Marietta Daily Leader, July 6, 1898
Picnics and Excursions On All Railroads and Boats.
Everywhere the Report of Patriotic Gun, Pistol and Cracker Rent the Air.
The Day Born, was Not Without Its Sad Accidents, and We are Called Upon to Report Death, Whose Sting Will Last forever, and Injury, Whose Hurt Will Last a Lifetime.
Old King Sol rose bright and early Monday morning and July 4th, 1898, was born. Not, however, without its casualties. A light shower about seven o'clock cooled the scorching rays of the sun and the day started off one of patriotism and pleasure. Daylight found many a young patriotic boy on the street with cap and pistol, doing honor to Uncle Sam's birthday.
The day was a fitting one to celebrate. One hundred and twenty-two years ago last Monday was United States declared herself to be a free and independent country. Today we are in the midst of a war with Spain, fighting for the freedom and independence of the poor, half-starved, imposed upon people of Cuba.
In the midst of shot and shell at Santiago de Cuba, aboard the men-of-war in the harbors and on the high seas, amid the noise of paper cap and pistol along the streets of the cities, in the fields, the valleys and on the hill tops, in fact everywhere that the stars and stripes float, the American people are with one accord. All hail Columbia! The land of the free.
Early in the day excursions began to arrive on the different railroads and boats. The T. & O. C. E. brought in about 800 people, the B. & O. S. W. 300, the Z. & O. 200, the C. & M. 345, the Ohio River 150. The steamer Barnsdall brought down about 50, Oneida 100, and the Sonoma about 100. The streets in the early morning were crowded with people, some with baskets, some without, all going according to their various desires, to the different places of amusements, all with one thought, a bright and pleasant holiday, one of rest and vacation.
Trades and Labor Picnic
Promptly at seven o'clock the steamer William Duffy left the wharf boat with the first load of picnicers for the Buckeye-Eureka Park at the head of the island, where the Trads and Labor Council of Marietta gave a large picnic.
The steamer Ollie Neville, the ferry boat at New Martinsville, had also been chartered to assist the Duffy in getting the large crowd to the picnic. The boats, alternating, left the wharf about once an hour, making it possible to catch a boat about every half hour.
Everything possible was done by the members of the order to make this a gala day long to be remembered. How well they carried out their part we all know. Refreshments of all kinds, swings, hammocks and amusements galore were to be found on the island.
Schlicher's full reed band led the procession early in the morning to the boat. The orchestra accompanied them to the picnic and furnished music for the dance loving people throughout the day and evening.
About 3,000 people enjoyed the day at the island and late in the evening returned to their homes, reporting a good time.
German M. E. Sunday School
The members of the German M. E. church and their families left at ten o'clock on the steamer Sonoma for Bartlett's Grove, where they put in the entire day. About 100 enjoyed the picnic and all report a very pleasant day spent in the beautiful woods at Bartlett's. Nothing happened to mar the pleasure of the day and all returned late in the afternoon, a happy crowd.
Colored Knights of Pythias
The Colored Knights of Pythias, Marietta Lodge, held a large picnic at Fountain Park on the T. & O. C. E. R. R. to which was invited a large number from Parkersburg, Belpre, Rainbow and from different points along the T. & O. C. E. The Marietta train left at 7:00 and by 10 o'clock the grounds were packed. About 1,500 people were present. Sports of all kinds were indulged in. Th wheelbarrow race was won by Charles Strawder, bicycle race by Otto Singer. No one was able to reach the top of the greased pole.
Band Wagon Picnic
The Misses Dye, Curtis, Cooke, James Clerc, Smith, Grafton, Leeper, and Messrs. Torpy, Hutchison, McClure, Reed, Harper, Leeper, Payne, and Bay, chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Reeser, enjoyed a bandwagon picnic at Devols Dam Monday, where they took supper and returned late in the evening.
The Misses Florence Dye, Mary Brigham and Mr. J. Herbert West and Mr. Will Brigham drove up the Ohio and took supper for their Fourth of July.
The Misses Helen Chamberlain and Minnie Leeper and Mr. Walter Sniffen and Eugene Minshall took their Fourth of July supper up the Muskingum River.
Several families drove to the different parts of the country and enjoyed either their dinner or supper.
The Races
The races at the Fair Grounds were not a success either for speed or in a financial way. The crowd was small and but little interest was taken. Rather than disappoint the few people that attended, the owners of the horses gave a free blow-out. They gave two races, both mixed, in which the following horses entered:
Spanish Boy, owned by F. B. Biszantz
Elmer D., owned by Robert Gates
Oudan, owned by Ellenwood & Smith
A gray from Parkersburg
Spanish Boy won in three straight heats in 2:25, 2:24-1/2; 2:28. In the second race were Billy H., owned by Kelly; Walter B., owned by Curry & Holdren; and a bay mare. Race won by Walter B. in 2:35.
Business in the city was generally suspended. In the evening from all parts of the city could be seen displays of fire works of all kinds. The heavens were bright with skyrockets and roman candles. A large number of balloons were also sent up.
At the St. Cloud Hotel, a large crowd of people, men, women and children, gathered to witness the display there.
The Chinamen on Butler Street also had a patriotic turn of mind and lent a hand in celebrating the day.
Casualties of the Day
The steamer William Duffy had the misfortune to break a hog-chain in the morning on her first trip up. The damage was quickly repaired, however, and the boat continued on its way.
The Ollie Neville Ashore
The Ollie Neville, the New Martinsville ferryboat, after landing a large party of picnicers at the head of the island and had started back to the city with about twenty-five passengers, in attempting to make a landing at Buell's, ran on a rock and tore a hole in her hull. The Duffy happened near and put her pumps at work. The water was soon pumped out and the hole stopped up without serious damage.
Burnt By a Fire Cracker
Charlie, the seven-year-old son of Mrs. Charles Loomis, Third Street, while shooting fire crackers was badly burned on the hand. It is a painful, though not dangerous, wound.
Hurt By a Torpedo
James Ancell, while on his way to Marietta from Parkersburg, was hit on the arm by a torpedo thrown by some unknown person. His arm was badly lacerated and his nose cut. It was a very painful accident and will keep him from his work for some time.
Foot Badly Hurt
Mrs. Charles Frantz, 117 Fourth Street, while standing across the street from the St. Cloud hotel watching the display of fire works, was hit on the foot by a skyrocket, which had broken and flew across the street, part of it going through the plate glass window of Charles Peddinghaus' and the other hitting Mrs. Franz on the foot. The foot is badly cut, but will result in nothing serious.
William King was slightly hurt by a roman candle.
We have heard of no other accidents. Drunkenness on the streets was conspicuous by its absence. There was no lawless ness and everybody seemed to carry themselves in good form.
