New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-05
HOW CITY SPENT THE DAY.
Huge Excursions, Much Noise and
Countless Flags.

COUHtttSS tUSS.
The American Eagle hoped to the edge Of his
nest, preened into place a tail feather which |
was askew, tapped his wings. and with a loud
scream flew to the top Of the talest tree, whence
he hurled hOarse defances at the sun. just peer
ing over the horizon. It's the Fourth of July"
he explained to his neighbors "and I'm due to
celebrate Come on, mother; let's go see the
sights and off he went. with Mrs. Eagle and |
the eaglets winging after him, to "whoop it.up." |
And the rest Of the nation went and did like |
wise. Given two holidays. because the Fourth I
came on Saturday. with ideal weather. they
rushed out of town yesterday by every railroad. |
every boat and trolley car. The rush and crush |
the hurry and hustle were as bad as the worst |
within the memory of the transportation men,
who do their best. could not handle the vast
throngs on schedule time. The Grand Central
Station was filed at daybreak and, as the day
grew older, the congestion became greater in
geometric progression. the people. at first good
natured as excursionists usually are, gradually
becoming uneasy they that the facilities
were inadequate, so that the situation grew pre-
carious.
Trying as were the delays and shifts in the
morning, when the people had the days pleas
ures in anticipation, they were infinitely worse
last night, when vast numbers came home from
the nearby resorts and excursion places hot
anu urea from CnelT restless ChdSe 2TCer pleas
ure. Steamers. trains. railroad stations and
streetcars were filed with the varied assort-
ment which makes up this city's holiday crowd,
ali bent on getting home in the least time.
Prayed tempers and battered gowns with sunny
dispositions lurking under the black edges of
thunder clouds. greatly in evidence. In
much prominence, too. were the ubiquitous gen.
tlemen who liquidate more freely en- Independ-
ence Day than on ordinary holidays Many
brawls and street fights resulted from this form
of celebration. and the police had their hands
full.
EVERYTHING 10 Make NOISE,
While the exit Of summer people" may not
have much apprecahle effect on this city's pop
ulation, the outgoing Of yesterdays thousands
on thousands left the town comparatively
attractions of the White Way proved potent
enough TO fill Broadway with a thrOng of prom
enaders, while roof gardens and theatres dis
penSed holiday JolIity. OF those who, through
unktnd fate could not get out of town. the
small boys contributed most of the exuberance.
AS long it made sufficient noise. almost any
kind of an internal machine dear TO their
hearts, and the variety seemed endless, rang
ing from the harmless looking. dirty white ball.
which, thrown violently on the pavement, gives
forth explosions in showers to the giant torpedo
and the cannon cracker More than the usual
number of accidents resulted from careless use
of explosives, and firemen and ambulance sur
geons were on the jump all day.
One pretty phase OF yesterdays celebration
was the universal display of flags and bunting.
Over office buildings, stores and residences in
every quarter fOated the Stars and Stripes,
while most Of those on the streets wore minia-
turC flags or red, white and blue buttons In
the thickly settled portions Of the city glance
down street presented to the eye a dazzling
ar aS VI COUIS. H-VelS AIlSIo!l Mf's 80 D.
by the HagS hung out or WINDOWS. Al the bat
terry and at the Block House, Central Park the
raising of the flag was attended by the usual
crowds who cheered the Star Spangled Ban
mol as nnfurlRd the breeze. and on Gov
ernor's Island there were salutes and cheers by
the soldiers. Every craft in the harbor was
decked with flags, and most of the big liners at
their piers spread long streamers or bunting
from mast to mast. Especially hne were the
decorations on the Postal Ieiegrapn @ @BuiIqlLg & IN
honor Of the new Pacific cable, over Whlch FreS-
ident Roosevelt was to send his round the world
message Patriotic exercises, speeches and nag
raisings were held all over the city waile N "
PARKS throngsd from dAybreak, here were band
concerts in which national airs had .he place OK
honor
PERFECT HOLIDAY WEATHER
The weather was perfect for all kinds Of ath
Ietic contests. which occupied large place IN
the days doings. The racetracks were flled TO
overhowing ball games hourished. while golf
devotees were greatly in evidence. The Larch-
mont Yacht Clubs annual regatta began yes
terday: the Atlantic Yacht Club the seawan-
haka Yacht Club at oyster Bay. the Pavonis
Yacht Club the Newport Yacht Club and the
Jamaica Bay Racing Association held races
The New York letter carriers held their annual
picnic at schdtzen Park. Union Hill, and the
Interurban employees made an excursion TO Col
lege Point
Yesterday was a great day III Huntington
which celebrated its 250th anniversary with
speeches aad fireworks, unveiiing OF cannon and
general folihcation. President Roosevelt was
the guest Of honor while Mayor Low, United
States District Attorney w J. Youngs OF Brook
Iyn St Clair NcKelway and many others spoke
OF excursions there was legion All the Hud-
son River boats were flied the New-fork and
the Albany carrying jolly crowds while the
Mary Powell made special arrangements 10 en-
a bic her passenger to see the dress parade AZ
West Point. The iron steamboats, to Coney Isl
and the fishing boats, the Angler and the Ed
mund Butler and the Sound boats. all carried
ca pacity loads,
Last night there was a gorgeous display OF
all over the city. variegated bombs
and rockets shooting in graceful curves sky
ward 10 burst into shower or myriad coloTsd
sparks which, as they fell, would gradually die
into blackness. At Manhattan Beach the Pain
show attracted thousands. and many beaU1nul
effects were shown for the first time.
A BRITISH GUNNER KILLED.
Accident at Colombo Fort While Firing