The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-06
Number Forced Out of the
Line by Intense Heat.
American Mechanics Turned Out In
GOOdly Numbers.
Bicycle Parade Slow in Starting Fin.
PyrOtechnc Display.

The City Council committee had ar
ranged for the banner celebration of the
nations birthday In this city yesterday
and but for the interference of the weather
and delay of more than an hour in the
starting of the bicycle parade everything
would have been satisfactory. The
weather was almost unbearable. 1t was
the hottest day of the season and the
temperature kept mounting until the
official thermometer recorded 9l.5. This
temperature was maintained all through
the middle part OF the day and the thou
sands OF sight seerswere taking "a continu-
Gus bath in their clothing. The members
of the Rhode Island brigade of militia
suffered terribly during the morning
parade and the members Of the Ameri-
can Mechanics Jared no better.
About 40 Of the soldiers were overcome
by the heat and the hospital corps was
kept busy attending to patients. Luckily
none OF the men were seriously affected
Several men We're Obliged TO drop out Of
the parade because of the fierceness of the
suns rays and the heat was also fearfully
| oppressive to the horses In the evening
there was slight relief and the thousands
on Dexter Training Ground enjoyed the
fine display of fireworks With these few
draw backs out of the way it may be re-
recorded that finer public display in
honor of the Fourth of July has seldom
been seen in this city.
The Military Parade.
The celebration was unique in one re-.
spect at least The brigade OF Rhode
Island Militia paraded for the first time
on Fourth OF July. Ii appeared In regu-
lation uniforms and made an impressive
and picturesque appearance. Gov. Dyer
| and his staff also appeared in the process
sion. The cadets and the independents
companies also looked and marched we'll
and their uniforms gave the necessary
variety to the marching column.
The Dexter Training Ground review by
the governor was pretty sight and the
| drills by the First Machine Gun Battery
and Battery A, Light Artillery, illus
trated the proficiency of the soldier boys
of these two commands
The division formed on Exchange place
and the order to move WIS given at $3.50
o'clock by Chief Marshal Albert G.
] White. The procession was reviewed by
| Mayor Net uinness as it passed City Hall
and the column moved In the order as
announced in The News Saturday after
noon. There was an almost inexcusable
delay between the appearance Of the Sec-
onu Regiment and the rest OF the process
sion. owing to the failure of the First Reg
ment to move on time. This blunder was
patched up by notifying the Second Regi-
ment to hold up on broadway in order -
about 100 soldiers in the column.
Thousands of citizens were interested
| spectators of the manouvers on Dexter
Training Ground, which consisted of Q
| grand review by Governor Dyer, who,
| with other state and city officials, watched
| proceedings from the grand stand which
was erected about midway of the field,
under trees on tho Dexter street side. 1t
| was as attractive display as has been
seen in this city in long time. After
| this the column marched over the route
as announced to Exchange place, where
the line was dismissed.
American Mechanics Parade.
The Order of American Mechanics
made patriotic display and contributed
large share to the pleasure OF the sight
seers. The column formed on South
Water and Dyer steets and moved
promptly at 10 O'Clock, marching to Ex-
change place, where IL was reviewed Dy
Mayor MoGuinness and members OF the
city government from City Hall. The
| paraders were attractive in regalia CON-
posed of the national colors and the floats
representing Liberty" by the Daughters
OF Liberty were an especially attractive
ana appropriate feature of the day. The
paraue showed that considerable care had
been taken TO make the display of the
| order crodituble and tho members feel
that their work was not In vain.
Lady Burnside Council, Daughters OF
Liberty, appeared on two-horse floas
which abounded in decorations OF red,
white and blue. Bunting Of these colors
was festooned in graceful folds, and flags
were placed i'm conspicuous positions
Seated high up above her followers was
the Goddess of Liberty, unprecedented by
Mrs Lillian Keyes, In flowing robe OF
white and crowned with a golden chaplet.
Hope" was impersonated by Mrs. Davis
and ".Iustice" by Miss Mary Baker, both
dressed i'm white, emblematic OF purity. i.
In a trim uniform of blue the Army"
was represented by A. j. Cutting. and IN
an appropriate nautical costume Lester
II. Corp impersonated the Navy"
The other attendants were dressed In
white and bore the national flag.
ON four horse float, tho body OF which
was ahite, with decorations Of the national
flag and bunting of red, white and blue.
were the Goddess of Liberty. with her
four guards and members Of Harmony,
Betsy Williams, Lady Lincoln, Wymo-
daughsis and Martha Washington Coun-
ellis.
The float was arranged IN terraces, and
| A.. ..l,st, drasSaa af tho<o upon iUtHF-