Norwich bulletin., 1913-09-04
ANNIVERSARY OF
 FAMOUS YELLOW DAY.
Eastern Connecticut Was Under
 Saffron Pail 32 Years Ago.

Plenty of Norwich residents of the present day will recall Saturday Sept. 5. 1881, as the famous yellow day. The peculiar conditions that day were noted over wide expanse of country, but were particularly noticeable at GrOton and New London because of the fact that almost everybody was out of doors either taking part in or watching the exercises incidental to the celebration of the centennial of the battle of Groton Heights and the burning of New London by British troops under the command of the traitor. Benedict Arnold.
 When the peculiar conditions at first began to be observed they were at tTibuted to smoke from forest fires, but when they became more pronounced The rays of the sun were of a sicldy yellow cast that was different than anything that had been witnessed be- fore. and some other explanation had 10 be sought
 Sept. 6, lSS1 was one of the biggest days that this section has ever eXperi- enced. Groton and New London were the one big spot on the map of Con- necticut that day, and the celebration attracted attention all over the coun- try There was a big military display, @ sham battle speeches, fireworks in the evening and d lot of minor fea- tureG
 Transportation Troubles.
  Ucipsted in that celebration will not be likely to forget is the trouble that was experienced in getting tranSpoTta- ton across the river. The regular fer TXboaI was only about half the size of rhe present day Governor Winthrop, and in spite of the fact that the spare railroad ferry was also put into com mission 1t was not possible to accom- 1noGste anywhere near the number of people who wanted to get to Groton
 +T,;, Intervals
 Rush at the Ferries
 Many of the strangers who came to town had no idea of the ferry rates eCd spectators reaped a rich harvest selling ferry tickets at from 10 to p cer,s each, and those who bought them had 10 light hard to get a chance To get aboard the crowded boats. Once on the other side of the river. getting back was another serious problem and lJ is really wonder that there were not lot of fatalities recorded that day.
 About the hardest worked people were the members of the Connecticut National guard, who were brought in on freight cars from Mantle to i'm persOnate the British invaders and who were kept on their feet from the min ute they arrived until they were taken lack, and they didn't get to their tents uCul late at night.
 Gusrdsmen Were Overworked.
 One part of the brigade landed in the hsrbOr section of New London and came up to the city over the route fol- lowed by the British, attacking the de- lenders of the city en route. The other landed near Eastern Point and moved on Fort Griswoid- The troops on this side Of the river were then taken across the river after a fierce battle vi1h the crowd around tn ebig ferry boat. They marched in Groton and then came back when they marched again and then had tO stand on the parade for several hours before trans pOTtatiOn to Mantle was provided
 The navy department sent several ships to participate in the celebration and to represent the British fleet that attacked the town 100 years before.
 Monument Made Higher.
 The -- old Groton monument, which had been in a bad state of disrepair, had been fixed up by the state prior to the celebration The memorial was originally 127 feet high and was sur mounted by a small house, covering the stairway. and there was room enough to walk around it on all sides The monument was made 23 feet higher and assumed its present shape The whole structure was strengthened at the same time.