Connecticut western news., 1898-07-07

o'clock MT J. H. Roraback had the haf ready to raise. It was a new and beaut iful one, 12x20 feet.
 MT Samuel A. Eddy then spoke few words, saying that on this day, the 122nd anniversary of the Independence of the United States, the people of Ga naan thought that it would not be inap propriate to raise, toward the close o the day, @ tribute to the memory of the troubles we have had during the Revo lution and the Civil War, flag under whose folds they were ready to lay down their lives.
 A soon as MT Eddy closed the flag was raised and unfurled to the breeze which though not very strong, was sui fcient to spread the flag to the gaze ot the large crowd present. While it wat being raised the band played "The Battle Cry of Freedom"
 MT Eddy then introduced the speaker of the evening, Hon. W. E. Simonds, with few pleasing words.
 The Hon MT Simonds then spoke o1 the news which we had just received rom Santiago, and in comparison, the way the news of Lees surrender to Grant was received at Norwich where he was at that time.
 He also gave the history of our glor. ious flag, from its first introduction as 8 rattlesnake on yellow field, (probably first used by Paul Jones) to the glor- lous stars and stripes of today, which was adopted in June, 1776. There were also some few changes since then but the idea has remained substantially the same,
 Mir Simonds then spoke of the won- derful progress of the nation under its folds-in 1776 the population being probably 2.500.000, in 1898 it being over 1000, ,0O0- and of the increase of farmers, manufacturers interests and ali other industries, It was most wonder ful. In the little Naugatuck valley, from Winsted to the Sound, only fifty miles long, can be seen an example of what can. be done with the barren hills alongside the river, the ingenuity of the Yankees can be seen here in the shops and manufactures that have sprung up.
 And it is not always the almighty dollar" these Yankies are after either. Where they hear the first call of duty, no one ill the whole U. s. is more anx- ious to serve under the glorious stars and stripes than they are.
 MT Simonds gave short short &C., count of the history of John Brown who was born in this county and how he died; he closed his address in giving a most enthusiastic eulogy of our price less banner-the stars and stripes.
 After the Hon. W. B. Simonds had finished Mir Eddy came forward and said that the fireworks would be set of on Peirce's hill and the people could best see them if they went up to the the top of the hill on Granite Avenue and the meeting adjourned at once to the hill with vote of thanks and three cheers for MT Simonds. Before the audience left the Town Hall lawn Mir Eddy read the latest dispatches from Santiago confirming the destruction of Admiral Cervera's fleet and the capture of Cervera. Then three rousing cheers were given for Admiral Sampson and the boys at Santiago.
 The fireworks were then set off and made a gorgeous display which the people watched for long time. After the fireworks were over most of the crowd went down to the dance given by the Lime Kiln Club at Town Hall where they danced until half past two.