Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-07-06
AUGUSTUS FOURTH.
The Day Passed Off Quietly Without a
Stirring Event.
Personal Celebrations, the Horse Races and
Business Quietness. The Features.

. has come and gone, and Augusta is
again following the same old routine
In fact the city did not march far out
side the beaten tracks on the day
everyone celebrates for aside from the
personal demonstrations and the horse
races, there was nothing to distinguish
the day from any other.
The greater part Of the celebrating
was done ON the third, if the amount of
noise makes the celebration. Some of
the other parts Of the State were
assisted in their work of commemorate
ing the signing of the Declaration of
Independence by cyclones, but fortu-
nately Augusta was free of anything
of this kind
To begin with the time Of the COM
mencement of the noise one would have
to go back three or four days, but the
real work of celebrating was entered
upon the evening of July 3. The cele-
orators did not wait until midnight
this year. They began in the early
part of the evening and they won the
thanks OF the people by making the
greater part of their noise before l
o'clock. Tuesday morning.
The streets Of Augusta were crowded
with the celebrators, Monday evening,
and the sound Of their tin horns and
the fireworks made the night noisy, If
not hideous. Never before, so it is said.
has the celebration began 10 early 1t
was the same in the neighboring cities
too The young woman did not let the
boys do il all. but staid out until late
| hour adding their quota to the noise.
| Again. never before has there been
so general use of the immense can
non crackers. They were cheap, this
year, and il seemed as though every
one thought il his duty to explode a
| few of them and add to the noise
Water street was indeed lively place
II was all ones ears We're worth to walk
the length Of the street. on one side
was the noisy discharge of the cannon
cracker and on the other the discharge
of gun or revolver loaded with
blank cartridges.
| Some persons got at the bells at II 80
but they We're quieted until IL o'clock
and then they We're given the ropes.
But no one cared to ring long. and the
noise made by the bells did not cut any
great figure in the night.
Everything was orderly and the Off
GERS had comparatively easy time.
Special officers were on duty and they
merely saw that no damage was done
and let the crowd alone. There was of
course the usual number who had been
imbbing liquid refreshments. but none
We're troublesome and their faults were
overlooked on this account. No arrests
Were made for the night. In a neigh
boring city it was the special police
men who We're arrested by the crowd
and carried to the lookup.
After everything had quoted some
what and all was as peaceful as June
morning the fire alarm was rung in
for a blaze in the old tumbled down
Welch house on Court street This was
soon under control and again there was
peace barring the swapping Of the little
fire crackers in the hands of small |
| boys. Again at 6 o'clock the fire alarm
| called out the department for a fire in |
the same Welch house. This time it
was burned to the ground. though the |
house beside it was saved. These We're
the only alarms of the day. so the city
came out of the glorious Fourth with
out any especially hard luck.
The morning Pullman took quite
number of people to Newport. and the
other morning trains carried away |
others to all parts of the State The
| Gardiner and the Islander took their
share for days outing.
The forenoon could not have been |
more peaceful Water street did not
have the aspect Of busy day. People |
came and went leisurely, and but for |
the occasional discharge of the crack |
ers one would not have imagined it to |
be the Fourth of July.
Old Glory was hanging out from |
about every place where a flag was |
owned. This gave a patriotic appear |
ance to the city.
But wasn't it hot? The very rays of |
the sun seemed to cross and cause |
more friction. 1t was scorching and |
everyone was in just the proper mood |
| to enjoy the extras of Fourth of July |
| dinner in the way Of ice cream and |
cool drinks. The thermometer went |
away up and it staid there even after |
| the showers of the afternoon. The |
humidity of the air was intense. In the |
evening, and it was a relief to those |
who had the opportunity. to ride on
the electrics or to drive.
! With the noon hour came the rousing
old salute to the Union fired at the