At the appointed time the bridges and banks were covered with anxious spectators, as the boats promptly assembled and took their appointed places in the line. On they came, down the open Sudbury and from beneath the leafy arches of the Assabet where the great hemlocks reach over to see their reflections in the black water.

Mr. J.L. Gilmore had been selected as marshal, and meeting his aids in their light wherries or birch canoes, he led off the glittering train promptly and without confusion. The new moon was fortunately obscured by a heavy cloud, and dense blackness hung over the river until the procession drew near when sky and water were lighted up with ten thousand rainbows. Many of the large boats carried lanterns of red and green hung over the bow, close to the water. All had high frames from which Chinese lanterns of many hues dangled and danced with the motion of the oars.

One graceful Whitehall boat was ornamented in truly Japanese style, as a long bamboo rod projected from stem to stern hung with lanterns of graduated sizes. One blue and white dory was adorned with twenty-seven brilliant lanterns, and was rowed by a young lady, while the owner sat at the bow and burned gold fire in a large pan. A great black and yellow dory bore a huge transparency representing the old bridge and the Liberty Bell, while a neat boat from the Hudson had a great crystal shield with appropriate device. The cedar wherry, the pride of the river, was as graceful as ever in its adornment, and the boats from the North Bridge, were perfectly gorgeous with lanterns of gelatine and paper, Roman candles and brilliant fires of many hues. The place of honor in the front was, however, allotted to a low white boat having a handsome boy in costume at the bow, and a lovely blonde from the South at the helm, with tri-colored gelatine lanterns surrounding her fair head.

Thus led, they glide solemnly under the dark bridge and turn around a sharp bend till they see in surprise the bridge between the two monuments appear in lines of colored light, as its graceful outlines have been closely decorated by lanterns of many kinds; and as the marshal's boat passes under it, a volley of rockets spring up from Honeysuckle island and fireworks of varied kinds follow until the long array of boats has countermarched through the new stone bridge, and assembled in a glittering crowd below the Minute Man which stands out from the darkness in its wondrous strength and grace, by the fitful glare of the changing light.

The spectators who crowd the high banks on each side pronounce the spectacle unsurpassed by anything they have seen, as at a little distance the boats are only distinguished by the outlines of light, and the reflections above and below seem to blend together in rainbows.


Art: Boaters: ArtToday
Fireworks Art: Rowan Studio
Shooting Star: Full Moon Graphics