The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-04-24
G. +. & \. '. Celebration.
s'THE DREAM OF OUR FA-
THEIRS REALIZED
Bad Weather Could not Dampen
WilmingtOn's Hospitality
to Her Guests.
Excursion to the Hammocks, Oyster
Roast at Ocean View, the Banquet,
Speech-Maktng and Good Cheer.
Editorial Correspondence.l

Editorial Correspondence.l
Notwithstanding last Thurs
day morning broke gloomy,
cloudy and rainy, we could not
resist the temptation to run
down to Wilmington and see
and enjoy the royal style in
which we were sure she was en-
tanning her merchant guests
We are in Wilmington at that
excellent hotel, the Orton. The
Office, reading and sitting rooms
are crowded, and there we meet
and shake hands with hosts of
friends and acquaintances along
the line of the new railroad.
The excursion to the Ha,nmocks
is announced! The weather
bureau is dealing ont an old
fashioned "drizzly- drazzly rain,"
but again we cannot resist the
temptation to GO; and the crowd
ed sea cost trains show that hun
dreds Of others were moved by
the same temptation. The trip
is free and at the ocean side a
hundred bushels Of the delicious
bivalves roasted and served on
the half she'll are ready and
smoking hot to tempt the appe-
tite Of ye excursionist, and right
royalty did one and all do h ,nor
to the timely and sumptuous
feast. Several hours were spent
in strolling around the beach
and Hammocks, and the deci-
sion of all was that if the place
was more delightful in summer
livery, that then they must come
again at that time.
5:45 P. M. found ns hack in
the hospitable city. At that
hour the parade of the police
and the Fire Department took
place. After the parade, an
alarm Of fire was turned in from
box IA, and an engine exhibition
was given in front Of The Orton
in the presence of several thou
sand spectators. The Adrians
and Atlantics alternated in car
wing their hose up on tha Erie !,
ladder or the WilmlngLOn Hook
and Ladder Company, and alto
gether the display made was
very fine.
The crowning feature Of our
delightful trip was yet to come.
It was the grand and sumptuous
banquet, given by the citizens
Of Wilmington, at night. in the
large and spacious rear compart-
ment of the warehouse Of Cham
pion Congresses; and it was a
fitting close to one Of the most
delightful and important eras in
the history Of the North Caro-,
lina's metropolis. The spread
was laid under the direction OF
The Orton House, and was de
lightful one in every respect
The hall was beautifully decora
E. ted with gay flags and brigh
streamers and brilliantly lighted
by electricity. There were 10 ia
bles. Each 100 ft in length ant
each adorned with ',eautifu
flowers and evergreens. Amons
the decorations of th- hall weI'
n the National colors of dozel
or more ndtionalities; the musi
stand was in one end Of th'
hall, in the other was a rOstrun
on which were seated the dis
tinguished speakers for the oc
casion. The tables were loadet
! with all the good things tina
the inner man could desire, an
= after that desire was even NOR
than satisfied, the eloquent Hor
:. A. N. Waddell was introduced t
deliver the address of welcome
= After indulging for fe v min
q utes in some timely and witt
a pleasantly, he said:
+ The people Of Wilmington tn
i evening are realizing the dreams {
!, their fathers i'm the establishment {
Vi direct communication with that pa
=, of our State from which we hay
e long been separated, and to the PEI
h of which our city has been and
" but a name without signicance. W
=, do not wish this to continue. "
, greet you on this great occasion wit
u our heart to our home This gre
- railroad, the completion of whiC
le we celebrate tonight and in whit
le we rejoice, ought to have been Il
in first railroad built il North Carolin
n and l verify believeif that had bee
the case, the entire commercial al
industrial establishment Of this eli
would have been different from VIII
it has been, and would have be-
m more honorable to our civilization
We The talented j. III Myrover
'e. the Fayetteville Observer, d
= - livered the response. Mar
Of Of other excellent speeches in r
d. sponse to the various toasts we
ill made that Of Hon. Z. NJ. Ste
ce man being especially good.
short the whole thing was a
K. mirably arranged and was hig
ly enjoyable. Wilmington b
s. done the handsome thing, tt
BIZ anticipations Of her guests mo
lre than realized, and she should