The Washington critic., 1886-07-06
THOUSANDS MERRY MAKING.
How Tho National Holiday Was Colo
bratcd by Washington People.

powder, passed oil Without INC Nsllal
unfortunate accompaniment Of in.
creased demands upon the police and
fire departments and upon the medical
and surgical profession. A holiday has
rarely been more generally observed
and there has seldom been n greater
exodus by railroad, steamboat and
other modes of escape 10 pleasure re.
sorts or rural retreats.
EXCURSIONS FROM THE CITY.
Early on Saturday the abnormal pas.
senger traffic on the railroads began
and continued on Sunday and yester-
day. 1t appeared to be generally &C.
cepted that the Fourth of July was
forty eight instead of twenty.four hours
in duration, and Celebrating" by
various means began when the depart.
mcnts and business houses closed on
Saturday. The church services on
Sunday were in many instances rem.
dered appropriate and timely by ser.
mons on patriotic themes. BY yester.
day morning thousands of people had
left the city for the resorts down the
llNCl anu tloCMltIt. nt CTOMuS III
these resorts, at IIarper's Ferry, and
almost everywhere exceeded eXpecta.
tions.
Two train loads of colored excur.
sionisls from this city spent the day at
Harper's Ferry.
At Marshall Hall an elaborate pro.
gramme of exercises was gone through,
Representatives Curtin and Compton
and Mr.. III. Mohun delivering orations.
Twelve members Of the Capital Bicy-
Gle Club went TO Hagerstown, Md, =,
yesterday to take part in the bicycle
parade there.
IN THE CITY.
At the annual shooting match OF the
National Rifles for company medal, at the
Arsenal grounds yesterday, Lieutenant
Manson won the first medal and Captain
Oyster the second medal, Private Drury
Corporal Blois won the Addison badge.
The Oldest Inhabitants met yesterday In
accordance with time-honored custom.
The Declaration Of Independence was read,
and an Grafton delivered by Mr.. John III.
Thompson. After other appropriate exer-
cses the programme ended with the entire
assemblage singing the "Star Spangled
Banner"
The sale of fireworks was reported as be.
ing unusually small.
IN THE SUBURBS.
A pleasant incident OF the day was
gathering at Grassland, Secretary Whit
ney's country seat, Of the officers and en-
ployes Of the Navy Department.
A garden party was given In the Soldiers
Home grounds under the auspices of the
Soldiers Home Temperance Union.
Appropriate exercises were held at the
Reform School, Industrial Home School
and at other institutions.
At Ivy City quite crowd was attracted
by the races. The first race, for road
by Phallastine; dash for gentleman riders,
one mile, Il. G. Blunts Herodas time, 1:55.
The contests were not exciting.
THE PRESIDENTS DAY.
The President spent the day hard at work,
drove out into the country in the afternoon
with Mrs. Cleveland, and at night went out
on the south portico and witnessed the fire.
works for while.
THE FIREWORKS.
The pyrotechnic display in the Monument
grounds attracted an immense crowd. The
exhibition was fine, the set pieces, as well
as those for aerial display, were handsome
and were greeted with applause. The dis.
play continued from $50 to 10 p. m.
FIRES AND ACCIDENTS.
The fires and accidents were unexpectedly
few-far less than usual ON "Independence
Day."
Frank Cockrcll, little son OF Senator
Cockrell, living at 1902 Q street, and two
other boys, named Willie Burrell and Cllf
ton Church, were burned about the face
and hands by the explosion of n bottle OF
powder they were using in setting of can
non.
John Ewald was accidentally shot In the
leg. The ball was removed by DR.. Brown
The Fire Department was called out
about noon for a little blaze on the roof OF
house 1924 ID street southwest, caused by
flre-cracker, but did not go into service
as the fire was out before they arrived on
the spot
The awning OF De Moll's drug store, cor
ner of Eighth and + streets southeast, was
burned by fire-crackers.
THE ARRowsMITn's ACCIDENT.
The steamer Arrowsmith which left this
city at 5 a. m. yesterday with nearly five
hundred excursionists was returning yes
terday afternoon, and passing Matthias
| Point, when the shaft broke and tn,
steamer was brought to standstill Til,
accident was not one to cause any alarm
| but the steamer was crippled and helpless
| A passing tug brought news of the steam
| er's condition to Alexandria late last night
| and subsequently steamers were dispatched
| down the river to bring back the belateJ
passengers. The DELAYED steamer was moi
| heard from in Washington until Q o'clocl
this morning, by which time an anxiou,
crowd had gathered on the wharf. The re
turning exeursionists arrived In detach
ments this morning.
| Tur. rN1oyNrST srrKrps
r,o mho ,,,.o 10 a-ona,oa ct ,,.,.
| ihosc "io iihc W eAcic'sc lnclr iniag'h'
| tons in estimating crowds said that abou
| 10000 left this city by railroad aud boat