The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-05
GAY PORTLAND.



the former timel the afternoon was given to
speech-making; yesterday there were but
two speeches, preceded by cigars and baud
music. aud photographiDg. The excursion
lists gathered at The Waldo after dinner and
very soon cries we're heard for Congressman
Boutelle. AS he came forward ringing
cheer went up from the crowd before the
piazza. He would have been here before, he
said, had 1t not been for business that he
ought not to neglect and now that he was
here he wished TO testify to the hospitality
OF Portland. Ever since 1885 he had been
meeting comrades of the Grand Army who
said that the entertainment which Portland
gave to the national encampment was tue
best one that ever had been given to it. lie
referred to the navy in which arm OF the
service he had served and he happily pointed
to Elk Department Commander Galley as a
comrade in arms. Though the navy did not
serve in such great number as the army, it
got there just the same. and he was glad that
a part of 1t got to Portland this year.
During the applause which followed Mr..
Boutelle's speech Mayor Melcher seized the
opportunity to say few words of thanks to
him, on behalf of Portland, for seeing to it
that the noble Moth Atlantic squadron came
here.
1t was nearly o'clock when tie excur-
sionists left the Waldo for the steamers.
The sail down the bay was given up owing to
the unfavorable weather, but as everybody
had had such jolly good time, there were
no regrets. The lip back was devoted to
story telling, to farewelis and to seeing the
nearer islands.
As the Richmond steamed into the harbor
the sun came out and gave fine view of the
war fleet now swarming with cheering, sailors
and marines back from the city.
Though the party broke up when they
Generals Chamberlain and Beal. marched to
the Falmouth In column behind Chambers
band to the tune of marching Through
Georgia"
The Militia CIambake.
After the parade the soldiers of the militia
went in small squads by different boats to
Long Island where an excellent clambake
was served on the installment plan by Ponce.
1t was purely informal affair the men
coming and going as they pleased and enjoy
ing their liberty, after the strict discipline Of
the muster to Its fullest extent
The Fireworks.
TIL, salute was fired at seven O'Clock &C.
cording to programme, and the bells again
rang.
In the evening the display of fireworks
came off in the waters beyond the Eastern
Promenade and the weather having cleared
1t was the one event of the day that passed
without hitch or hindrance. The effect of
the colored lights on the alter was very
beautiful, making the display much more at
tractive from a scenic point of view, than
displays of former years have been, when
fired from the plains below the Western
Promenade. From the point of view of the
spectators however the Western Promenade
is preferable, its more even slope affording
better means of accommodating the crowd
of spectators. The display did not come
fully up to expectations.
Finale.
The Fourth of July, $780, is ended and has
passed into history with the many that have
gone before. From a meteorological stand
pUIub i was d QCdu ldiluto up w uNo v OiuCh :
but the softness of the air and the gentle
breeze after that hour largely compensated
for the hours of disconnected tramping
around in the mud and wet that preceded it.
From the standpoint of the Army of the
Potomac it was a grand success. Every
member of that organization expressed him.
self as delighted with the treatment which
they had received at the hands of our citizens
and officials, and all say the. same-We are
glad we came.
The soldiers and sailors and 6remen too on
the whole were pretty well treated and as
rain has no special terrors for them they had
nothing Of which they could complain.
Last but not least by several thousands,
the great public neither military nor naval
nor fremeD. They came, they saw, they
went home tired and perhaps hungry but
satisfied, voting unanimously that the
Fourth of July was success.