The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-10-12
WEST CHESTER
CELEBRATION
It Opened Yesterday I'm.
der Most AuspiciOus
Circumstances.

West Chester, Dot. 1l.-First day Of tn
celebration Of West Chestsr,s centennial
was ushered In at midnight this morning
by the ringing Of bella and the firing Of
cannon for nearly an hour.
During the early morning celebration
the first accident occurred. A cannon
which was being used by members Of the
West Chester Pioneer Corps was pre-
lnsturely discharged while several mem
bers were In front Of 1t, and several Of
them were injured by the flying wad and
unburned powder. The most seriously
injured were Hayes Jack and James Var
mum. both of whom were badly burned
about tho face and eyes.
This morning at eight o'clock every
steam whistle aud frebell IL the town was
turned loose, and for an hour there was
lively scene. the chimes Of Holy Trinity
Church playing patriotic airs. In the at
ternoon the school children attended a
literary meeting ut the Assembly Build
Ing, in which they took prominent part,
a chorus OF several hundred of them sing
ing patriotic airs. There was an address
of welcome by Burgess G w. Talbot and
the GRAFTON of the dry was delivered by
Charlton 7. Lewis. Of New York.
During the evening there was burles.
que cakewalk on Market street under the
auspices Of the members Of the. "Coonvllle
Fire Brigade and number OF other
features, Including exhibitionsin various
halls and u kaleidoscope programme In one
of the principal streets. The programme
for tomorrow includes the big industrial
parade in the afternoon, in which 5000
persons OF least are expected to take part,
balloon ascension and other features.
Friday will be the big day Of the cele-
bra,ion, the First West Chester Fire Com.
pany celebrating Its one hundreth ami
versary. The parade Of flromen Is expect
ed to be the finest ever seen here, and
Chief Marshal A. MoHoldins has perfect
ed arrangements for the event. The pa
rade will move in three divisions, and the
order in which the companies and their
bands will march was finally decided up
on to-day, and will be as follows.
First Division-Chief Marshal Holding
aid staff; First Regiment Band, of Phil
adelphia First West Chester Fire Com
pany; "Coonville Fire Brigade" Volun-
tier Firemen's Association, Of Philadel-
phia Relief Fire Company. Mol Mt Holly
Brandywine Fire Company,of Coatesville,
Morton Fire Company, Of Norton Del.
county; Phoenix Hose, Hook and Ladder
Company OF thoenixvills; Alert Fire Com.
pany of Downington; Tivoli Fire Associa.
ton Of Philadelphia.
Second Washington Fire
Company, of Coatsvlle; Humane Fire Com
pany, No. l, Of Royersford; Good Will
Fire Company, Of Pottstown; Phoenix
Fire Company, Of Wilmington Del Cliff
ton Heights Protective Association,
of Clifton Heights, Delaware county;
Parkersburg Fire Company. No. l. of
Parkorsburg; Pioneer Fire Company, Of
Jenkintown; Good Will Fire Company,
No !, Of West Chester.
Third Dlvison-Me Fire Hook and
Ladder Company, OF Media, Delaware
county; Veteran Firemen's A ssociatiop,
of Philadelphia; Liberty Fire Company,
Of Spring City; Water Witch Fire Com
pany, oil Wilmington; Union Fire Com
pany. of Oxford; Clifton Fire Company
Of Clifton, Delaware county; Malvern Fire
Company No. I. Of Malvern; Fame Fire
Company, No. 5 Of West Chester.