The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-03-05
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Launch OF Niasara-Hsr .pimessaons--The Pacific
wssAins,eas S,irsAday ~ ilisssssrias--yew Gsen-
ada Canals.
NKw YoRK, Feb. 90, 1886.
The steam friea,e Niagara was launched
q, the Brooklyn Navy Yard, on Saturday,
before an immense concourse of people.
The monster glided easily and gracefully,
amid the roar of cannon and the acclama.
tons of the multitude, into the liquid eie.
meat. About seventy five persons were on
her deck when she first settled into the
water, one Of whom, in the crowd. broke
bottle upon her prov and, amid the din of
i've thousand voices, christened her "Niag-
ara" This vessel is the third of six steam
irigstes ordered TO be constructed by the
las, Congress--the Roanoke" and "Merri-
mac. having been already launched. The
Niagara is the only one whose construction
has been intrusted to civilian-the others
having been built under the supervision of
Government officers. She will be propelled
by a single steam propeller, but will have
four very large boilers and three engines,
She is sA5 feet in length and IS feet IN
breadth Her mainmast is Ill feet in
he ght above the deck, and SO benesth-its
entire length being SEQ feet. All her
Gssts comb ned would measure 100 test,
aaa her spars measure nearly 1000 feet
more. She is now moored al the Navy
. Yard. George Steer is her builder.
! The steamer Alabama returned from a
7 cruise IN search OF the Pacific, arrived from
! Halifax yesterday. She had visited Sable
/ Island and the coast OF Newloundla nd /;
~ss unable to proceed 10 the nosthward OF
Cape Race. on account of the imme nse
fields Of ice, in which she was "a hours.
She crossed the Grand Bank in lat. 40, and
/ eruised north on the Bank to Cape Race,
bu, wss unable to obtain any intelligence
OF the missing steamer Pacific.
The hundred and twenty fourth anniver-
ssry of Wsshington's birthday was csle-
brated yesterday with more then usual en-
/ thusissm. True. it was not legaiised
holiday, bot the people turned out dressed
I up ss if i, were. Aammon respects not
even Washington-Wall street was as
4 busy as ever, the banks received and dis
| counted 40 usual-merehants opened their
stores, but finding nothing to do they stood
in their doors all day watching the prsces.
sions-omnibuses ran a. usual Of that can
be called running which 10 an intermitten,
stop, and the carriages Of uptowndom min
gled freely with vulgpr porters' carts and
plebisn pedestrians. The people" made
the day one of enjoyment. and If We were
to Judge by appearances, the breasts of the
ladies' were filled with patriotism Qnstead Of
cotton,) for they turned out in the most
brilliant array and goodly numbers. The
gorgeous colors Of their garments would
make peacock hide his head under his
wing in despair, and the rainbow itself melt
away through sheer envy. And their eyes
how shall describe themi every look
would kill at forty rods, and each glance
draw blood at twice the distance. | afr
now convinced that women ought TO bs
made to take the place Of Shapes rifles II
Kansas. The day was the finest, mos
genial and agreeable imaginable, and the
muddiest, the slushiest and most disagree
able possible. AT an early hour the mill.
:sry companies and various societies began
to form and converge from their various
quarters to the Park. The front OF the City
Hall was coon thronged with lookers-on
and in every window and balcony OF the
Hall itself stood clusters Of persons, like
swarms of bees, apparently hanging on by
each other. Al noon, the Mayor, accom-
panied by the greater number of the Com
mon Council, made his appearance. The
Veteran Corps of 1919 passed in review
!. before them, and grand procession of tn {
various societies present marched around
the Park. After leaving the Park the pro-
cession passed up Broadway to Canal street
where il turned down Canal to Hudson, and
along tina, com paratively uninpro.ed thor.
oughisrs to Fourteenth street and the
Academy OF Music, where the Grafton OF
the day was to be delivered. Along the
whole line OF route the streets, the win
dove. the door stoops snd The balconies
(where there were any were crowded
Flags swung gracefully over the streets.
and white handkerchieis. in white hands,
waved graceful encouragement 10 those
who were doing honor 10 the occasion. -
Daniel Ulmsnn Was the orator Of the o. u
A. societies. A aIquet was given at The
As,of House by the Friends OF Civil and
Religious Liberty" A, this number OF
letters acre read from eminent men in va.
rious parts Of the country, fegre.tiag their
inability 10 attend. Among others were
Gov. Clark, Of New York, Gov. Wise, Of
Va, Gen Scott, George P. Custs and G.
w. Dall4s. Tammany Hall, too, was
sgain in all !is glory. General Quitman
/ 4. IL u 4 A