Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-01-04
NEW YEARS DOINGS MANY SOCIAL EVENTS
Lively Street Scenes on New
Years Eve.
POLICE FORCE VERY yIGlLAN7
First Day Of Year Very Quiet-stores
Closed and Some Take
Holiday.


New Year 1908 was ushered in on
Tuesday night at u O'Clock by the
ringing of church bells and the blow
ing Of factory whistles, with the dis
'cordant accompaniment of cannon
crackers and other explosives, that
put to flight, fol time, the god OF
sleep. The salute continued for a
quarter of an hour and then compare
tive quiet reigned.
The day dawned with gray sky
and chilly air, so that people pr adict.
ed snowfall; but the sun came out
and the day turned ont to be nearly
an ideal one.
Doines Of the Day.
New Years Day is generally quiet
one outside OF the large cities, and
Martinsburg is no exception to the
rule.
The day was unusually quiet, espec
tally in the afternoon when the streets
had even less than Sunday appear
ance of life. Many of the stores clos
ed at noon and scores of people spent
part Of the daB at least, out of town
As usual the banks and postoffice
wer e closed but the mills and print
ing offices were run just the same.
On the social side there were many
family dinner parties, while some o
the clubs kept open house and the
hotels gave the usual sumptuous
spread. There were very few socia
functions and New Yea 5 receptions
and formal callers were not largel.
in evidence.
Doines of a Night.
New Ydr's eve set in with the usua
din and noise beginning about
O'Clock aid confirming till after mid
night. bit this WAS to be expected
it follow} an old custom
To thd credit OF the town and tn,
authorities itmuS. be said that mucl
bette n Ter prevailed than in som,
f. Years and the streets wer
p o. ally deserted by 2 O'Clock. Thi
" largely due to the firm stand 70
law and order taken by Mayor Harri
son, backed up by the regular ant
special police.
In addition to the regular force o
1--WE officers there were Is extra
police, two constables, two deput,
sheriffs and two railroad officers
making force of 26 officers. They
did their work well in dispensing
crowds Of unruly persons and keeping
q vigilant eye on the lawless and row
dy element. The officers did not have
as much trouble as they anticipated
After all, only fifteen persons were
during the night five were
sent to jail, five were put in the lookup
and the remaining five released on
their own recognizance. The charge
against the fellows, generally speak
ng, is for disorderly conduct, resist
ng an officer and melting to resist
ance Some Of them were released
today by paying their fines and costs
Strange to say there were no fights
and comparatively little drunkenness,
while The dynamite thrower was not
IN evidence.
The customary bonfire did not
work out this time, the officers being
TOO alert, One was started down
near the electric light plant about mid
night but couple Of officers spoiled
he game by arriving on the scene
lust as i was started They put the
ire out and scattered the boxes and
barrels, and that was the end Of the
ire and the fun of the boys who
started it.
Mayor Harrison remained at his Of
ic i'll -four o'clock, this morning
sH ing Developments, consequently
he i'd not feel as bright today as
Isl out he did deserve a Happy
Ne Year for his sacrifice.