From the Weekly Times, August 7 1884 :
“The
colored citizens, as they deserved, have been favoured with splendid weather
for their annual demonstration, on the occasion of the fifty-first anniversary
of the emancipation of the slaves in the British Empire.
“Early
in the morning, the brethren were astir to make arrangements for those coming
from a distance. Mount Brydges Lodge, No. 1, 855, G.U.O.O.F., under whose
auspices the demonstration was held, appointed a reception committee to meet
the various trains as they arrived in the city, and escort the delegates to the
lodge room.
“The
procession started from the Gore shortly after 11 o’clock , proceeding up James
to Hunter and down John and around to King, and along King on the way to the
Palace
“After
the procession reached the grounds, the company scattered and passed away the
time in various ways until the games, baseball and speechifying began.
“The
celebration of Emancipation Day yesterday was an unqualified success. The day
was, so far as the weather was concerned, most delightful, and the colored
people appeared to enter most heartily into the spirit of the occasion. Everyone
commented on the orderly and respectful appearance they presented, and it is
questionable if there is any other order in the city who could have honored their
anniversary in a more creditable manner. The games were carried out in
first-class style, and the baseball match between the Victorias and the
Dauntless was very interesting, although the latter had very little practice,
their play was very good. Within the Palace, a platform was erected on the west
end.
In the Evening
“The
procession, headed by the Union Coronet Band, at 7:30 left the Gore for the
Palace, which was brilliantly illuminated with gas. After some time had been
spent promenading and listening to the music of the band, a grand review and
drill of the members of Mount Brydges Lodge of Oddfellows and of the members of
the House of Ruth. Few were aware of the ladies following so closely on their
heels. To the music of the band, they marched and countermarched in double and
single file, and went through the various maneuvers most creditably.
“Dancing
to the music of Vint’s string band was ten commenced. That everything was
carried out with proper decorum and in first-rate style, it is only necessary
to say that Prof. Jesse Gant, the renowned disciple of Terpsichore along with
others have much reason to congratulate themselves upon the splendid and
orderly manner in which everything passed off. The Times congratulates them and
the whole of the colored population upon the grand success of their celebration
Notes
“Quite
a number of whites took part in the dancing at the Palace.
“George
Wright, the oratorical wood-sawyer, harangued the crowd several times during
the afternoon. He was standing in a buggy and occasionally, as he was
particularly warming up to his subject, some mischief lovers at the horse’s
head would make the animal step up, and George invariably stood upon his head
for a second or two on the seat. It was great fun – at least many of the
spectators thought so. Wright is the colored man who has been soliciting orders
for wood-sawing in our streets lately.
“There
as not a drop of beer or intoxicating drink sold on the ground. Nobody under
the influence of liquor was seen at the picnic.”
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