Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-01
TO STAY A YEAR
Times Latest Offspring Receives a
Thrice Hearty Welcome From
All Over the Twin Cities.
ONLY ONE DARK SPOT RECORDED.
People at Balls, Parties and Concerts Pay
Tribute to the Old and Give
Welcome to the New.
ONLY ONE DARK SPOT RECORDED.
NIGHTMARE HIDEOUS WITH TIE SOUNDS
Hev the Opening of the Last Decade Will Be Observed
To-Day in Fittsb9rg.

Last midnight the great bell tolled the
deoth of the old year. The crowds on the
street took up the sound, and cheer on cheer
was sent up rom hundreds of throats in
welcome to 1891.
Then broke forth a pandemonium of bells,
whistles mingled with the bang of fire.
crackers and pistols. 1t may have been a
welcome to new born tine, or a notice thatlS9O
was history, but in either event the noise
was hideous. Notwithstanding this tact the
racket was kept up for an hour and then it
dwindled down to a few frecracker peppers
who suspended operations when they were
popped into Central station.
Prior to this, however, the advent of the
circle of months had been celebrated in a
hundred ways. Many churches had open
DOORS and within the fathers of the con-
gregations watched and prayed while the
new year advanced.
Dancing the New Year In.
Harps and violins had sounded in every
hall in the twin cities, while happy dancers
kept time 10 the merry music, and at mid
night only danced the faster as they gasped
out "how-dye do to times last child,
and with the next breath cried "On with
the danee'' With them life's lines ran too
smoothly for q more sober thought or even the
memory of past sorrow. There were balls
in Pittsburg, balls on the Southside, balls
in Allegheny, balls everywhere-in fact, the
whole city was swinging in the may waltz as
a greeting to the first unit of the last decade
of the nineteenth century.
Concerts, too, were among the amusements
and nearly every secret order in the two
cities, through some of their branches, held
concerts. Most of them, too, ended also in
the chairs being cleared and room made for
the happy couples.
The dance aud the divine muse were not
all the altars on which incense was burned.
The homes came in for share of the festiy-
tiles. Pretty maidens met and in dark
corners when midnight sounded over
grave yards and the other localities where
spirits are supposed to walk, they whispered
the dark secrets they love TO dote on
at Halloween and New Years. The
grown up folk celebrated by giving
receptions and then went home to dream
over broken resolutions and new ones to be
forged to-day, and, mayhap, to be broken to-
morrow.
Drinking to the Newcomer.
Still another class with raised cups vel
coined the newcomer anG swallowed the
spirits at the same time. The Brooks law,
however, ended this except in the ciubs
where the bon vivanfsbachelors and the gay
beuedicts welcomed New Year. until day
light drove them from the punch bowl.
Only one spot darkened the record OF
the welcome. Pittsburg almost received
1881 in good Pittsburg style with a tragedy.
Shortly after l. o'clock James Totten, an en-
ploye at Philip Flnn's restaurant,
in the Diamond Market was ac-
cidentaIly shot by George Robinson. The lat
;er is employed at Wilson's restaurant. The
two boys had been working a double
game on the New Year by welcoming
HIM and killing rats the
same time. The weapon was a fubert rifle
They had started to go to Wilson's restaurant
when Robinson who was behind Totten, acci.
dentally discharged the gun. The ball entered
at the right side of Totten's head and came out
above his eye, iBfIcting a severe scalp
wound. The wounded boy fell stunned by the
shock. but in few moments was resuscftated
The patrol wagon was called and Totten was
taken to Central station. A little later Wilson
gave himself up. Police Surgeon Mover
dressed the boys wound, and as it was not con.
Sidered dangerous, both boys were allowed
to 60.