Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1882 — WILLIAM PENN. [ARTICLE]

WILLIAM PENN.

Celebration of the Bi-Centennlal of His Landing in Pennsylvania. The Festivities Witnessed by Immense Throngs of People. The bf-centennial of the landing of William Penn in Pennsylvania.was celebrated by the people of Philadelphia in an imposing manner, the festivities running through nearly an entire week, and being witnessed by hundreds of thousands of strangers from abroad. The ceremonies opened at Chester, a suburb of the Quaker City, on Bunday. Oct 22, when the Society of Quakers assembled in large numbers. A letter from John G. Whittier was read, inclosing a poem which he wrote sixty years ago. Addresses were delivered by A fred H. Lane, President of the Pennsylvania Peace Society, and John M. Broomall, of Medina, Ohio. On Monday, at 2:30 there was a representation, at Chester, of the landing of William Penn and his party, which was witnessed by 2 O.OCO people. The landing was made at the exact spot where, 200 years before, the great Quaker first nut his foot upon American soil Thousands of human throats, numerous church bells, and an aggregation of steam whistles, greeted his advent, and the enthusiasm was unbounded. Later a monster meeting was held, at which 2,i 00 children sang “My Country. ’Tis of Thee,” and speeches were delivered by Gov. Hoyt and John M Broomall, who sketched Penn’s career in a masterly hand. A great parade in the afternoon and a brilliant display of fireworks in the evening brought the day’s celebration to a close. On J'uesday, the 24th, the festivities opened in Philadelphia, and lasted until Friday evening. First came the landing or Penn, which was witnessed by a vast thr< ng es imated at over 500,000 people. A dispatch from that city says: “As early as midnight last nignt people began to take available space in the neighborhood, and hundreds remained out all night so as to be on hand. This morning when the sun broke through the rain-threatening clouds the streets were blocked for several squares. So dense was the throng that men and women were trampled on and nearly crushed to death, and a dozen or more people were pushed off the dock, in the Delaware and got a thorough ducking. All of them were re cued, however. While the dense mass awaited the landing the river presented a beautiful appearance. Every ship for miles along the river front was deckod out in holiday attire. Tugs and steamers darted about, loaded down to the water’s edge. They met the Welcome several miles below the city, and the procession of tugs and steamers up to the wharf made a striking and pretty picture. As the procession came in sight the United States men-of-war belched forth a welcome, and scores of whistles added to the clamor. The Welcome drew up to the wharf, and Penn and his party of Dutch and Quakers, in ancient costumes, stepped ashore. They shook hands with more Dutch and Quakers and then the little procession fought us way through the crowd to the historical Blue Anchor Inn, and was subsequently escorted to Broad street and given a place in the great procession which started at 11:30 and held the streets for nearly five hours. The procession moved from Broad to Chestnut, to Third, up Third to Market out Market to Broad and out Broad to Columbia avenue, where it wa- dismis-ed. Never was such a scene witnessed. For five hours hon e cars were blocked, and all streets except those along the line of march were deserted. The column moved along Chestnut between two high walls of bunting and gay flags, while windows and roof-tops and stagings were filb'd Thousands of people poured into the city from all over the State, and all along the route they were packed 1 ke sardines in a box. It is estimated t at 500,000 people from outside the city limits witnessed the parade, in which 25,000 men took part Today was the civic parade, and, with the exception of the marines, no troops took part. Ihe police and firemen and letter-carriers weie followed by officials in carriages, 3,5 0 members of the Improved Order of lied Men, hosts of firemen from other c ties, with their machines, 1,2u0 butchers, mounted and in wagons, and the Total Abstinence and other societies. The head of the process on was dismissed long before the tail end had begun to move. It was a sight worth witnessing.” In the evening there were fireworks and pyrotechnic displays of a brilliant character. On Wednesday, the 25th, there was a disp'ay of the tra'des of Philadelphia and surrounding cities—all the largest machine shops, sac: cries, etc., accompanied by wagons, on which was exemplified the workings of the various trades. Thursday, the 26bh, witnes ed a musical repr- j sentat on of the Welsh singers in West Philadelphia. The German singers and fraternities of various nation dities appeared with appropriate emblems. The Knights Templar turned out 10,000 strong. In the as ternoon the school children to the number of 3,000 to 4,< 00 appeared. Friday, tile 27th, was marked by a grand army and navy parade with the iational Guard of Psmisylvan.aandNew Jersey, and vis. ting troops irom the neighboring States to the number of 12,000 men.