The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-04-14
JUBILANT over
UNION OF CITIES
Singing Crowds Burn Lights, Ere Tor
pedOes and Otherwise Demon
state Their Joy.
RICHMOND. VA

X e II nj . y ID, VA. - Special. -
washington Ward. erstwhile Man
chester, was in her glory Monday night
Singing crowds, giant firecrackers and
huge torpedoes, put on the street car
tracks. made noise which, as big
and as hideous as il was but feebIy
expressed the jov of the SIS voters
who cast their ballots for a Greater
Richmond
Pending the placing of the better
lights, which Richmond is to give
Washington Ward, huge bonfres lit
up the streets. and red lights at every
corner painted the buildings and
mirthful faces of the holiday crowd a
beautiful red.
Up and down Hull Street. from one
end 20 the other, the great crowd
moved slowly, stopping now and then
as happy bunch of men, who had
happened to place their cash on the
winning side, blocked the sidewalk
while they relieved themselves of
some of the joy within them bv an
imitation of song, and pauSing to
watch street car run the gauntlet
or tOrpedOeS placed upon the track
and proceed down the street to the
accompaniment of successive detona-
tons that could be heard all over
Washington Ward.
1t was good-natured crowd, and.
strange as il may seem. there were
no DRINKS. Cause why2 The saloons
were all closed from u o'clock Sat
urday night until o'clock this morn
ing, and to get booze the mirthmaker
had to walk to the far end of Swans
boro. This some did, but the major
ity of them could not tear themselves
away from the scene of the celebra-
ton even for their beloved liquor.
OF all the crowd there were a few
who were not particularly joyous. We
are not speaking of the "antis." They
seemed to take their defeat with good
grace and to join in the demonstra-
lions. We refer to the saloon keep
ers, who could not help pausing often
in the midst of the jollification to
figure up how much they were losing
because they were compelled TO keep
their places closed.
In the city there was one man who
for time created a little excitement.
This was a man who, in spite of the
fires and red lights, was going up and
down Hull Street with a lantern in
his hand Dicgcnes-like, peering TO the
right and left. and every now and
then hating merrymaker and put
ting some question to him. a few
of the curious drew close to him
while he was Quizzing Long Tom
did you vote against consolida-
tion?"
NO. certainly did not" came the
indignant reply from the head Of Sub
-, There i: no need q getting angry.
son. Il Just, wanted to know for !
have heard that somebody did"
| With roar OF laughter, the crowd
moved on and old piogenes continued
up the street on his vain quest.
AS the fires began to die out and the
| hrecrackerS and torpedoes TO cease
| from troubling. the celebrantS began
I slowly and reluctantly to seek their
| homes. Going down the cross streets
| small knots OF men could be heard
| singing, the sound of their voices
growing fainter and fainter. This was
what was heard from the direction OF
upper Hull Street, where the Wash
lington Ward quartet. consisting Of Dan
Madra, Bill Lewis. Henry Marshall and
| Charlie Mccain, under the direction
Of 9. c. George. held forth 10 an ad-
miring thronE.
Wen hang Dave Pulliam on t'other
side the river
| While we go marching on"
and great deal more like il.
But all things must come TO an end
even a celebration In honor of so great
an event as becoming a part OF Rich =
mond, and at a late hour the streets of
what was once Manchester were de-
serted, and the great day had passed
into history.