The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-05
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HOW The. FOURTH / / !. !.
WAS " {: Celebrated Il / |i|. 1 | ]
Nations Natal Day Generally But
Very Quietly Observed in
This City,
s'''--- ~ n T'TT- lls3. l4.if, SIS NH
THOUSANDS. LEFT THE CITY
seasllore Resorts Attracted Most
Of Them-Few Casualties
Reported.
THOUSANDS. LEFT THE CITY

(. d
Independence Day was very generally
observed in Richmond yesterday by alb.
stinence from labor for the whole day
or for Mt least a part OF It by an over
whelnlng majority oft;st the population
Many Of the retail business houses kept
their places open and made y pretensc
of doing business. but the game was
not worth the CANDLE save for the ac-
commodation OF few patrons. The Job
bling houses, manufactures and large In
dustrial plants, offices and banking In
stitutions, municipal State and Federal
buildings were all closed either for half
the day or for the whole day.
Amuscments at Reservoir Park, two
rattling baseball games at Broad Street
Park in tho afternoon, an all-day trap
shooting tournament at the trapp of the
Richmond Gun Club, many private ex-
cursion parties by rail or river, sporadic
discharges of popcrackers marked the
day in this city. Thousands Of Rich
monders went to the seashore on the
three morning trains over the Chesa-
peakc and Ohio or over the Norfolk and
Western special to Virginia Beach, anl
several hundred, at low estimate, went
In pairs or In parties to nearby rural
resorts or visited other cities. The re-
duced rates offered by all railways In
duced many country people to visit
Richmond and strangers were in evil
idence everywhere.
Remarka bly, few casualties are re-
ported from the dhys Indulgence or
from careless handling OF fireworks.
In fact. UP to 9 P. NJ. the police and
the hospitals had heard Of no fireworks
injuries. and few OF any kind. the am
bulance surgeons attending several me-
or brawls. The firemcn. too. had an
unusual immunity from alarms.
Was Typical Day.
The weather was typical Of the day
and tho season. and was more favorable
to the enjoyment OF celebrants thankthe
weather bureau had forecast. In the
but 1t passed and no rain fell during
the entire day. The cloudness In tho
afternoon and the breeze that portended
storm brought some relief from. the
high temperature. without the promised
thunderstorms. 80 3
The ase-ball games at Broad Street
Park in the afternoon attracted a crowd
of from $500 to 1000 enthusiasts who
greatly enjoyed two close and doubtful
contests and went home ats o'clock we'll
satisfied. " st- Il.
At the Reservoir Park thousands
thronged the beautiful grounds and pa
tronized the various amusements there.
a large number OF the park visitors were
out of town people. All the amusement
features did lively business all. day.
The order maintained was excellent. the
only disorder reported being a row be-
tween colored waiter at the Rathskellar
and two white patrons, in the course OF
which the negro was struck with beer
bottle.
Most OF the noise was on Broad Street,
where there was considerable firing OF
pop crackers all day. In the, evening an
OCCASIONAL rocket was fired and Roman
candles ilIumined the darkness. The law
forbiddng dynamite crackers was fairly
we'll observed, most OF the firing being Of
the small and harmless variety. The po-
lice report excellent order for holiday,
most of the arrests being for drunkenness
and few for fighting.
Many on Street Cars.
The street railway lines did heavy
days business, all the cars in every 'direc-
ton being pretty well filled all day. No
street car. accidents OF any kind were re-
ported, the crowds being handled with
safety and dispatch.
Among the private parties who enjoyed
out OF town picnics was one OF dozen
or more people, who for years have gone!
to Ashland Park for the Fourth. These;
embraced Messrs. Writ z. Taylor. r. A.
Taylor, Warren P. Taylor c. w. Culp,,
Henry NJ. Boykin, A. Won N. Rosenegk,i
+. Howison. Horace G. Buchanan, Alfred
d. Williams, E. l.. c. Scott. Stonewall J.
boswell. c. e. Potts, Palmer Evans, J. e.
Cox and T. f. Cheney. The party spent
a pleasant and restful day at the park,
just above the town, returning In the eve
ming. The trip was made on a special
train.
4 The postofIice employees worked BALI
day; the carriers made one delivery and
the usual collections were made. The
revenue Offices and the Federal courts
were idle and closed. So was the Gus
toms department.
The State Library building and>its va
rious offices were deserted all day, save
by visitors. who went in to inspect tho
buildings and portraits. The Capitol
was n Sunday appearance Of utter absti-
,nence from work.
Many buildings flew the national flag
Mt the head OF the stats all day, and
many of the stores had window decora
lions appropriate to the day. Everywhere
there was q holiday appearance, with
business at practical standstil. Tho
hotels had fewer arrivals than usual, and
the Hobbies were almost deserted
In the harbor vessels and stealners
were flying flags and gay bunting.
Many persons spent the day at the
country clubs. or on the river in boating
and fishing. but by far the greater num-
Der OF outing parties were to the sea-
shore or to West Point Extra trains
hauled the crowds down In the morning
and brought them back In safety In tho
evening.
All tho city and State offices were
closed ,,s on account Of the glorious Fourth,
lhey VIII open up this morning at the
usual hours for business.
Enc Officers and clerks for the most
part went out OF town for the day.
4