Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-07-06
JULY FOURTH.
How Patriotic Augusta Citizens
Observed Il.
Inc City Entertains a Vast ThFong Of
Visitors.
The Celebration Carried Through With
out a Break.
Grand and Successful Opening of the
Augusta Driving Park

f"SN''NN vic S'ttts al biBhL uesudy anu
seemed to take special delight in baking
completely and ruthlessly-aIl somnolescent
ambitions. II is really astonishing what a
vast variety Of sleep-killing noises patriotic
small boy can invoke from tin horn .the
night before the Fourth" Many and many
good citizen vowed as he tossed restiessly
upon his couch Tuesday night that if he
ever lived until morning he would sail out
before breakfast and kill those boys, but
when Wednesdays smiling face was seen thu
good citizens forgot their wrath and
the small boy was allowed to go his
way and throw his torpedoes and explode
his fire crackers in peace
At very early hour the people began to
come into the city from all directions. And
what a crowd Water street was perfect
jam, and in all parts of the city we're to be
seen numerous strangers.
Augusta proved equal to the strain upon
her hospitality, and all the incomers were
generously provided for. And right here it
is well to remark that Wednesdays crowd
was the best natured and most orderly which
has been seen here for some years. In
mingling with the throng all day the Journal
scribe does not remember to have seen any
alone the 'Ss crowd will long be remembered
in this city. The police force deserve much
praise for their success in maintaining the
best of order throughout the city during the
whole day.
OF course the lemonade vendors, booth
keepers and fruit hucksters were out in force
1t was a gala day for them, and of course
they reaped harvest.
At little past eight the
ANTIQUES AND HoRRIBLEs
which had assembled on Cushnoc heights
started out to edo the city" and paraded the
principal streets. They were headed by Gen.
Washington, mounted upon a white charger,
and arrayed in gorgeous style.
A number of elegant equipages followed,
filed with pioneers, Indians and other
notables
Fourteen plantation mokes" with their
plaintive melodies rendered the sounds of
the toy cannon and tin horns welcome
relief
After the ho-ribles had slowly vanished,
not to muster again for another year. the
crowd amused itself by listening to
The THREE BANDS
which discoursed music in various places on
Water street. Gallant young swans
munched the unctuous peanut, and treated
the young ladies who accompanied them to
hitherto untasted beverages. Two hawkers
of fruit ran vigorous competition, and
brought down the price of bananas to a
ruinously low rate, but finally formed a
combination and resumed their former
eIorbitant prices
A large portion of the crowd lesurely
strol.ed to the station and watched the train
from Watervile come in. delegation of
nearly
Two HUNDRED
landed several of whom were Immediately
accommodated with apartments in the City
Marshars hotel The Waterville base ball
nine and Neptune Hose Company were among
those who arrived.
At eleven o'clock Water street between
the bridges was closed for the
TRIAL OF SPEED
between the two hose companies The
Paysou Tucker Hose Company was billed to
appear, but failed to show up. The
Neptunes of Watervile were waiting eager
for the fray. and it was decided to pick up
a team from Augusta and try conclusions
with them.
Each company was to start from the cor
uer of Bridge and Water ST., run to the
hose cart which was placed under the rail
road bridge, bring it back to the starting
point, and after attaching the hose to the n.y.
drant get water as soon as possible. AT
Ills Neptune Hose Co, fourteen in num-
Der, started and went through the above per-
Torrance in exactly a minute and twenty
two seconds
The excitement was now varied by the
sudden downfall of gentleman from out of
town, who had been quenching his thirst a
ally for the man who Knocked him down,
and evidently desired to have serious con-
verse with him, but as that individual didn't
materialize. he was escorted alone to the po-
lice station.
The picked company from Augusta now
appeared on the scene and were greeted with
loud applause from their supporters. They
leisurely trotted after the hose cart and back
with il. succeeding in getting water in a
minute and thirteen seconds. This beat the
time of the Neptunes by nine seconds. The
the stream came so unexpectedly that the
srdor of several prominent citizens was
quenched by drenching. At noon the
AUGUSTA WATER WORKS
gave display in Market Square throwing
eleven streams to considerable height and
nearly drowning several small boys.
The people then adjourned to dinner, and
from the reports of the fish dealers and
green grocers We should judge that salmon
and peas was the favorite holiday
dinner
Ii was grand opening for the
AUGUSTA DRIvING PARK.
Early in the afternoon the crowd began {,
wend its way in that direction, and by tn,
time the procession arrived it was througet
with people; upwards of 5000 were il
attendance The grand stand was packed
There is no doubt but what it should hav
been three times as large, as it win be when i
is completed. The judges stand held another
CROWDS did also the band stand. Tn
base ball ground proved the great centre o
attraction for large throng of people, VIII
completely surrounded it, The hill on tn
east side of the grounds proved favorit
resort for a large number of people who pro