The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-04

The democrats OF Wilmington and
New Hanover county, and especially
the central executive and citizens COM
mittees who did the preliminary work,
covered themselves with glory yester-
day and last night in the tremendous
ovation to state candidates and grand
ratification, the principal features OF
which were the big torch light process
sion from 7:30 to $50 o'clock and the
great gathering of democrats which
overfowed by several hundred peo-
pie the commodious opera house in
which, until past IL o'clock there was
such a flow Of wit and wisdom and
expounding of the great democratic
principals in both state and national
politics as has not been heard in VIII
mington before in many a day. Several
of the distinguished visitors estate
candidateS) declared to member OF
The Messenger staff that they had
never before seen so big and so admir-
ably managed demonstration on
such an occasion anywhere in the state
either during this or anyother cam
paign. They are charmed, too, with
the delightful hospitality accorded
them.
WELCOMING AND ENTERTAIN
ING THE CANDIDATES.
In anticipation of the arrival OF the
state candidates quite crowd Oh peo-
pie gathered at the Front street depoC
about a. m. chief among them OF
course being the special committee
to whom was assigned the pleasant
task of receiving the distinguished
visitors and escOrting them 10 ID"
Orton which was to be their headquar-
tiers for the day. 4 detachment OF
Naval Reserves drawing formidable
HaWitzer also marched down Front
street and took a position in the rail-
road freight yard ready to fire a gov
ernors salute of Is guns when the
train rolled in bearing the next gov
ernor of the state and his distinguish
ed running mates in TINS 1neVllaDly
victorious campaign. The Naval Re
serves detachment was under COM
mand of Lieutenant A. b. SkeidlnS
and was composed of the following
young men: S. K. Devaney (petlt OIL
ficer commanding) J Hardy Le-
.Gwinn, Ellis Fulcher, T. NJ. Sorsnee,
= Frank Culbreth, w. H. StrousS, Harry
Farrow, Tom Cowan, Gerken Moore,
Willie Morriss, Claude Fisher and j.
Edwin Bunting. The boys did their
part well when the train arrived,
making the welkin ring with the
booming cannon which in giving the
salute foretold in thunderOus tones the
the Soyernorship.
The committee by whom the candi-
dates were received escorted them 10
carriages which were in waiting ana
headed by the Second Regiment band
which discoursed stirring music all
the while. proceeded to the hotel
The forenoon and early hours OF the
afternoon were spent in quiet rest
full manner by the distinguished Wis
itors all of them remaining at the
hotel except Mr.. Lacy and Mr.. Turner
who dined with Mr.. NJ. S. Willard at
his residence corner Sixth and Orange
streets.
During the afternoon the candidates
were given a pleasant ride through the
principal streets of the city and SHOWN
some of the numerous places of inter-
est Subsequently, at o'clock, Cap
tain John w. Harper rendered the
visitors and the Democratic executive
and citizens committees a delightful
sail on his staunch steamer, the Will
mingtOn, thereby providing an oppOr-
tunity for the distinguished visitors to
enjoy the reviVifying river breezeS and
see to the best advantage the splendid
water front of the port Of Wilmington.
After the sail supper at the Orton
was in order and then the preparation
for the great torch light procession
began a procession which was to
eclipse anything ever given in Will
mington and in which the candidates
were to be the central figures.
WAS A TREMENDOUS DEMONSTA-
TION.
The ,lans for the great torch light
procession began to gather long before
the appointed hour, the shades of even
ing having scarcely begun to fall be-
fore hundreds of men, crowds of en-
thrsiastic young Americans, boys OF
all ages and sizes, could be seen il
every part of the city vending theil
way to the county court house where
the procession was to be formed
There was scarcely boy either who
was not holding with firm and delight
ed grasp an order from some member
of the committee, for torch light the
carving of which in the big procession
he was anticipating with the keenes
delight BY o'clock the formation
of the procession was well under wa!
this difficult work being we'll directed
by Chief Marshal w. P. Oldham AS
sistant Chief Marshal George Harris:
and an efficient corps of aides.
While the procession was FORMING
the scene from the corner or Marke'
and Third streets was especially stir
ring As far as the eye could see nortf
and south Third street was tnrongee
with men and boys shouting lusul1
and bearing aloft flaming torcnes
up Market street for more tnan
square the street was lined with tn'
apparatus of the fire department, tn'
bright faces of the enthusiastic mr.
laddies brought in bold relief by tn'
glaring light of numerous torene
which We're securely fastened upoi
every advantageous part Of the en-
gineS, hook and ladder truck and hoS'
wagons. These, headed by Chief Chas