Morning journal and courier., 1886-05-27
NEARLY FOUR MILES IN LENGTH.
The Great Procession in Honor of
 SprIngfield,s Anniversary.

l The Great Procession fn Honor of SpringfeId's Anniversary.
 SPRINGFIELD, May 26.-The second day of | Springfeld's celebration of her 250th birth | day was ushered in with the brightest of sunlight, but the drop in the thermometer
 made heavy winter hannels and overcoats l necessary. A high wind added to the chill, but yesterdays rain had so effectually laid the dust that the streets were as clean as if
 swept with new broom. The crowds be-
 gan pouring in with the dawn, some on the
 railroad, but more in teams, and everywhere
 was animation and hustle. By o'clock the
 school children had been massed in Court
 House Square to take part in the grand con-
 cert, in which they shared jointly with Cart
 lands Tenth regiment band of Albany,
 Colts band of Hartford, Little's band of this
 city and the First regiment drum, fife and
 bugle corps of Boston. The concert opened
 with the Puritan Pioneers grand march"
 the school children following with several
 selections, among them ''The Star Spangled
 Banner" and America" They sang with
 spirit, showing excellent drill. Loud and
 hearty were the plsudits of the immense
 concourse. Teams blocked all the sp-
 breaches to the square and dense crowd
 filled it's every inch of space. And still the
 crowd continued to grow despite the fact
 that it already filled the city. Desirable
 windows along the route of the parade com
 handed fabulous prices. The thousands com
 pelled to stand awaiting the start
 ing of the procession were good-hu-
 mored despite clouds, which shed 8 few
 drops at noon, and then cleared away.
 Shortly after one o'clock the procession
 moved, in ten divisions, over route i've
 miles in length, the procession itself being
 nearly four miles long, First came the
 mounted police fankers followed by the de-
 tachment of police acting as escort for the parade, with Captain Edward H. Boecklin in command. After the police was the marshal of the day, William Pynchon; Chief of staff, Major s. B. Spooner; adjutant, Captain Charles w. Mutell, and corps of aids. The most interesting features were floats repre- senting the purchase of lands from the Tndi ans by William Pychon, the first settler; model of the first house in Springfield; the l burning of the town by Indians old Pynchon l fort; the first meeting house; representation 1 of the French and Indian war; also one of l the Indians of 1900 by the Ousamequin tribe l of Improved Order of Red Men; the visit of l General Washington in 17S9; the signing of l the declaration of Independence; an old l fashioned wedding party on horseback; doc | tors of the last century; chaises containing 1 people dressed in costumes of 1735, 1776, l 1S12 and 1885; John Hancock, the first Gov | ernor; the first railroad train; the six-horse l stage coach of 1885; car containing fifty 1 young girls followed by boys representing the period of 1885, the city government of l 1885 and the trades and industries of the | city. The procession occupied two hours in l passing given point.
 The procession was reviewed by Governor 1 Robinson and staff and invited guests from l a point on Main street in front of the Memo rial church. Court Square was again illu- | minated this evening with 250 electric lights. | Gartland's band and Little's band gave an | open air concert from 7 to S:30 p. m. At | S:3O D. m. a preliminary concert was given | in the City Hall by the Seventh regiment | band of New York and the Fitchburg band | of Fitchburg, Mass. Dancing began at 9:30 | and was continued during the night.