The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-09-28
THE sERE AND YELLOW LEAF.
Closing Obsequies of the Congress LAX,
Season.


Season.
Last Tuesday was advertised as the
closing of that popular resort which
has delighted so many thousands during
the summer-COngress Lake.
1t has been a season of unparalleled
magnitude in point of the numbers W no
went there for recreation, in its various
phases of fishing, camping out, dane
Ing and hunting. The heretofore quiet
and almost unknown sheet of water
sprang into prominence and pnblic pat
rOnsge with the arrival Of the COnnOt-
ton Railway, which, by liberal eXpen-
diture of money in the way Of numer-
GUS and varied improvements, made Of
an unobtrusiVe lake much desired re-
sort.
EXCURSIONS.
A prominent feature was the vast
number Of excursions from all points
that made Congress Lake their Objec-
tive point, coming from Lake Erie, In
the north, and SherrOdsVille and Ma
varre in the south; and even Akron
added its quota, deserting the former
great resort, CuyahOga Falls, and taking
in the new place.
THE CLOSING SCENES.
Tuesday was cold, in fact the autumn
winds hummed in a way that was any
thing but fascinating, but according to
programme the season" had to be Off
cially closed at the time, or, as ShylOck
said, 1T was so nominated in the bond"
The railroad bills and posters said that
there would be music by the Grand
Army Band, and grand display of fire.
works from the middle of the lake in the
evening. The reporter having had ex-
perience In the promises of such an
nouncements, expected few rockets,
shiVering crowd and a desire to get
home as soon as possible. but he was
agreeably disappointed, and upon visit
ing the place found everything ac-
cordtng to programme.
MOVEMENT OF TRAINS.
At 1:3O p. m. the local train pulled up
at the COnnOttOn depot, upon which
embarked the Grand Army Band and
number of passengers, the band regal
ing the tourists with choice selections.
At 4:1O the regular train, which was
trifle late, took up another crowd, and
at Z p. m. the closing train for the season
left the Canton depot for the watery
expanse, in charge of conductor George
Swift, with engineer Whitcraft and
fireman Gray occupying the cab. Six
coaches well laden with passengers
rapidly rolled up the marrow guage."
Arriving at the lake. "a cold wind greeted
the pilgrims, who thOughtfully had pro-
vided themselves with OvercOats and
sha Wis beforehand. The pavilion was
| brilliantly illuminated; in the middle
Of the lake was a platform, anchored in
forty feet of water, on which were the
| fireworks.
PYROTECHNICS.
The night was cloudy, and only Occa-
siOnally would the moon break through
a rift in the harbingers of rain. The
/ hn m
above and below, and prepared to enjoy
the fiery show, which at once began.
First came rocket which shot up in
mid air, followed by train of sparks,
finally bursting and disgOrging numer-
Gus cOlOTed balls of different hues. In
quicksuccessiOn came flower pots, Cath
arine wheels, more rockets, Roman can
dies and other fine pieces, followed by
strOntia, barytes and sodium lights in
red, green and yellow, which glared in
tensely over the placid bosom of the
lake, exactly like the signal lights of
an approaching ocean steamer.
SNAKES.
Following these beautiful pieces, the
wierd and dusky forms on the mid-lake
platform touched off some "mines" which
belched forth a glObulaT ball of fire which
exploding shed myriads of serpents in
the air. "Great snakesp' said young
lady on the pavilion, and her young man
who was muffled up to the ears in a
shaggy ulster, shivering with the cold,
said: "NO, my deaT-r-r; I've not got
them" Tableau.
The display lasted for over an hour,
and was a complete success, eliciting
many encOmiums.
IN THE PAVILION.
After the fireworks the people ad-
jOurned inside and listened to the ex-
cellent music of the Grand Army Band,
which played a selection from the opera
of Patience" receiving hearty ap-
plause, after which the floor was cleared
and to the music of the band the waltz
and quadrille succeeded each other in
quick succession until 1l:30 p. M, when
the train pulled up to the depot, and
amid the gloom of the night departed
leaving Congress Lake shrOuded in
mist, and the season was over for 1882
As the train ran across the trestle
bridge over the swamp, the turtles were
seen loading their young on their backs
frogs on hind legs with their winter
clothing tied in a bundle suspended on
stick over the shoulder, were hunting
for their old haunts, and as the engine
passed the water tank on its south
bound journey a convention Of angle
worms was seen passing resolutions OF
thanks that they, with the turtles anC
frogs, would again have undisturbeC
possession Of their old domain.