Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-07-07
The GLORIOUS FOURTH
Hias Cone an Gone and with it Our
liam moth Celebration.

Down into he annals OF local his DRY Is
jjtted the FJurln of July, 1900, a. the
greatest day in the bisto y Of MarlnsDurg
aud for many years to come viii the mem
orr Of the mammoth celebration OF this
great and glorious day, live.
This day OF all days 10 all American
patriots Was celebrated here as II never
was before in the valley, in a way that
made the thousands OF onlookers, Inc
MART sDurgsrs especially, thrill with
prioc
Martinsburg did herself proud and its
citizens felt prouder of the town then
they ever did before in their lives. 1t was
an cd time celebration. Every one who
wa, in town saw the events Of the day
and partook OF the hospitality Of the old
burg went home more than satisfied and
ready and willing 10 come back again 70
The celebration or to any, hing else that is
held n the town
The great celebration for which the
Fourth Jay organization has been ardent
BY working since last May. when it was
FIRST given boom, passed off more sue
eessiuliy than ever the most enthusiastic
had anticipated.
: With the beginning Of the Wa, elk the
glorious day Was heralded by the BOOM
ne OF crackers and by the display of
Gecora ions. I he day before the celebra-
ton the town appeared in festive attire,
covered with rcd, white and blue in ever;
corner When the Fourth arrived every
| 0dy and everything was ready, the cele-
brauon having been planned aud gotten up
with such thoroughness that all dstails
were completed.
After midnight Of the previous night,
when the wee small hours OF the glorious
Fourth began to grow into larger ones,
the celebration began. TIE booming of
the cannon cracker was heard all night |
and long before sun up the echo was
reverberaling from all parts of the town. |
The day was hot bu. what Sc could |
be expected on the Fourth of July. Who |
would want it otherWlse' The day start
ed out with few light showers early in
che morning, but soon after daylight the
skys cleared up and there was every in
dicaton Of pleasant as well as glor-
ous, Fourth. The only time the celebra-
ion was disturbed by the weather was
about noon, wnen the races were in pro-
gTeSs. At that time The clouds suddenly
ct out water in torrents and many OF the
arge crowd who we're unable to find shell
er, were compelled to succumb 10 a little
oollng-otf in the way OF a shower bath in
he real sense of the word.
Never in her history has there been a
lay, crowd in Martinsburg as there was
soon after the dawn of dav
ne people began to pour into the city.
They came from all parts OF the county in
III manner OF conveyances, early morn
ng trains bringing their quota of visitors,
nd by the time Of beginning of the
.ay's program, thousands Of people were
Rowling good naturally up and down
he streets of Martinsburg. The number
# visitors is estimated at from seeento ten
thousand. which, with the population of
he city out in force, filled the pavenents
md streets to oVerllowlng.
1t was celebration such as Martins
1grg Las not known since war times and
foung America for once had a conception
i the good old times that their fathers
nd grandfathers used TO have and which
hey so often talk about. 1t was one
ahich every one can well be proud of
With parades, exhibitions, booming
hackers, good treatment, races, fireworks
nd music galore, those who were here
9ill remember the glorious Fourth Of
600.
The railroads hauled about 5000 peo-
De 10 the celebration, the {. Y. hauling
bout twice as many. as the B. & O, I
Altogether there were about 900 people
ere from Winchester, which was the
argos. delegation from any one town at
he celebration. Nine hundred came over
he railroad and the rest came in
arriages and on wheels Waynesboro
ent 25S people, according to the number
t tickets sold. HagerstoWn our rival, h
where they had a celebration of their own
ent t25 people over the {. V, Cham
ersburg sent y. at Greencastle 62 tick
is were sold to Hagerslo IN and II to
dartinsburR. Crowds am through
to Martinsburg from all
dong the line to see the real thing On
he side Of the trains from the North
we're tackled big streamers reading Fol
ow the crowd TO Martinsburg to see the
cal thing" and they did There is no
ioubt OF that.
Over the b. & O. the Frederick. Bruins
wick delegations from other towns
n the same direction arrived The regu-
ar morning trains brought the people
rom Cumberland and the west. All the
delegations were met at the stations by
he City and Comreys band and the
dartinsburg Fire Department, who inyit-
ID them TO headquarters and informed
hem that the town was theirs,
THE RACES
Following the marching Of the visiting
up and down the streets
we're the reel races The two con- ,
estsnts We're the Friendship Fire Compa-
1N Of MiueLasLer. and The United Sleam