Smyrna times., 1882-10-25
The Bi-Centennial.

cepG lOf the same purposes.
The eBi-Centennial.
The Bi-Centennial celebration of the
landing of William Penn which makes
Philadelphia the Mecca this week of all
the surrounding states, commenced on
Monday i'll Chester where the landing
of Penn was celebrated in royal style.
The city was throngcd with Il crowd of
visitors, the like Of which Chester never
knew before.
The city was almost hidden with
flags and bunting, and greens and pen
nants bearing our national emblem,
occupied u prominent position upon
every building.
The first ceremonies of the day was
the landing of William Penn and suite
upon the same spot where the Illus
trious Quaker founder of Pennsylvania
first set his foot upon Pennsylvania
soil, just two centuries ago.
The landing was effected from IL
steamer on the river, and the party
representing Penn and his friends,
stepped ashore amid din of cheers.
Salutcs were fired from the shipping
i'll the river, and the crowd cheered
until every voice was husky, while the
band played the national air. Hun
dredS were quartercd on the boats
along the river bank, and RS the Penn
party stepped ashore they waved flags
/ OF all nations which added considerable
! eciW 10 the occasion.
/ On the river bank Penn was met by
/ Il tribe Of red men dressed to imperS0-
nate Indians and mock treaty of
/ peace Was made
AT the end OF the treaty the entire
party proceeded 10 Second and Concord
avenue where u large stand was erected
upon which were seated two thousand
school children, who opened the cXcr-
clses with Bi-centennial hymn com
posed by Prof John Il. Swecny.
After prayer, Hon. John VI. BrGmull
of Media was introduced, and delivered
Il lengthy addrc..s
1t was Penn'a original idea t. locate
his city at Chr,t ter
~ ! :% ' ciuoil II grant. lu2rant was
formed ami made a parade ti3"ui:yh the
principal streets of The city.
~. , i-,'-;,' -'--..,. .,nI l.. r..,,. d;,
+ IhIIadCiiuII.t : rIVti",,Hu I,ai'po.'e" "
play yesterday, was an attractive fca-
turc Of the M-Centcnnial celebration.
At s O'Clock Il. m, - fleets left League
Island, passed down the river to Fort
Miillin and, returning proceeded to
Dock street wharf. where the Penn
P."'" ip"!"d fro! he snip IIcicome.
The procession was headed by the
ship jPc!cOme, toWcd by the tugs Start,
and Truro, and followed by 8S tugs
fastened together two abreast, and L
I1I lNa1 Of sta ylt
prOpcllers. Erric6son boats, sidewhce
tow boats, steamers, ferry boats, subma
rine diving lighter and various Other
craft. The steamers H. J.. Tygert
Thom0s Oyde and Rep"JIjr were in tht
procession.
All day Monday, Chestnut street wa
50 thronged by pedestrians that it wa
with extreme difficulty the street car
could make their way through tht
dense crowds. After dark the thron;
was nearly doubled in size and pcdc4
, trians crowded the centre Of the street
, to the almost entire exclusion of al
vehicles Nearly all seemed bound il
the direction of the Delaware, and
! was well nigh impossible to stem tn
, tide of humanity between seven an
: ten O'Clock. Those who desired to 9
! up town were obliged 10 go into Samson
n street where the stream of people wa
r moving westward. The electric light
q shed their glare upon as motley
: throng as could be well imagined
- Travellers, with their carpct-bags iirnl
: clutchcd, wandered aimlcssly arounC
) hunting boarding houses and quOtin
4 from the Scriptures. Foxes have hole
i the birds of the air have nests" etc
|, bands in uniform from the ncighbOriT
! cities marched to their several hote
y followed by admiring Youngsters picl
q pockets and thieves stood upon man
II corners, fashily dressed, looking f,
4 victims peddlers of medals and Oilici
= programmes thrust the wares under Il
il noses of every passcr-by; drivers
4 vehicles Of all kinds sworc till the Il
N might be supposed to be blue, M
i the scene was one of confusion such
II Philadelphia has not seen since 1876.
~ All along the line of parade men we
" at work upon the stands, nearly Il hu
70 dTed in number, to accommodate spe
u tators. Good seats are already scllil
w at II premium and many promine
n. firms are fitting seats in their sho'
:. windows for the use of their employ
:. and friends. Every incoming railro;
p train adds hundreds to the list
81 strangers III the city. Boston, Ne
- York, Chicago, san Francisco, New G
of leans, Washington, Baltimore, IIarr
~ burg and Wilmington are among L
,is cities which contribute guests al
Of sight-seers. So great was the thrOl
If of people awaiting friends at the Pen
al sylvania Railroad Depot, Broad Al
~ Market streets, in the afternoon al
1y1 night, that ropes had to be stretched
= front of the building to enable passo
a gers to get out.