11

THE CELEBRATION.

Yesterday's celebration of the great American holiday at Virginia, was a very pleasing and satisfactory one in every respect. Gold Hill concluded not to celebrate the glorious Fourth this year, so Liberty Engine Co. No. 1, together with the Hose Company of young men attached, went to Carson, while the other fire companies and citizens generally staid at home to take care of the town, or attended to celebration at Virginia. At early dawn the day was ushered in with a national salute from the big gun "Gen. Grant," on Fort Homestead, and similar salutes were fired at noon and sunset. Plenty of other salutes were fired at Virginia, including those by the Nevada Artillery Company, Capt. Lore commanding, at sunrise and sunset. Flags were displayed on all the hoisting works, public buildings, etc., throughout Virginia and Gold Hill, and the weather was propitious, the sun having its warmth somewhat tempered by passing clouds, from which occasionally a few drops of rain fell to cool the air. The country people and even the Piutes gathered into Virginia at an early hour, and gaily dressed people crowding the streets and sidewalks, and houses on either side beautifully trimmed with flags and evergreens, presented a very pretty holiday scene, highly appropriate to the occasion. The houses of the various engine companies especially, all had their fronts very tastefully decorated with evergreens and flags, and in fact, we have seldom seen prettier general decorations on any similar occasion in that city.

THE PROCESSION

Was of course the grant public feature of the occasion, and was composed of the Fire Department, military, Miners' Union, city officers and a few other appropriate participants, numbering about 900 in all. It was well marshaled and conducted throughout. It formed on B street, marched out to the Divide, back through C street, and by way of Sutton avenue and D street passed to Piper's Opera House, where the oration, poem and other usual exercises were given. The firemen never turned out so finely, although we have seen them in greater numbers; but they paid better and more elaborate attention to make-up and decorations than usual, and the military looked fine. General Van Bokkelen and Gen. Winters, with their respective staffs, were in the lead. They were followed by the Emmet Guard, Virginia, 40 in number, the Sarsfield Guard, of Gold Hill, numbering 50, and the National Guard, of Virginia, numbering 45. The Sarsfields outnumbered either of the other companies, but all presented a really creditable and truly soldier-like appearance, the little Nevada Artillery Company of veteran gunners, with a howitzer drawn by four black horses, being the rear guard of the military division. Next followed some carriages containing the officers of the ay, city officers, the Sutro tunnel Commissioners, etc. And now came the

FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Virginia Engine Co. No. 1, had their machine handsomely trimmed with flags, wreaths, etc., and drawn by six gray horses; the little Goddess of Liberty riding beneath the beautiful canopy on the machine, was Lizzie Denning. Rooster Hose Co., attached to this company, turned out in good style, with their hose carriage beautifully trimmed, and with a live fox and a game rooster mounted upon it. Young America Engine Co. No. 2, made the finest display. Their large machine was splendidly decorated and drawn by eight horses, with four colored grooms riding the near horses, dressed in red jackets and caps, white pants, etc., and Gussie Scott, with three attendant maidens, rode as the Goddess of Liberty, under the pretty canopy on top of the machine. Good Will Hose, attached to this company, composed of young men, followed, with their hose carriage elegantly trimmed, and were succeeded by fifty little boys dressed in black pants, white shirts, and straw hats with red ribbons bearing "Young America" inscribed thereon in gild letters. They drew a huge allegorical picture or transparency, representing Peace and War, with the portraits of Washington, Lincoln and Grant, and they were about as proud and happy a set for their inches as anybody ever saw. Eagle Engine Company, No. 3, made an excellent showing. Their fine machine was very tastefully trimmed with evergreen festoons, flowers, flags; and Isabella Alchorn, who rode as Goddess of Liberty, beneath a very handsome canopy, was about as pretty and tastefully arrayed a little divinity as could have been desired. Washoe Engine Company, No. 4, had their most effective and neat machine trimmed and decorated in a very tasteful manner, surmounted with a splendid canopy, and Miss Carrie Clark rode as the Goddess of Liberty. She was very appropriately dressed, and the prettiest Goddess we ever saw on any similar occasion. Knickerbocker Engine Company, No. 5, did not have any goddess or canopy on their machine. They turned out the greatest number of firemen, however, and their machine looked just right in the eyes of all good judges of fire engines. It was a pattern of neatness and efficiency. One of the finest features in the procession was Neptune Hose Company, attached to the knickerbockers. It is composed of some of the best and smartest young men of the city, and their hose carriage, recently from Sacramento, was tastefully trimmed, and showed to excellent advantage. The members were dressed in black pants and white shirts, and blue caps with red bands. Mounted beneath a beautiful canopy, in front of the hose reel, sat little Jimmy Fair, son of J. G. Fair, the well known mine and mill owner. Jimmy personated Neptune, or rather a son of Neptune, and was dressed in the blue pants and jacket and broad collar trimmed with white stripes, usual to the neat sailor costume, and a blue ribbon of his jaunty little straw hat bore the word NEPTUNE in gild letters. He was seated in the stern sheets of a miniature boat, with a little steering oar, or paddle in his hand, and looked as dignified as the captain of a revenue cutter, or a young Admiral. Monumental Engine Company No. 6 had their machine also appropriately decorated, and had two little girls riding beneath a pretty canopy. Their hose company of young men were tastefully dressed, and all presented a fine appearance.

LAST DIVISION.

After No. 6 Engine Co. came the Social Base Ball Club of Virginia-quite a feature in the procession. At the head were two boys carrying two fine flags, presented to the club by Mrs. A. Wylie. Inscription: Spcials, on one side; on the reverse S. B. B. C. in gold letters. The Club was in command of W. Mott, captain and pitcher, carrying a beautiful bat, presented by C. F. Sliter, Esq. Foster, c.; Wylie, 1st b..; Daniels, 2d b.; Cain, 3d b.; Cheveria, s. s.; I. Lyser, l. f.; Kleuphfer, c. f.; Flick, r. f., who marched in time and showed that they were well drilled in base ball, as well as (if occasion required) could handle a musket. The Miners' Union, to the number of 200 or more followed, walking two abreast, looking well, and half a dozen carriages, full of ladies, gentlemen and children, brought up the rear. There were bands of music and plenty of flags and banners borne along, and the procession was frequently cheered as it passed along.

THE EXERCISES

At the Opera House were well attended, all of the seats being filled with an interested audience of ladies and gentlemen, while occupying chairs upon the stage were many prominent gentlemen, Government officers, etc. Mayor J. C. Currie, President of the Day, was appropriately introduced by Hon. F. A. Tritle, the Marshal, and made a short speech, which was followed by excellent music by the band, and other exercised in the programme in due rotation. The poem of J. T. Goodman, Esq., was read by Col. R. H. Taylor. It was patriotic and good in sentiment, and well written, but too long, and we fancied not quite up to his average in merit, yet that might have been owing to the idea that it gained nothing in the reading. The oration of Hon. C. N. Harris was fairly delivered and appreciatively applauded. The exercises closed at 3 o'clock P. M., and firemen and everybody else went about visiting and enjoying themselves as they thought best.

THE FIREWORKS

in the evening were confined to private demonstrations in that line. Rockets, fizzle-wheels and all that sort of thing were indulged in to a considerable extent in all parts of the city, and some of the private exhibitions of pyrotechnics along the side of Mount Davidson were very meritorious. Nothing serious occurred to mar the general festivities, and altogether the celebration was a gratifying success.