene
rally known even to the habitues OF the
Mace. is the complete fire department with
which the hotel is equipped. THROUGHOUT
all the halls aud stalrways are placed at IN
teryaIs patent fre.eXtiDgulshers; and IN adj
dition to these mere are two handsome steam
fre-engines always kent In readiness. They
are kept In fire-proOf houses, Just in rear oil
the hotel. and near cistern which can fur
nish an almost unlimited supply OF water.
Hose leading from the engines is stretched
in all directions, Just ready to be coupled
for use, while other instruments necessary
10 complete outfit are near at hand.
GOOD DISCIPLINE AND POLITE SERVANTS.
There is one excellence In the manage
ment here which SURPRISES probably any
thing OF the kind 10 other large hotels, ant
that is the thorough discipline and polite at
ltenlion which characterizes the service VI
every department. The eall-boys, all uni
formed and numbered. move about quickly
and with the promptness and precision o
we'll. drilled soldiers. They are all polite
from Alec Gardner and old Martin, wis
ATTEND the bathrooms, aLd who cal
with perfect equlnlmity aud good
will respond TO the exactions 0
scores OF men, women, aud children wn
call upon them atonce, to the dlgnltary 0
, the dining room, johnson. who brings !
the usual importance OF that Office the pom