The herald., 1893-05-28
.RED-LETTER DAY AT LONG BEACH
Big Celebration Over the Com.
pletiOn Of the Wharf.
Over 5000 People Spend the Day in
Rejoicing.
Interesting Exercises at the Pavilion.
Z The Enterprise Eloquently Char
acterized by Well-Known
Observation-Disclosures


Beach yesterday, the event being the
celebration of the completion of the new
1B00-foot pleasure wharf at that place.
For weeks past the people had been
looking forward and making prepara-
tions for the good time that would come
On Saturday, May 9th, and the event
vas more than had been anticipated and
was big success. The town was
thronged with visitors during the en- tire
lay, the crowd being estimated at from
3000.to 5000 souls. The people began to
arrive early in the morning, q large
part OF them coming from the surround
ing towns. Every means Of locomotion
was used. Whole families and invited
guests also were there. Many brought
their lunches and dinners and picniced
on the beach or in some shady nook
about the town. The trains on both the
Terminal and Southern Pacific railroads
also brought big crowds. The day was
beautiful--probably trihe breezy--but
with sll was model one for such an
occasion. All of the various stores did
brisk trade. The poor soda water man
in the drug store was kept busy from
early morn till dewy eve drawing the
sparkling beverage and dispensing ice
cream to the scores OF patrons. He
worked until his back ached and his
collar wilted, but he stayed it through
until the last nickel in sight was in his
Golfers.
Everybody was in a good humor and
the day was not marred by any exhibit
tion of rowdyism, the best of order pre-
vailing. Flags were flying gaily, 'old
glory" in the park was doing himself
proud-thanks to Mr.. Kinman--while
out on the wharf another flag was fut-
tering in the brisk breezs.
Over the land end of the wharf was a
nice looking arch formed of palm leaves,
decorated with wreaths of flowers and
bearing in guilt letters the word "Wel-
come" The exercises were not con-
Quoted out on the wharf, but were held
in q specially constructed pavilion on
the bluff by the side OF the pier. A
stand had been erected for the speakers
and members OF the town trustees,
seats being also provided for the audi
dence.
With one exception every thing passed
along satisfactorily, as arranged on
the programme. The omission was the
free hourly excursions by the steamer
but was an accident that could not
very well have been prevented. While
moored by the wharf a portion of the
vesseps machinery, the capstan. broke
81 Q 80 in the morning, shortly after the
fr-i crowd had arrived. The OIL
cers took the boat to San Pedro
10 rsnledy the damage. But after
resehing that place and endeavoring to
obtain the Ssu. ~ !, - - ----.i. !.
i',a If vas thouuht hest by them not to re-
iiifh % Long Beach again, ae the see syas
-eooppy and the boat could not be moored
to the wherf. A special train over the
Terminal was Immediately sent to Long
Beach to carry the people over to Termi-
nal island, where they could embark and
get their ride, as the water in the harbor
there was very quiet. A large number
availed themselves of this opportunity.
The programme WAS we'll carried out.
At III O'Clock the following reception
. committee met the speakers ct the train
and escorted them to the platform: L.
@. DEMO, chairman; J. II. Darby, G.. S.
Trowbridge, W. P. Wilson, G, H.
Blount, L L. Fetterman, u. Decker, @.
w. March, M. @. Holman, L. Bailey and
j. Johns.
The speakers were Trustee John
Roberts of Long Beach, who delivered
the address of welcome; Hon. T. e.
Gibbon, who responded; Mr.. Darby
Layden of San Francisco and Hon.
Henry 7. Hazard Of Los Angeles.
Mr.. E. O. Denio was president of the
day and presented the speakers. Mr..
Roberts was introduced, and spoke as
follows: N2
LADIES AND GENTLnMEN--we have met
today as citizens OF Los Angeles county
and of adjoining counties. We have
met for q gala day-a red-letter day for
Long Beach.
1t has been the custom of the people
OF Long Beach until about year ago to
sit on the street corners and grumble be-
cause some one did not come and make
them happy. We learned at length,
however, that II we desired to bring the
people here we would have to exert our
selves and strive to do the best we knew
how. Today we can congratulate our
selves upon having accomplished that
result. We have today an outlet to the
ocean and wharf which is the result of
our own efforrs. We all quit grumbling,
with few exceptions, and went down
into our pockets, and have labored
earnestly for the wharf, and today Long
Beach extends its hospitality TO
her neighbors. will have but this to
say further, welcome to Long Beach,
the peer OF any watering place on the
Pacific coast; welcome, with our best
wishes that you may have an enjoyable
time. LApplause.
Mr.. Denis then introduced Mr.. 7. E.
Gibbon, whosaid:
Ladies and gentlemen, | despair of
an attempt to be able to reply TO the
citizens OF Long Beach for their welcome,
and indeed also despair OF an attempt
TO thank them for their great gift to the
people OF this country. We feel as II
there 10 not one of our 65, 900 inhabi-
tants OF Los Angeles who has not been
benefited by your gift OF this magnifi-
cent wharf. We desire to congratulate
You for your enterprise in establishing
this agency of commerce. 1t is the
greatest wharf of the Pacific because it
has been built by the people,
and theve is not represented
in 1t one atom OF domination
Of any corporation. 1t was built by the
people and is for the people. My friends,
Iagain congratulate upon your enter
prise in establishing this port for the
commercial interests of this section.
Some day In the not distant future,
when the Nicaragua canal has been
constructed, an extensive amount OF the
commerce of the world will be distri-
buted over this country through your
port here at Long Beach. In conclu-
sion allow me to thank you citizens Of