New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-05
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN RAIN.
THE DOwNPOUR INTERPRETERS WITH THE
CELEBRATION.

CELEbhAIlONs
NUMEROUS PIcNIcs POSTPONED - DEFIANT
wHEELMEN DRENCHED AND BEDRAooLED
CEREMONIES IN THE PARK AND
Al THE BATTERY
Rain interfered with the celebration Of Inde-
pendence Day in and out Of the city. Thousands
of flags were pulled In out Of the wet and those
which remained hung limp and useless for pur-
poses Of display. The downpour spoiled countless
picnics and stopped many outings. Professions
Of wheelmen left the city early In the day and
returned later drenched and bedraggled. Pe0-
pie who went on excursions on trains and steam
boats Jared little better. but lost much OF their
anticipated enjoyment. But the rain did not
dampen the ardor Of the small boy with fire.
crackers to any noticeable extent. as the sizz-
bang -hooray of his celebration went on inces-
sanity from early morning until late at night.
The police made few arrests. but they could
not prevent the setting of Of fireworks In the
streets The flremen blessed the rain because It
lessened the number Of awning fires and saved
them many trips from the engine-hcuses. Tim
i'd Of houses also were thankful for
the wet which decreased the danger from hres.
As the gun from old Castle William doomed
TO announce the nOuT Oh SuHTISe the AuocEoou
Zouaves raised the Stars and Stripes over the
Battery. When Old Glory swung to the breeze,
the bands played the National anthem and the
cheers Of the spectators. who had already gath
cred in the park, rang forth.
Christopher r. Grant. great-grandson Of Ser
geant John Van Arsdale. manned the hayards.
Society Of the War Of 1912 was represented by
Charles c. Hamel, T. X. Chutkowski, H. 8.
Story and Morris T. Ferris.
EARLY AT THE SPOT.
Four o'clock in the morning is the usual hour
for raising the flag over the old blockhouse
and Fort Fish. in Central Park, near One
hundred and -tenth-st.. on each Fourth Of July,
but this year it was half an hour later when
the National ensign fluttered in the breeze over
these historic spots.
Nearly four hundred men. a few women and
children turned out Of their beds and made
their way to Central Park just as the first
rays Of light appeared In a cloudy sky. These
patriotic early risers walked up the winding
rocky paths to the blockhouse and Fort Fish
to the sound Of the flies and drums OF the
Fitzpatrick Post No 143 G.. A. r.. Fife and
Drum Corps. Among the organizations pres
ent were the Continental Guards. with their
uniforms Of Colonial days; Washington Light
Infantry. Order of Foresters. Order Of Red Mcn
and the Naval Cadets.
At ABS the flag hoisted by Captain John
c. Norman who has done the same thing for
years. amid the shouts of the Red Men and the
cheers Of all present
Ex-Judge J. j. Mackey. formerly OF South
Carolina and a captain In the Confederate
Army then delivered a brief patriotic address
on the GLORY of Our Flag and How 1t Came"
oNA
sacrifice CT the Continental soldiers and the
noble character OF the statesmen who guided
the early course OF the young Republic. He
spoke of the heroic Efforts Of washington ana
his generals, of their hopes and fears, and OF the
disasters which seemed almost overwhelming.
He described the battles OF the Revolution ana
nraised the bravery OF the soldiers VINO fousht
then for liberty and American indepenoehce'
He ended his address with tribute 10 the
flag that now hoated over an undiVideo an"
patriotic people -
A stranger in the city who was out early might
have thought that large part OF the popuiace
was leaving the city. so steady was the strea"
of out goers The various excursion boats dio a
large business in the morning. Inc Co"ey
Island. Rockaway, Long Branch ana Nortn
Reach boats were loaded to their fullest capac-
ity. and their trips were doubly as frequent a.
on other days
BICYCLIsTs EVERYWHERE.
Devotees of the wheel were seen everywhere
Every avenue and street seemed to have lis line
Of bicycles moving toward the country or the
parks. Along Riverside Drive and the roads IN
the upper part Ct the city the wheelmen ana
wheelwomen fairly swarmed in the morning
The Thespian Cycle Club. composed OF actors
and actresses assembled at the Morton House
and there they proceeded to Coney isand,
hA h0
Sloan of the 1892 company. -
Many clubs and other organizations chose the
day for their annual outing. Among them were
the following: Meagher's Irish Brgade heid
their annual reunion at Morrisania PARK tne
annual gathering of the New-York Scottish
Celtic Society was held at Pleasant Nailey
Grove. the I'd New-York Fire Zouaves enjoyed
the day at Camp Scott on staten lsland, ana
ST PauIs Temperance Guild. atached 10 tne
Paulst Church. Fifty-ninth-st. and columbus
ave went on the excursion TO Cornwaiton
Grove and there was the Tammany celebration;
As for small picnics. excursions ana general
outings the day WAS remarkable.
THE elevated roads were. as usual not able 10
accommodate all those who wished to get away
and the horsecar lines profted as result