San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-07-10
FOURTH OF JULY IN MEXICO.

pie on the Ground-Mus-
ic, Dancing, Speak
iug-PersOnal.
MONTEREY, MEX, July 5, 1891.
San Antonio LIGHT.
Yesterday the Saddle mountain di-
vision No. II, of the Monterey and
Mexican Gulf Ry., gave a picnic at
| the San Juan Park, on the banks of
the San Juan river. thirty. four miles
from Monterey on the Gulf Ry. The
committee Of arrangements saved no
expense to make 1t the grandest
Fourth of July celebration that was
ever held in Mexico. In this they
were assisted by the general manager
of the road, Mr.. j. A. Robertson, the
general superintendent, Mr.. John
Grace, and Mr.. J. ID. Copelan, who
rendered them every facility In the
way of transportation to and
from the grounds. Also to Gov.
Bernardo Reyes who furnished
them flags, a band of music, a
company of soldiers, and q license
all free of expense; to the chief of
for the liberal manner in which they
~ Tree Vi cApclsc.
Hon. John Woessner, American
consul at Saltillo, sent two large
American flags, Consul General W.
P. Sutton, OF Nueva Laredo, sent them
| one large American flag to hoist on
the grounds. To addition to the above
The had one hundred small Mexican
and one hundred A merican flags; also
hundreds of yards of bunting Of both
nationalities
In order to get on the grounds
ahead of the excursion train your cor
respondent took the regular passenger
train that went out one and half
hours ahead of the excursion train
and see what preparation was made
| and to avoid crowded cars. In this
we were disappointed, for as soon as
| we reached the depot every seat and
foot of standing room i'll the coaches
was occupied and we had to stand on
the platform. At every cross road
and station along the railroad crowds
| of men, women and children gaily
dressed, awaited us. A few were
taken --aboard and the balance were
were left for the next trains.
All the engines and coaches were
| covered with the colors and flags of
both nations, and they presen led a
gala appearance.
We found the grounds In good or
| der; the pavilion was gaily decorated;
seats and benches were all over the
grove and the shade was perfect.
There were stands erected for beer,
| ice cream, dinner tables and refresh
ment stations. The Mexicans had
several booths erected, where good
| meals could be bad and all kinds OF
refreshments from mescal to chill con
carne and coffee.
The first regular eXcursio train
brought about 500 people, the second
about the same, and the third Que
which did not arrive until $50 y. M.
was loaded inside and out Neither
| the B. OF r. c., nor the railway com
pand had any idea that there would
be more than one third of the people
| go TO IL, and they were taxed to their
| utmost to furnish transportation for
| them
People come in from the surround
| ing country on horseback, in carts,
| wagons, ambulance and carriages and
| on foot SO that by p. m. there were
over 5000 people Oh the grounds. Mr..
Robertson came in from the front on
his special with his family ana he
brought several friends along.
The first thing on the program was
a base ball game. AS the most OF
| the players were amateurs, we
| made no record OF the game.
Then a two hundred yard horse
race. There were three entries and
considerable money changed hands
on the result. Then came a blind
| folded wheelbarrOw race, which fur
| nished considerable amusement to the
| MeXicans, as this was the first one of
the kind that they ever saw. Then
followed the fat mems sack race, and
1t was won by The latest one, amid
| the applause of the crowd. The next
on the programme was a boat race in
the river, but as the committee tailed
| to get but one boat, that part of the
entertainment was dispensed with.
But the best in that line was the tub
race in the river. This furnished
! considerable amusement and was
highly appreciated by those who wit
messed 1t. At the close OF this all re-
paired to
THE PAVILION,
to hear the speaking. Mr.. J. A.
Robertson, general manager OF the
road, addressed himself TO the con-
ductOrs of the Monterey and Mexican
Gulf road, who got up this celebrs-
ton. He complimented them very
highly for the good taste they dis
played in the decorations, the pro.
visions they made to entertain the
people who came here, and for the
good order that they main
tanned and gentlemanly conduct. He
was glad that he was with them,
an this action, and especially on this
day, as he believed this was the first
time in the history of this country