University of Virginia Library

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION IN SAN
DIEGO.

(Reported expressly for the San Diego Herald.)

Tuesday last, the 4th of July, being the anniversary of the
discovery of San Diego by the Hon. J. J. Warner, in 1846
as well as that of our National Independence (“long may it
wave,” &c.), was celebrated in this city with all that spirit
and patriotism for which it has ever been distinguished.

Every citizen, with the exception of those who had retired
in a state of intoxication, was aroused at 2 A. M. by the soul-stirring
and tremendous report of the Plaza Artillery, which
had been carefully loaded the previous evening with two
pounds of powder, and half a bushel of public documents
franked to this place by our late honorable representatives.
Each citizen on being awakened in this manner (if he imitated
the example of your respected reporter), reflected a
moment with admiration on our glorious institutions; with
pride on our great and increasing country, and with gratitude

on the efforts of those patriotic spirits who had thus aroused
him, and after murmuring some aspiration for their future
happiness, was about to sink again to sleep, when—Bang!
No. 2, more powder, more public documents, effectually
aroused him again, to go through the same train of thought,
murmur the same aspirations, a little warmer, perhaps, this
time, and again become sleepy in time for Bang! No. 3. In
this agreeable manner the attention was occupied, and the
mind filled with patriotic ideas until just before daylight,
when the powder unfortunately gave out, though four bushels
of public documents still remained (but they wouldn't go off),
and the firing ceased. At sunrise the National Banner would
have unfolded its “broad stripes and bright stars” to the
breeze, but for the unlucky circumstance of there being no
halliards to our flag-staff. We are gratified to learn that a
new set will probably be furnished by the Board of Trustees
before the next anniversary.

At 8 A. M. a procession was formed, and moved to the
sound of an excellent military band, consisting of a gong and
a hand-bell, across the Plaza, where it separated into two
divisions, one proceeding to the Union House, the other to
the Colorado Hotel. At each of these excellent establishments
an elegant dejeuner was served up, of the sumptuousness
of which the following bill of fare will give some faint
idea:—

BREAKFAST BILL OF FARE.

     

Coffee.	Cafe, con sucre.
Bread.	Pan.
Butter.	Mantequilla.
Fried beefsteaks.	Carne.
Hash.	No se

At 9 A. M. precisely, the San Diego Light Infantry in full
uniform, consisting of Brown's little boy in his shirt-tail,
fired a National salute with a large bunch of fire crackers.
This part of the celebration went off admirably; with the exception
of the young gentleman having set fire to his shirt-tail,
which was fortunately extinguished immediately, without
accident.

At 12 M. an oration was delivered by a gentleman, in the
Spanish language, in front of the Exchange, of which your
reporter regrets to say he has been unable to remember but
the concluding sentence, which, however, he is informed contains
many fine ideas. It was nearly as follows:

“Hoy es el dia de Santa Refugia! Hic, Los Americanos
son abajos, no vale nada! (Hic,) nada, nada, nada, (hiccup.)
Mira! hombre, dar me poco de aguadiente Caramba.”

This oration was remarkably well received, and shortly
after, the band commencing its performance, the procession
was again formed, and dividing as before, moved off to dinner.

The afternoon passed pleasantly away, in witnessing the
performances of a gentleman who had been instituting a series
of experiments to test the relative strength of various descriptions
of spirituous liquor, and who becoming excited and enthusiastic
thereby, walked round the Plaza and howled dismally.

Upon the whole, every thing passed off in the most creditable
manner, and we can safely say that never in our recollection
have we witnessed such a celebration of the glorious
anniversary of our Nation's Independence.