New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-13
ARRIVAL OF THE GRAND DUKE.
First Day in New DISQUALIFICATION this
Morning.

|
precious freight, Grand Duke Alexis. A
consultation was held among the officers Of
the boat, and they determined to tie up at
Carrollton all that night and proceed to the
city early yesterday morning, and accord
ingly the boat landed and was made fast to
the shining shore of CarrOlltOn.
About fifteen minutes past eight yester-
day morning, his royal highness took his
station on the hurricane deck, and with a
| spyglass in his hand, announced in tones of
thunder that the son of the Gar was ready
to proceed to the Crescent City. The boat
was unfastened from its "ropey" capstans
and its head turned down toward the city
of New Orleans.
In the meantime q large crowd had
| gathered, and recognized his most august
majesty, and cheer after cheer rent the air.
to which the Duke most graciously removed
his cigar and waved his spy-glass twice
| This seemed to satisfy the Inhabitants of
that famous town, with the exception of
one, an old colored man, who "neber saw a
real Juke, and was bound to watch him out
of sight" In this we are pleased to say he
| was gratifed. The boat was soon lost in the
| dim distance, and the denizens of Carroll
| ton returned to their several avocations.
On board the steamer. from its starting
from Carrollton, the Duke appeared at ease;
calmly and quietly he smoked his Havana,
and a thought of what his reception would
be in New Orleans did not seem to bother
him. The officers accompanying retired
to their stateroOms to don more suitable
apparel and the ladies went and did like
wise.
As the boat neared the city, vast sea of
heads could be seen from off the boat, and
occasionally white handkerchief would
float out toward it, carried by the breeze
and as it approached, the murmuring of
voices and the loud cheers were waited on
the wind, and the word alexis was
plainly distinguished By those on the upper
deck. When the steamer appeared with in
few yards, the shores seemed lined with
thousands Of people. AS the steamer
passed several ships. they raised and low
cred the Russian flag, which the stea mer
acknowledged by firing cannon. The Uni
boat as she passed with broadsde, while
the jolly Jack tars cheered Justify and
loudly. The vessels and steamers which
the Howard passed were crowded with peo-
pie, who cheered and hurrahed till the boat
was lost from their view; then could be
seen the waving of caps and handkcrchiefs,
and a faint, almost indistinct sound of bells
and enthusiastic cheers.
The Grand Duke retired to the cabin,
and several gentlemen. accompanied By
ladies, promenaded the hurricane deck, ad-
miring the beautiful appearance of the
ships and the aspect of the city.
The steamer neared the wharf, which was
covered with crowd of all classes of the
community, and here aud there could be
discovered the bright breastplate of the
watchful stars under the command of Cap
tain Edgeworth The ropes were thrown out
and made fast. The crowd then gave one
rousng cheer for the Grand Duke, and
rushed for the boat, but they did not sue
ceed in attaining their desired wishes, as
the captain of the police persuaded them to
return to more congenial positions or
stands than the James Howard could pro-
duce. Tkey gently fell back into their old
positions.
The gang plank was thrown out, and his
honor the Mayor and Administrator Bon
zano walked, in digniied silence on board
the floating palace.
They were met az the head of the stairs
by Admiral Poisset and General Custar.
who received them. took them into the la
dies cabin, and usLered them into the pre-
sence of the Grand Duke. Mayor Flanders |
cleared his throat, and, in words of burning
eloquence, he said: I'VE have come, SIR, to
welcome you to our city and extend to you
it's hospitalities, and to hope that you may |
have pleasant sojourn among US. We |
have come in an informal manner, hearing |
of your we'll known dislike to public dis |
plays"
During this brilliant essay the Duke ez-
hibited his nonchalance in an extraordIna- |
~ manner He stood smoking a cigarette, |
and pulled alternately during the May |
or's address of welcome. No bright smile |
played around his countenance. His grand |
dark eyes, which the New York ladies
went in ecstacy over, and New York report
ers exhausted the English and French vo-
cabulary to find words to express their adj |
lniration of-his eyes did not sparkle as if |
it gave him any great degree of satisfaction.
but he smiled superciious smile, as if it
were nothing but what was due to one of |
his standing in society. He did not reply |
in the language Of a Shakespeare or with the |
eloquence of Cicero. He simply thanked |
them for their kind attentions, deigned to |
bow his head, and threw cloud of smoke
heavenward. This was the response this |
young scion of nobility gave to the father
of the people of New Orleans.
The party then mingled, and fraternal |
were freely exchan ged. Ad-
miral POisset addressed the Mayor in
French, which no doubt atoned for the |
speech on the part Of his lord and master.
After the usual courtesies were ex-
changed, the party promenaded the deck,
the Duke looking down in evident admira-
ton upon the huge crowd below, who
cheered whenever he came in view. He
also paid special attention to the large
amount of cotton which laid on the levee.
After viewing everything of interest the
party descended to the shore. Here they
were greeted with loud and continuous
cheers and saiutes of cannon. The ducal
party entered their carriages and attempted
to drive up Canal street, but it was almost
an impossibility to drive fast, as the crowd
' |