The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-07-09
The Fourth In Montpelier.

for their Kindness and the many favOrs ex-
tended to us. We met many old friends in
Montreal whom we we're pleased to see. We
left there at eight o'clock Monday evening and
arrived at Montpelier few minutes before
one A. M, where we were met by delegation
OF citizens. headed by the Montpelier band who
struck up lively air as we stepped from the
cars. This kind welcome home was very
pleasing to us, something we did not expect,
and will always be remembered by US with
qualification. 1t was indeed 6 red-letter day
for us. Upon my own behalf take this OPP
portunity OF thanking the various members OF
the celebration committee for the liberal and
gentlepanly manner in which they have
treated me during the time have been here,
and all others who have rendered me assist
ance "
THE EVENING CONCERT.
At eight o'clock the Montpelier band escorted
the Marshfied band to the Union school-house
grounds, where pleasing musical programme
was carried out by the two organizations dur
ing the display of fireworks. Owing to the
unexpected absence OF one Of its solo PLAYERS
the Montpelier band was prevented from per-
forming some selections Of higher order,
which had been prepared for the OCCASION but
gave five pieces better suited, perhaps to please
| the general public. During an intermission
between the third and fourth selections the
| Marshteld band gave two of their best pieces.
| The music of both bands was heartily encored
and added much to the enjoyment Of the
! evening.
THE FIREWORKS
For an hour preceding sunset the current Of
humanity:was up School street to School-house
| square, the position from which the fireworks
on Marvin hill could be seen to the best ad-
vantage. The square and the adjacent points
of observation were densely packed. The
Montpelier band enlivened the period of wait
ing for darkness to cover the scene. dis
| charge of rockets announced the beginning of
the pyrotechnic display. For two hours there
| was brilliant succession OF set pieces, inter-
spersed with flights of rockets, discharges Of
bombs, illuminations with bengolas, fusisdes
from batteries of Roman candles and explo-
sions of bombs charged with bright-colored
lights or dropping willows of golden fire. The
bombs, thrown to great hight, exploded with
a loud report and liberated showers OF brilliant
stars or discharged cascades of Japanese fire.
Parachute rockets, ascending high in the air,
let loose fiery stars which 6oated in the skies
like the more substantial objects they simu-
lated. sAmong the set pieces there we're crosses
with centers of brilliant lights changing to re-
volving suns, the arms glowing with gold,
crimson and emerald, and disappearing in dis
charges OF Japanese fire; a " Catherine wheel "
OF many brilliant and quick y-shifting hues
going out in blaze of explosive glory; another
wheel OF brilliant colors, changing to many
pointed star, blazing with blue, gold and GRIM
son, and disappearing in burst of Greek fire.
The grand finale was piece twenty-five feet
high by forty feet long. At the base on either
hand were the dates 1776-1SS4. Above was
the American eagle fapked by flags, and the
whole surmounted by the legend " Montpelier''
in letters of crimson fire. The scene changed
to representation Of Niagara Falls and closed
with the flight Of a cloud of rockets The display
was fine one, and it was managed with COM
mendable promptness and entire success There
was good variety and the selections, a diff
cult matter, were wel-made These fireworks
were from the laboratory of E. S. Hunt, Wey-
mouth, Mass The contract to furnish them
was made with his agent, o. NJ. Fisher, resi-
dent of Montpelier.
EXEUNT.
Some time before the close of the pyrotch-
MICS the more anxious of the spectators had
been vending their way to the railway stations
to make sure of the homeward passage. The
grand finale was the signal for grand stam-
pede In due course of time amid speeding
cheers, densely-crowded special train of a
score and more of cars toied out of the Gen.
trail station and slowly wended its way north
ward, and at midnight another detachment
took its way southwark From the Wells
River station third division went eastward.
Hardly had the celebration ended and the
: spectators had time to seek shelter, when the
clouds which had been gathering during the
evening, and which by obscuring the moon
, had contributed to the effectual display of the
fireworks sent down copious shower, extin-
gushing whatever danger might Turk in the
, remnants OF the mschievous firecrackers, or in
the smouldering debris which was scattered
: less than fifteen thousand, and good judges
place the number as high as twenty thousand.
1t was good-humored, orderly and we'll
behaved crowd That the celebration, amid 80
| many opportunities for accident, was attended
by no harm to life or limb is subject for sin
cere congratnlation and thanksgiving.
.. NOTES.
, A GRAND success" was the general verdict
NINE hundred people came into town on the
} Barre trains.
THE two passengers inthe balloon paid Prof.
Grimley S25 each for their trip.
THANKS are due to Marshal Joe G. TAYLOR
and his aids for their efficient services.
A SPECIAL train of thirteen cars was run
from Windsor, and one Of fourteen cars from
I Burlington.
THE committee wish to extend their personal
thanks to all those who contributed to the sue
cess of the celebration.
THE official programmes of the exercises, is.
sued by the Union Card Company, were grea
convenience and were in constant demand
The hospitality shown by the local fire
. companies to visiting members from out of
town was highly appreciated, and was one of
the enjoyable features Of the day.
THE Ethans and the Shermans were the OBJ
served of all observers and the admired of all
! admirers during the day. Their visit will be
l very pleasantly remembered and they would
THE police force, under the charge of Deputy
, Sheriff j. L. futile, deserve hearty commenda-
r ton for the efficient manner in which their
Q duties were performed. Several incipient out.
8 breaks were quelled by their prompt and iu.
dicious action.
Too much cannot be said in praise OF the
committee to whose untiring efforts the sue
cess of the celebration is due. Those gentle.
> men are Messrs. T. G. Phinney Chairman,
i, +. W. Morse, l.. Bart Cross, C. II. Fuller. A.
, A. Mead, G. Blakey II. c. Webster and J. L.
: futile. Long may they live
/. WHILE number of people were stand
+ ing upon a platform erected over the mil
4 pond for the use Of judges in the goose race, a
portion gave way aud they were precptate6
q into the water, to the great amusement Of the
throng OF spectators. A thorough drenchinl
was the only harm resulting from the accident
THE Ethan Allen Engine Company came by
special train. They were met at the depot by
y the marshals, the committee and several prom
/ nent citizens A procession was formed anG
= the visitors were escorted to the head of STATE
II street. where brief halt was made. Their
n countermarching, they were conducted to the
y Pavilion.
>, , THE immense amount of labor bestowed b,
" the committee upon the preparations for thu
q celebration was, in large measure, rewarded
/ by the success which crowned their efforts
II Everything was performed as advertised witt
10 the exception OF the goose race, and no blam
nv Is attached to anybody for the failure TO presen