The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-07-08

sengers on His steamers-About
1880 People Spent the Day Mt
wrightsviIIe Beach-The Regatta.
The Fourth Of July vas generally OBJ
served in Wilmington. a few stores
remained open, but they found it like
Sunday as everybody had gone to
Southport and wrightsviIle Beach.
Southport's great Independence day
celebration attracted tremendous
crowds, while others took the steamers
for Carolina Beach. During the day
the steamer Wilmington carried 1,731
passengers TO Southport and Carolina
Beach. Captain John w. Harper's 9TH
er boats, the teamers Highlander and
Southport carried respectively 300 and
100, making 2.131 in all.
Southport and the Fourth of July,
1902, will be pleasantly remembered by
one OF the largest crowds that ever as
sembled there. 1t was a gala day, and
everyone seemed determined to have
a good days sport. The intention Of
the Southport people was to give every
body pleasure and to make the visitors
have a good time-and it is useless to
say that they succeeded.
Early in the day a national salute
vas fired from Fort Caswell and also
from the Revenue Cutter Algonquin,
which was in port.
At 10 a. m. all the stores closed and
a parade was formed at 10:45. 1t was
a very creditable procession indeed.
Under the leadership of Z. D. Guthrie,
Esq, chief marshal, and Messrs. John
Price, Robert ThompOn, Harry Mintz,
Thomas Vines, r. L. Wyatt, J. A.
Thompson. Ike Davis, Arthur Dosher,
Willard Windsor and Elmer Adkins,
assistants, marched to Franklin
square. 1t was headed by the South
port Cornet Band, boys and girls with
flags N a large crowd of citizens
composed the column.
In the square the exercises opened
with the singing of America by the
children, led by the band.
Rev. E. J. Edwards offered a beauti-
full prayer n Mayor S. P. Swain de-
-iivered a cordial address of welcome.
Chairman T. T. Allard, in a very
pleasant and happy manner, intro
duced the orator. Rev. Calvin S. Black
well, d. d., of this city. DR.. Black
wells subject was 1.-The Privileges and
Perils of the Republic. The address
was delivered in DR.. Blackwelrs usual
happy manner and he held his hearers
for over an hour in a discussion on ma
tional affairs upon a broad plane. DIR.
Blackwell was frequently applauded
and was congratulated On his mastery
effort. Its length precludes its publish
ing in full and no eXthactS would do it
justice. Suffice it to say, that DR..
Blackwell added to his reputation as
one of the best speakers and finest
orators that we have in the state.
From 1890 until $3.50 ?. m. a pro-
gramme of attractive sports and ath-
letic exercises was carried out. Some
of he features were both laughable
and ridiculous.
I'll boat racing at $3.50 p. m. was an
intel esting sight, and a magnificent
display of fireworks at night was the
eliminating feature of the day-a day
of much pleasure and enjoyment to all.
All who visited Southport could not
but have been placed in some manner
under obligations to the central COM
mittee which was composed of the fol-
lowing gentlemen: Messrs. 7. T. AL
lard, chairman; j. Berg, G. Ed. Taylor,
Nj. c. Guthrie, J. A. Primer, E. H.
Cranmer, w. H. Pyke. and H. Daniel.
The Messenger returns thanks to the
committee for the handsome and cor
dial manner in which it's representa-
tive was treated and for the many
courtesieS received.
The refreshment committee under
the craftsmanship of Mr.. ]. Berg, aSsis-
ted by a bevy of S~outhport's beautiful
young ladies, served sumptuous re-
freshmentS in great
The celebration was an immense
success and once more the Southport
people are to be congratulated.
THE YACHT RACES.
The Fourth was also q great dav ar
Wrightsville Beach. The principal
event was the annual regatta of the
Carolina Yacht Club but there were
also other attractions that took down
the biggest crowd that was ever on the
beach on any 18th. The Wilmington
Seacoast railroad ran ten trains down
and ten back to the city and carried
nearly $500 passengers.
The largest crowd that ever looked
on at a yacht race saw the regatta, and
great interest was manifested in it.
The race was over the six mile course
of the club in the banks channel of
Wrightsville Sound, and the judges
were Captain John R. Williams and
Hessrs. II. Mel. Green and G.. ]. Boney.
The entries for the race were as fol-
lows:
The Sprite, Captain II. B. PeSchau.
The Mabel, Captain Edwin A. Nets.
The Sadie, Captain S. P. Cowan.
The Yonalee, Captain Plat w. Davis.
The Question Captain r.. A. Parsley.
The Eugenia, Captain George Harriss.
The Teal, Captain Henry Mcmillan.
The Phantom, Captain John K. Will
Hams.
The race began at 4:30 p. m. and he
following is h starting time, the finisk
and the record of each boat:
Start. Finish. Time.
49, A10 E.no Ao-0n