Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-09-19
A MIDNIGHT EXCURSION.
The Ancient City Taken by Storm
Ten Thousand Jr. o. U. A Me-
chanics Parade Our Streets
in Continental Uniforms.
BRILLIANT ILLUMINATIoNs.

BRILLIANT ILLU MINAT1ONS
The quiet little city by the Severn
had more excitement in the last two
nights than it sometimes has in as many
wears: and the streets OF Mary land s
capital were one huge mass OF fslr wo-
men and brave men. With the ten
thousand excln sioniste of last night. and
large majority of our own population
many of the streets were flooded with
humanity from curb to curb, indeed the
swaying mass was several feet over the
building line, and, quoting from Mary
lander at the Worlds Fair. on Illinois
day, ''there WASH t room To spit. 1t
was after eleven O'Clock when the first
boat landed, and many who had gone
to meet the excursiOnists became weary
and wended their way home again. The
citizens who had decorated and lllumi-
mated, became discouraged and had le-
gun to think their efforts were for
naught, when the first steamer s freight
began to spread itself and the noisy
crowd walked up those who were "early
to bed" +" 1t was not long ere the next
steamer unloaded her mass of human
freight, and things commenced get live
~. Still there was no parade, until the
third and last boat landed the American
Guards of the Junior Order of United
American Mechanics, whose gala occas-
ion we were to celebrate. 1t was nearly
midnight when the line OF march, head
ed by the Annapolis Council drum and
fife corps, with Uncle Sam as drum ma
iOr, was started. Following the drum
corps came the Annapolis boys with
their natty white caps, white gloves ana
carrying torches. They acted as escorts
to the American Guards in their pic
turesQue continental uniforms and pre-
ceded by their hand, playing lively and
catchy airs. There are four hundred
Guards in Baltimore, but not more
than half of them were present. The
route of parade was that previously pub
lished in the CAPITAL, and the termi-
nus was the Assembly Rooms, where
the Annapolis boys had substantial lunch
provided for the guests of sandwiches
and hot coffe, which was duly appreciat-
ed. Tired and warm with the march the
hogshead Of icewater disappeared like a
mist before the summers sun. 1t was
after one O'Clock when the last boat left
for Baltimore. The Guards were very
gentlemanly set of men and made IA
able impression. Some little complaint
was made that the excurElonistS were
disorderly, but considering the large
crowd, said in all to be ten thousand,
we think it pretty well behaved. Those
who were on a lark had it. and no ma
terial harm was done. The excursion
brought money into the town, and it is
estimated that last night and the night
before at least two thousand dollars
exchanged hands here. Every soda foun-
tain ran dry, ice cream gave out and
baker and confectionery stores did
thriving business. OF course the saloons
came in for their share of the profits,
which was not mtagre. There was COM
paratively little decorations or illumi-
nation, hut what there was, was appre-
ciated. The CAPITAL Illuminated for
the occasion and received sthree cheers"
as the parade passed. The houses OF
Mr.. Louis IL. REIN, MesSrs. Brooks q
Barton, James Munroe, John Dawes.
J. p. Bowers, Western Union Telegraph
Office, the Republican headquarters over
the City Drug Store. and others on Main
street were ahlaze with light and Old
Glory, as were many others on Prince
George street, Maryland avenue, State
circle, Gloucester street and all along
the line Of march. We hope the Guards
enjoyed the occasion, We did. 1t is bene-
fetal to have something disturb thes spirit
of our dream occasionally in spite of a
disgruntIed few who ''object.