Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-07-07
A MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY.
srteresting Exercises Attend the Flag Rails
ing Ht Washington Street bridge.
And the rockets red glare,
nd D tl,ah h.,,. Itk ,,,, ~

And the bombs bursting in air,
gave proof beyond Washington street
bridge Monday nightfhat people Of that
neighborhood were having an old time
celebration of the Fourth of JulyT-Hn
old time celebration in the spirit OF new
victories for the Stars and Stripes.
Thousands upon thousands witnessed
the exercises incident to this, the chief
feature OF glorious Hay. They crowded
near the band and orators stund on the
triangle formed by the Boulevard.
Washington and Eighteenth streets,
lined the gRily decorated porches ON the
adjacent thorouehfarss, stood on the
Washington bridge, and from many a
porch or the streets south of the
Brandywine, watched the ,pyrotechuio
display.
In charge Of the arrangements were
numerous committees and Saumel Fl.
Baynard was the chairman OF the gsn-
esal committee, Mrs. B. Lundy Kent
secretary and Ellwood Sou1er, treasurer.
The exercises preliminary to the flag
rnising wsre begun about 7. 30 O'Clock
with selection by the First Regimant
Band. On the platform wers Mr. Bay
nard. who presided, Mayor Henry q.
McLear, the Rev. George G. Hall, City
Solicitor Henry G. Conrad, Howell s..
England, George A. Elliott, Henry +.
Pickles and John S. CrUshy of New
York, After IN invocation. by Arch
deacon Hnll, Mr. Baynard made brief
but interesting speech.
The records state that Washington
and bis staff occupied a position upon
high hlulf and observed the crossing
| of his army" said he. oIs ii not prob
| able that this very spot, in fact is IL
not the only heights from which tbs
| crossing could hava been Waved? Ac-
osptinR the theory that this is the spot,
| hUnored by the presence of Washing
ton, Lafayette, Trumbla. Sullivan, Mad
Anthony Wayne aud the new flag, ia
\ 1T not right that the flag of their max,
| ing should float over this beautiful and
elevated plateau, ana that this pleateau,
surrounded as it is by model institu
tion of learning, magnificent bridge
and public highway bearing the name
of Washington, SHOULD not also honor
him BY hearing the name OF Washington
Hsights?''2
Mr.. England addressed the crowd
and concluded brief speech by recit
ing his poem on Dewey's victory al
| Manila.
4 Tnen the hand played "The Stal
Spangled Banner" and James 4.
Hawkins hauled the % foot flag to the
top of an 80 foot pole while the Grove
became enthusiastic. As the fai
reached top of the pole 500 small flag
we're released from its folds and flut
tered to the ground to be seized al
souvenirs of the occasion. fs
| Three cheers Tor this flag were giver
with tremendous power. - Columbia
the Gem of this Ocean" was sung b.
the assemblage. led by Miss Cora Tag
gart. 1.-THE Battle Cry of Freedom
and ga New Version of an Old Song
were. sung. Patriotic addresses wer
made by John S. Croshy, George A
Elliott and City Solicitor Conrad.
The flag raising exercises we're fol
lowed by magnificent display of fire
4 works. This part Of the programme wa
under the direction of committe
comprising Archer Richards, Ellwool
| Souder, Lee W. Warren and David Ken
neatly. They set off star and parach ut
rockets, fireflies. balloons. whiHtlin
!; hombshells, goldsn chain and peacoc
rockets, gross OF 15-bsll Roman eau
dies, dozens of Bengal lights. thre
gross of colored fires. two dozen nsinea
! aeven batteries, forming a wall of burst
; ing shells and flames. pneumatic foun
! .tains. prismRtic whirlwinds, dsyi
among the tailors, bouquet mines an
set pisces. 5
! A meeting Of the committee will b
, held this evening ON Washington stree
to discuss plans for permanent organi
cation with view to erecting monu
, msnt to Washington at the head of th
, 'bridae and to beautifying that part Z
} the city property.