The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-01
THECENTURY'SDAWN
PRAYER FOR THE OLD AND JOY
FOR THE NEW.
AUSTRALIA AND AMERICA.
MANY CITIES WELCOME THE NEW
CENTURY.

PbiIndeIphia's Fitting Observance.
Twenty Thousand Incandescent
Lights Used in the City FEaII.
Twenty TaIIow Candles Placed at
Each window of the Old State
hOuse-Red Cross Society Holds N
Great Watch Meeting in Chicago.
Philadelphia, Dec 31.-The passing of
the nineteenth century was fittngly OBJ
served in this city by a spectacular mu-
nicipal celebration. which included a mil
ltary parade and pyrotechnic and e.ec-
trical displays.
The great City Hall and the historic;
state house were the centers of the ceIe-
brations. and great crowds gathered in
the vicinity of each of these buildings.
Twenty thousand incandescent lights
were used on the exterior of the City
Hail. In the state house twenty talIow
candles were placed on each window sill.
which added to the quaintness of the
old hall At 11;55 p m. all lights went
out, and the multitude waited in the
glotm as the last five minutes of the CEN
tury were licked off. On the stroke of
mlonight, all the lights were again turn
ed on, and simultaneously gorgeous dis
play of fireworks burst forth from every
point OF the great building.
The observance at Independence Hall
was simple, with tinge of soIemnlty
about it. The deep-toned bell pealed
out twenty strokes, one for each century;
then one hundred and twenty-five strokes.
symbolical of the years of independence
of the country, then ninteen strikes, a
pause, and single stroke for 1901.
ChicnEo's Noisy Celebration.
Chicago. Dec. 31.--Thousands OF people
throughout the city Tonight celebrated
the dawn of the new century. Watch
meetings were held i'm the churches and
in the business district crowds of men
and boys marched up and down the
streets, blowing horns and cheering. while
every steam whistle in the city was turn
ed loose on the stroke of r. 1t was
the noisest greeting ever extended to a
new year in Chicago.
The great watch meeting of the night
was under the auspices of the Red Cross
Society, and was held in the COLISEUM,
which was packed to the doors William
Penn Nixon presided and an grafton on
the new century was delivered by Gen
john c. Black. Greetings from the rul-
ers Of different countries addressed to the
Red Cross Society were read by Mr.. Nixon
and heartily cheered by the immense au-
dience. At HES o'clock the audience rosa
and began the singing Of "Old Hundred"
and as the song was finished the members
of the Illinois Naval Militia fired a Ca
lutte of twenty-one guns to the dawn of
the new century.
The PapaI Delegate Omciated.
Washington, Dec. 31.--In accordance
with directions given by Pope Leo, the
closing of the nineteenth century and the
beginning of the twentieth century was
observed with solemn high mass in all
the Catholic churches of the city the SER
vices beginning al midnight. At ST. Pat
rlck's Church Monsignor Martinelli, the
papal delegate, celebrated pontihcal high
mass Rev. DR.. Rocker the secretary OF
the papal legation, delivered the sermon.
At st. PauIs Catholic Church Mgr. Con-
aty the rector of the Catholic University,
preached the sermon, his topic being
Christ, the Salvation of the New Gem
tury"
Richmond Extends a Welcome.
Richmond. Dec. 3i-The incoming OF
the new century wa signalized in Rich
mond tonight by the blowing of steam
whistles and the ringing of bells, as well
as by the usual new year blowing Of horns
and discharge OF fireworks. There were
special services in many of the churches
at midnight.
Kansas CIty's Century DaII.
Kansas City, Mo-, Dec s1.-The century
ball, the function to which all Kansas
Citizens have been looking forward for
weeks past, took place tonight, the most
extravagant hopes of its promoters being
realized. The climax of the ball was
reached at II O'Clock. when $50 men and
women, dressed In picturesque costumes
OF the colonial days, danced the minuet.
Curfew Failed ut Roanoke.
Roanoke, Va. Jan. 1.-Curfew failed to
clear the streets at the usual hour to-
night. When the hour of midnight ar
rived the many churches were mostly
filed with New Years new century
watchers. Saint Andrews celebrated mass
at midnight. Fourth OF July fireworks
display and ringing OF bells and footing
of whistles and all was over.
CharIotte's Population Kept Awake.
Charlotte. N. c., Jan. 1.-The greater
portion of the population of this city re-
mained up until after 70 O'Clock tonight
to celebrate the advent of the new cen
tury. AT the stroke OF 12 o'clock all the
bells in the city were rung and the whis-
ties of the cotton factories were blown.
There were watch-night services at some
Of the churches.
Atlanta Receives the Century.
Atlanta, Jan. Numerous private and
club receptions we're given here tonight
In celebration of the advent OF the new
century. At midnight the whistles OF
factories and locomotives were blown.
At the churches watch might services