The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-05


OF the uncalled for action OF the weather.
man. who seemed To have vented his
displeasure on the people of this section
OF the republic. There is at least one
day In the year when fair skies and hot
sun seems 10 be especially appropriate.
and, when in its place are heavy clouds
with occasional drenching showers.
everyone feels there is screw loose
somewhere
The might before" was not very much
different from other occasions Of It's
kind. Throughout the early cflnins
crowds of people thronged the streets or
the down town section. Everyone APP
peared 10 be out TO make noise and
their efforts In this direction met with
alarming success. Perhaps IT was not the
most noisy night the city has ever ex-
perienced but there was no complaint TO
be heard on this score.
Boys and girls, some OF them beyond
the school age long years ago, were our
with horns, bells. trumpets, fire crackers,
torpedoes. canes and In fact everything
which could possibly be secured TO make
noise Occasionally big crowd would
band together with perhaps few drums
and other instruments and march
through the streets. Now and then
would be heard the explosion OF piston.
but the police put ban on this method
Of celebrating, and whenever anyone was
seen 10 fire a pistol, the weapon was con-
fiscated and sent to the police station.
where II is probable the owner can call
for II II he desires TO do so.
BIG BONFIRE.
In several sections of the city there
were bonfires just before midnight, and
at one of these there was quite an
elaborate celebration. AT 10 o'clock the
Jackson band started from near the rail
road station. headed by a boy bearing a
banned in which were the words: "rol-
low the Band"
The invitation appeared 10 meet with
ready response and long before the
musical organization had reached Main
street square there was "a crowd OF sew
eral hundred marching. Most of the
paraders were armed with ttin horns
which they played on most Industrious
ly, drowning out the music, but no one
seemed TO care for that. IL was noise
that was wanted and evidently the band
failed to supply all that was desired IN
this direction so the paraders concluded
TO help out.
The band was headed for Pond street
and the crowd followed. Then the cleo
tries running in that direction were soon
carrying big loads and long before mid
night there was crowd of several thou
sand people gathered In that vicinity TO
help those who live there usher I'm The
Day We Celebrate"
In the lot at the corner OF Pond and
Arch streets a great pile OF combusstlbles
had been raised. IL was said that there
were over a hundred barrels and many
cords of wood which the boys had been
getting together for the past week or
two. Just a few minutes before u
o'clock someone touched match 10 this
pile and instantly the flames leaped to
the top. 1t was a big fire, and the re-
w mi ba
residents in that vicinity had provided
themselves with fireworks OF almost
every description and these were set Off
at the same time. and for a while things
were pretty lively.
RUSH TO SHELTER.
Then, without the slightest warning.
there came q down-pour OF rain. 1t came
In torrents and there was rush for
shelter. Some of the nearby verandas
offered refuge for n few, but the most
OF the people who had gathered In the
lot were drenched 10 the skin There
were few extra cars, but they could
not half hold the crowd But IT required
something besides rain to drown out
the blaze In that pile OF combustibles.
and II burned right merrily for more than
m hour.
There were one or two other bonflres
which were started about the same hour
orators who got thoroughly drenched
when the rain came.
1t may be that good many OF the
older people who have forgotten the time
when they were young, felt somewhat
pleased at the rain. It's chief result was
10 put a stop to much OF the noise which
usually drives away all possibility OF
sleep but TO the younger generation who
had planned for other things, 1t was
sore disappointment
DAY OF SHOWERS.
When morning finally came the rain
was still coming down. and It fell at i'm
tervals all day. There was considerable
riding in the electrics and the cars going
TO the east side shore resorts carried
quite a crowd during the afternoon, but
OF course, IL was nothing compared with
what had been expected
Last evening saw other crowds on the
street and there was more than the usual
amount OF noise I'm the down town streets
There was no public attempt at celebra-
tion at any part OF the day. but last night
there were numerous private displays Of
fireworks In different sections OF the city
About the only public function OF any
kind IN the city during the entire day
was thu "Brownvllle Reunion" which
had been arranged FOR and carried out
under the direction OF the members OF the
ST. Mary's church. This was announced
20 be country circus" and IL was held
An the school yard on George street
The AFFAIR began In the early afternoon
with a parade through the principal
streets OF the city. This feature OF the
'circus" was certainly Interesting. There
was "A band the members OF which
had apparently not had time 20 get out
OF their regular working clothes Then
there was one or two floats In which
were boys and girls and a tally-ho coach
IN which party of most charming young
ladies' were seated. half dozen rathe,
decrepit vehicles. most elaborately trim
med, had a position In the line. and there
were also a couple OF volunteer fire COM
panies The line wound up with ''The
Gang from Beantown."
After the parade came the circus on
the school grounds and this attracted