Fireworks, Music, Collation, Speeches, &c, &c.

 

After several unsuccessful attempts the town of Tisbury is divided. As announced in last week's Gazette the bill to incorporate the third reading in the Senate on Tuesday, 26th ult., and the next morning, on motion of Senator Butler, the rules were suspended and the bill engrossed and sent to the House for concurrence, which was done, the Governor signing the bill Thursday, 28th.

 

On Saturday evening, as a result of the above, a great demonstration was held at West Tisbury, and many were the “Hurrahs for our side!” “We won!” “Butler did it!” etc. Nearly all of the dwelling houses and the trading emporiums were brilliantly illuminated. Sky-rockets, Roman candles, etc., were in abundance on Wilton Terrace. The hanging of the Senator from the Cape (not Horn) in effigy, to a telephone pole near Post office square, was very amusing and gratifying to the crowd.

 

At about 8 p.m. a procession of over one hundred people formed near Geo. G. Gifford's store, and headed by a fife and drum corps, R. G. Shute, of Edgartown, leader, with torchlights and fish-horns, marched through the principal streets, and at about 9 o'clock proceeded to Agricultural Hall, where a bountiful repast had been prepared by the ladies, who had neatly and abundantly provided four large tables (three on main floor and one on platform) with a delicious collation.

 

The following named prominent citizens and invited guests occupied seats at the table on the platform: Prof. H. L. Whiting, Representative Mayhew, Allen Look, William J. Rotch, David Mayhew, Sanderson Mayhew, James F. Cleveland, Everett Allen Davis, D. William Mayhew, William B. Mayhew, Horatio Norton, William Chase, Walter Cottle, Herman Strater.

 

A little after 9 o'clock Prof. H. L. Whiting called the large audience to order, which completely filled the hall and must have numbered fully three hundred, and announced that he had been requested to preside at the meeting, and invited all to partake of the feast. After giving ample time to satisfy the inner man, he again called the meeting to order, and in a short speech, among other things, impressed upon his hearers the need of having good roads in the new town. He then called on Representative Mayhew, as the man who was chiefly instrumental in bringing about the division. Mr. Mayhew responded in a very pleasing and interesting speech, in which he spoke of the valuable services rendered by Senator Butler in behalf of the bill, and congratulated the audience on the successful ending of such a hard-fought battle.

 

The chairman next introduced Mr. Allen Look, whose energetic ability as chairman of the committee organized to represent the divisionists at the Legislature, had been of great assistance towards bringing this matter to a successful end. Mr. Look begged to be excused, as his efforts before the committee on towns had about exhausted his speech-making abilities.

 

Mr. Horatio Norton was next introduced, and in a short speech forcibly presented to his hearers the need of carefulness and wisdom in the organization of the new town.

 

Mr. Herman Strater, of Boston, next made a few congratulatory remarks.

 

Prof. Whiting then called on an ex-representative from Dukes County – E. A. Davis, Esq., who, with his usual eloquence, spoke of the slight debt of the new town, its freedom from pauperism and mortgaged property, as being without a parallel in the Commonwealth, and appealed to the citizens to cease all hostilities and march down to the border line with open arms and carrying olive branches. Mr. Davis also spoke of the able management of the bill by Representative Mayhew and Allen Look, Esq. The chairman then arose and showed the letter (framed) that Governor Russell wrote to Representative Mayhew when he sent him the pen with which he signed the division bill. The letter is as follows:

 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Executive Department,

Boston, April 28, 1892

 

Ulysses E. Mayhew,

House of Representatives, Boston.

 

My Dear Sir:-

 

With pleasure I send you herewith, as requested by you, the pen with which I signed the bill entitled, “An act to incorporate the town of West Tisbury.”

 

Very truly yours,

 

Wm. E. Russell.

 

After extending a general invitation to all for any remarks, Prof. Whiting closed the meeting, as formality was concerned, with the following words: “God bless us, and save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”