The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-05

TIE anficipations formed of the celebra-
ion of Independence day at Seattle were
fhIIy realized. The arrangements were
admirable, and every feature reelected the
almost credit upon the committee The
vast crowds which assembled on the
streets, gathered at the university grounds.
locked to the baseball game, thronged the
besutifEi grounds at the end of Yesler
Avenue and every other place where yacht
inr rowing or other sports and pastimes
vsrs to be enjoyed, were delighted, and
he visitors were particularly warm in
shsis expressions of gratincation at the
sdorfs made to entertain them.
The fature of the day was undoubtedly
TIE spiendid exhibition made by the
narhants of the city. The designs on the
losh we're attractive and many of them
ware both clever and novel. Besides the
fne parade in the morning. there were ex-
ercises in the state university campus.
sports in the afternoon and fireworks in
the evening. The city was full of
arsngers, but strangers and citizens alike
we're full of enthusiasm, and entered
into the observance with an
unusual amount of spirit. The
city had been handsomely decorated, and
In every way as much patriotism was
shown as though Washington had been
one of the thirteen original states which
fought for liberty, and Seattle battle
ground rendered sacred by memories of
the Revolution. In all the exercises the
fact was clearly manifest that this COM
monwealth, though in the corner of the
country most remote from the struggle for
independence, and though but recently
admitted to the complete privileges of
statehood, is yet as full Of national life as
those. The weather was perfect, cool and
20 cloudy that the sun was not at any time
oppressive.
The celebration really began on Tuesday
night for by that time most of the decora-
tons were arranged, and many of the
buildings in the business part of the city
were illuminated. The streets were filled
with people, many of whom had come from
out of town. Now and then could be heard
the snap of the firecracker which the impa-
tient enthusiasts would insist upon setting
off. So soon as the hands of the clocks
moved toward the hour of II, there was
no longer any restraint The frecrackers
began a steady popping, broken only by
the banging of small cannon and big can
non crackers. The noise grew more up
roarious as the night slowly faded. and
with the breaking of dawn there was a
regular fusilade from one end of the city
10 the other.
The day was cool, with just clouds
enough to keep the weather delightful.
In the early morning the city put on her
last touches of gala attire. Across the
business streets stretched ropes from,which
6uttered thousands of little flags;
the gaunt telegraph and telephone
poles we're wound with red, white
and blue; red, white and blue
lngs, large and small; red, white and blue
formed vivid masses of color i'll all the
shop windows; red, white and blue decor
sted every horse. cart and wagon on the
street; red, white and blue tioated in long
steamers from hundreds of poles: while
trees along the edges of the sidewalks
softened with their green leaves the strong
national colors.
At an early hour the people began to
pour into the city from the farms and
villages round about. Men, women and
children in their gayest Sunday clothes
came riding in in every conceivable sort of
vehicle Each boat and train brought
iresh load of patriots, who patronized with
liberal hand the fruit, peanut and lemon
ade stands which had sprung up by magic
on every corner.
The streets grew liyelier and livelier as
The hours wore on. although at about
o'clock the first enthusiasm was spent and
many of the smaller supplies of fireworks
had given ont, so that the general staccato
tfeet of the day was not so marked as it
had been. BY 10 O'Clock when the process
non was about to start, the down town
horoughfares dubbed and boiled over
sth human beings; but every
one was good-natured, and in
srite of the crowding and iost-
ling there were no unpleasant scenes.
The parade was splendid success and
niled everybody who saw il with enthusi-
ssIn. The exercises at the university
campus drew large crowd, who listened
Win attention to everything said.
IN the afternoon the lower part of the
SHY was not so thronged. for many had
gone 10 the ball game, TO Lake Washing
ION and other suburban resorts, while the
eoats carried hundreds out on the bay and
Sound.