Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-07-10
OUR NATIONAL HOLIDAY,
HOW THE DAY WAS CELEBRATED.
A Gala Day for st. Adams and Platts-
burgh Thirteen Hundred Burling-
tonians Assist Her Neighbours
The Day in Burlington.

Although Burlington did not celebrate
the one hundred and ninth anniversary of
our National independence, many of her
residents did, nearly Thirteen hundred of
our people assisting our neighbors at st.
Adams aud Plattsburgh, in their celebra-
tions. In the morning the wharf of the
Champlan Transportation company was
thronged with people, awaiting the arr
val of the steamer Williams, to convey
them to Plattsburgh The Central Yer
mont depot was also crowded by eNcur-
sionists bound for the celebration at st.
Adams. Over five hundred people pur-
chased tickets for Pattsburgh in the
morning and three hundred were sold at
the railroad ticket Office. The little steam
err Mariquita took a party of twenty-five
to Port Kent, and from there they were
conveyed by stage to Ausable Chasm
The steamer also took a number to Platts-
burgh, whom the Williams was unable to
carry. Very few of the eXcursionists to
Plattsburgh returned on theWiliams in
the afternoon, but waited for the fireworks
and moonlight ride on the Vermont. The
excursion to Cedar Beach on the Will
liams was attended by nearly one hun
dl ed, the steamer returning shortly after
9o'clock in the evening. The excursion to
Plattsburgh in the evening, on the Yer
mont was attended by three hundred peo-
pie, who went mostly to witness the dis
play of fireworks. The boat returned at
about II o'clock with over eight hundred
on board and a number of people were
left in Plattsburgh, there being some ms
understanding in regard to the time of
leaving
All who witnessed the celebrations at
plattsburgh and st. Adams unite in their
n1pispS nI them IplDp most success II
affairs. Both places were completely
througcd and it was impossible to obtain
rooms at the hotels and ali places for re-
freshments were taxed to their utmost
The Events at Platt>burgh.
The military demonstration at Patts-
burgh was the most attractive thing on
the entire programme Among the com
panies that participated were the Citizens
corps of Saratoga, the Rockwell corps of
GlenS Falls, the Burleigh corps, w hltehall,
the 21th Separate company of Malone and
the local military organizations. The pa
rade was one of the finest ever seen at Il
celebration in that town and was most
creditable throughout The exercises at the
grand stand at O'Clock p. m.
were very interesting; The musi-
cal selections were, fine and the
Grafton by Rev. j. +. c. Sawyer was
an able and eloquent effort. The athletic
sports which followed were closely con
tested throughout, Il number of Burlng-
ton boys, as usual, winning number of
prizes. The sham battle at 3 o'clock by
the visiting military companies. followed
bydress parade and battalion and skirmish
drill, was a new sight to many and was in
teresting and attractive. The evolutions
were performed with precision ana were
frequently applauded. The display of fire
works was hardly what had been expected
as regards extent and variety, but what
there was of it was good and displayed to
advantage. There were frequent showers
during the day but not enough to Interfere
with the celebration. On the whole
Plattsburgh should be thoroughly satisfied
as to the manner in which her centennial
was celebrated
The Day at st. Adams.
The people of St. Adams had become SC
thoroughly possessed with the spirit OF
patriotism that the celebration was begun
the night before and continued with IN
abated vgor to Il successful close Satur
day night The day was ushered in with
salute which was shortly responded tC
by large numbers of people from the sur
rounding towns. AS soon as the eNcur
sion trains began to arrive it seemed as il
the place would be overrun, the streets
soon becoming so thronged that it was 4
great deal easier to start for Il certain
point than it was to reach it. The band
concert which was the first exercise OF
the programme was excellent, the pro
gramme being varied and the execute
most admirable. The grand parade was
an elaborate affair." all of the local organ
iZatlons turning out in full numbers auC
beng supplemented by military com
panies and civic societies from Other
towns including Montreal.
The game of LACROSSE between the
Montreal team and Il team of Indians
was won by the former after spirited con
test This was followed by the bag race
and tug of war, after which came the mos
exciting event of the day, the balloon as
cension 10y Prot. Grimley Of New York il
the "City of Columbus.' The air was mos
favorable and the ascension was one of til,
most satisfactory ever witnessed in thin
section of Vermont. The balloon shot III
almost straight for long distance, bu
was finally cal ried off in the direction o
Swauton, near which II success, u land
ing was made. The ipr.naut retulncC
to St. Adams in about AN hour from
the time that he started. Bicycle, hO,'
and running races brought IT. after
n on's port to successful close II
the forep lrt of the evening there was al
event winch was not down on the pro
gramme, but which proved quite exciting
for short time, and this was the catching
of fire in the hall mating at tn,
Weldon house. The fire compa
MES were called out, but thu
damage, mostly from water. The pyrotec
mic display in the evening was the mos
elaborate seen in St Adams for many
years and was most successful in every de
tail. There was the greatest variety, an(
some of the set pieces were especially
fine. The fireworks were. handled by al
expert in a most satisfactory manner, anC
were witnessed by large throng, many o
whom went in the evening especially t
see them. The events of the day were sue
cessful in every detail and passed off in
manner most creditable to all concerned
The Fourth in Burlington.
The Fourth was enjoyed in this city
about the same as it has been tor the las
eight or nine years, by quiet and media
ton. Places of business were general,
closed, but there was little else in the ap
pearance of things that betokened holi
day. Very few flags floated from flag
poles and the only national colors of an,
other sort seen were some small flag
stuck in the brides of "A team from