The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-05
THE FOURTH A DAY OF GLEE.
GENERAL JUBILATION OVER THE
NEWS FROM SANTIAGO.

of Snmpson's FIeet-Business More
Generally Suspended Than In
Years Regrets That n Proper
Celebration Had Not Been Ar
ranged For The Day at Tybee.
Mr. Rourke's Celebration as Sue
cessfuI as Ever.
The rains somewhat spoiled what prom
ised to be the nosiest and most patriotic
Fourth Of July Savannah has had in
years. The glorious news from Santiago,
the gratifying information from the Phil
ippines, and the general feeling that ev-
erything was coming our way" combined
with the natural jubilancy aroused by the
traditions of the day to make it a very
lurid occasion. General regret was ex-
pressed, in view of there being so much
new ground for celebration, that the
movement to fttngly observe the day had
not been pushed through TO success. Ev-
erybody wanted to celebrate, but there
was no well defined way in which to do So
and the necessity for a wei organized
plan for a proper display of public senti-
ment was made apparent to all.
In the early morning hours there was
mole enthusiasm, more noise, more Of the
odor Of guppowder in the air, than has
been known ON the Fourth in a decade
The news Of the defeat and total destruc-
ton of Cervera's fleet came as complete
surprise. No one expected such an out
come at this stage of the operations at
Santiago. 1t was almost Supplying, and
seemed too good to be true But 1t did not
take long for the city to awaken to a
complete realization Of the great victory,
and the tendency to let loose a little pent
up patriotism asserted itself. Every
where there were the same broad smiles,
the same happy countenances, the same in
clination to shake hands, and perhaps
take one on it."
American flag buttons decorated a
host OF coat lappels. They were
the souvenirs of the day which had
accompanied the Morning News with the
tidings of overwhelming success to Amer
lean arms. On each paper, as
ii was delivered, there had been
pinned one of those little re-
minders of the day 1t was a pleasant
little surprise BETTING the memories of
the Fourth and the new lustre added to
the flag by the brilliant events chronicled
in the paper 1t accompanied.
Crowds were down at the bulletin boards
almost before the sun had come up. They
wanted any last lingering doubts removed
before they proceeded to give voice to
their feelings. The dispatches later than
those In the News soon confirmed the first
tidings of the victory and the air of ex-
Infancy and happiness which had spread
over the city became more intense. Then
the rains came down, and while they did
not dampen the ardor of the people they
did dampen their clothes and drove them
under cover somewhat. Many preferred
the unpleasantness of the streets and wet
garments, though, to missing for a few
hours the latest intelligence from the fleet
and the army, and no matter how hard
the rain fell the crowd in front of the
News office refused ttNoe driven away.
All day long there was the same zest for
the latest bit of news, no matter how small
it might be or how insignificant alongside
of the first great news, and when dark
ness settled down on the city and the full
story was known to all hundreds still
fingered hoping for some thing further, but
what they knew not.
At noon time the revenue cutter Bout
well fired a salute in honor of the day
and SIMPSONS victory. Just before this
the deep benowings of Uncle Sans two
brass pets, Dewey" and Sampson"
We're heard. Uncle Sam" is bet
ter known on 1854 days of the
year as Mr.. John Rourke, but on
the Fourth of July, for a brief period, he
drops his identity and becomes liberty and
patriotism personifed Early in the morn
Ing he had thrown his forty-six foot flag
to the breeze shutting out from view all
TO the east of the summit of gas house
hin. AT II o'clock his constituency, to the
| number of five hundred or more, gathered
in the vicinity, and the two cannons were
/ J,Y, rrt,A .. -
ty-iiVe rounds were fired, one for each
state in the Union, and then FIVE more
one for Dewey, one for Sampson, one for
! Shafter, one for Lee and one for the
| bravest, most daring and truest soldier. the
! American volunteer. The American eagle
| that has adorned the shops for five years
| Tapped his wings, screeched Justify, and
then, overcome by the tumult of the news
! from Cuba, flew TO an adjacent field for
| rest. There he was soon found. a ready
/ victim TO recapture, and at noon he was
/ grazing the Morning News building.
| perched above the bunting which deco
rated the front of the structure, the OBJ
! served Of an. For six hours this emblo m
! OF American pluck and valor winked COM
placently down on the crowd and Joined
| with them in the praise for
/ Sampson and Shafter and the brave men
under their command. There is no better
known eagle in the South to-day. His
j H.
4 terday he was rechristened Joe
! Wheeler" When the boys come march,
! ing home he viii grace the staff of the col
ors OF some Savannah command at the
! grand final review.
After satisfying all with his salutes,
Uncle Sam read a few extracts from
| the Declaration of Independence. to keep
! the rising generation aware that such a
! paper is stRl in existence. and then enter
tanned a number of friends. Uncle Sam
and his guests gave the stamp of their
/ approval TO all thai has so far been done.
and voted for quick and paralyzng dash
on the home country of the enemy.
'Demorlsh the castles in Spain,
And theyll remember the Maine"
was the way "Uncle Sam" put il. The
! board of strategy at washington can feel
assured that its proposed attack on Tho
I Spanish coast meets with the commenda
uon of the most patriotic of Savannah 8
/ citizens.
The day promised to be very poor one
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