Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-06
DAY WE CELEBRATE.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONS
prRrH GENERALLY OBSERVED.
FIREWORKS, EXCURSIONS, PICAICS.
These the Features of the Day i"
Rtcbrn oud-Pickeft Camp Has nm
outtpr mt Glen AIIcn-Crowds at
the Parks.

That mariner who said that he felt
| safer on sea than ashore must nave re-
yelled In the delights of an Independence
| Day celebration.
II IL singularly appropriate that gun
| nowder should enter so largely INTO the
| demonstrations which mark the uay'
| since II was In a great measure through
the fundamentally of that composition
that there is such q red-letter day IN the
| American calendar to celebrate.
The statistclans have told US that the
amount of gunpowder that would be USED
| in this celebration would form PIE
| higher than the Washington monument
In the capital city. and Richmond may
fairly be said to have done her snare
towards reducing the pile which the men
of mathematical minds have constructed
Two thousand dollars represents vast
quantity of the explosive, and yet IL Is
very conservative estimate to say that
| that amount was spent on gunpoWder III
| one shape or another yesterday. Inc as
| play at the Expostion-Grounds at nignt
| cost $500. and that at Forest-Hill PARK
| scarcely less. Innumerable smaller exhl-
| billions took place in private yards ana
gardens, and the streets were falrly
| fringed with every variety Of fire-cracker.
1t was an ear-splitting. nerve-shattering
| day. but the enthusiasm which enteIeu
| into the occasion made it interesting.
VERY GENERAL CELEBRATION
Not for years has the demonstration
reached the pitch II did yesterday. IL
began with the boom of the sunrise gun
at the Soldiers Home and lasted almost
until sunrise to-day.
The holiday was probably more gene
rally observed than ever before II was
the exception. and not tho rule. to find
| retail store open for business after noon
and. of course, all national, State, ana
CITY public offices were closed. Even the
BARRIERS did not consider the feelings OF
| their customers, and from the front door
of one of these tonsorial establishments
hung a quaint but emphatic sign-"De-
csaration of Independence Closed.
THE sEAsHORE EXCURSIONS.
The weather was glorious, but so warm
that the only thing to do was 10 take ~
the parks or the resorts.
Richmond was well represented at the
seaside Sunday and yesterday. Great
crowds spent the Sabbath at Old Point
Ocean View, and Virginia Beach. The
"Trilby" excursion. under the personal
charge of Captains Niche and Adams
carried down nine carloads OF human
freight to be refreshed by the delightful
waves which sweep Virginias coast
More than 500 went to Virginia Beach
and the View by this train, ana, While
the weather was very hot and oppressive
when they left Richmond, they FOUND a
stirring breeze at these resorts ana
were charmed with the attractions OIL
fered at them. the bathing and the sail
ing especially. At the View there were
! fully $50 to 300 persons i'm the surf almost
all throughout the day, and the surf was
very fine.
The "Trilby" made the run both going
to and coming from Norfolk on cannon
ball time. and those who went down
upon IT reached home about 1880 O'Clock,
tired but happy over their days outing.
The Chesapeake and Ohio also carried
large crowd to Norfolk, Old Point, and
Virginia Beach.
Large crowds left yesterday bound for
Old Point, Virginia Beach, and Ocean
View. and West Point
PICKETT CAMPS REUNION.
One of the most interesting features of
the day was the reunion Of Pickett
Camp. which took place at the beautiful
home of Captain Cussons, Glen Allen.
special train left at $50 o'clock with $50
passengers on board. Some seventy-five
members of Pickett Camp were in the
party. They were accompanied by the
auxliaries of the camp and their friends.
During the day they were Joined by other
veterans, who reached the rendezvous by
conveyance. Captain Cussons met the
party and placed his beautiful house and
grounds at the disposal of his guests. He
invited them to make free use Of the
boats on the lake. and his four-horse
"tally-ho" was on hand for such as
chose TO ride in it,
A colossal marquee had been provided
for the ladies Of the auxiliary, and be-
meath its folds they dispensed all manner
of cool refreshments. Captain Cussons
entertained a large party TO dinner, and
the others. who came supplied with amply
filed baskets entertained under the
shelter of the trees i'm the park.
I In the ballroom Mr.. Toney Miller
orchestra played, while those who wished
to do so danced. Sergeant Whitock S
very clever combination gave some ex-
cellent selections, and Mr.. Chastine
Northern delivered an grafton on Gene
raj Lee.
The crowd was so scattered that any
attempt at regular exercises was fu-
tile, so there was no speech-making OIL
, formality Of any sort.
The event was said to be the most
6 sociable and enjoyable reunion that has
ever taken place under the auspices OF
Pickett Camp. The arrangements were
perfect, and were perfectly carried out
J. and not a single incident occurred &c
mar the pleasure Of the day. AS the
, train pulled out Of Glen Allen Station al
o'clock last night loud and repeated
cheers were given for CaDtain Cussons
! THOUSANDS IN THE PARKS.
The parks were crowded during the
day. 1t was the street-car companies
golden harvest. and though no figure.
could be given last night, II is said thai
: all previous records have been broken.
The Traction Company had thirty-eigh'
!, cars on their lines, and maintained {
= two-minute schedule The line to Forest
!, Hill Park had several extra cars run
ming. and thousands of people spent III,
:, day there. Lakeside was visited by very
!, many picnicking parties. and the car.
were packed throughout the day. Ovel
o 5000 people spent the day at Seven Pines
: q fact which establishes a record in tn,
: day-travel of the Union passenger line.
FIREWORKS AND VAUDEVILLE.
over thousand people attended III,
matinee yesterday at Forest Hill Park
e and last night the capacity of the am
: phitheatre was fully tested and hundreds
s were compelled to stand. The evening"
e performance commenced with an elabo
r rate and brilliant display of fireworks
r The gondolas bearing the Blues Ban,
: and the performers was slowly propelled
o along the edge OF the lake, while Jana
nese lanterns, colored lights. rockets
Greek fire, bombs, Roman candles, an,