Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-10-25
LANDING DAY,


PalLADELPnlAy GRAND PAGEANT.
OPsaipg OF the Bi-Conteanial Fsssivi.fes
with . Representation Of the Found-
or's AFrival-A Magnificent Scene.
The celebration of the two hundredth
anniversary of the founding Of the oom.
monwealth of Pennsylvania was duly in.
augurated in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, by
the grandest naval display which has
ever plowed the Delaware by one of the
longest and most varied professions which
has ever trailed through tho city; by the
most brilliant show of fireworks which has
ever traced lines of light athwart her sky,
and by popular greeting to revive his.
tory and present contrast which has never
been equailed in numbers, order, enthusi.
asm and sustained interest. From sunrise
to midnight the day was one long but
ever-striking series of novel beauties and
clamorous response. A million people
lined the rivers side or Aoated on its sur
face to greet the good ship Of happy name,
the Welcome, which, sailing out of two
eventful centuries of growth and achieve
ment, bore a supposititious Penn back to
his own. Where wilderness had
frowned great city beamed in bunt-
ing, and was gay with flag
Penn never saw; where forests had waved
black clusters of citizens clung to piers,
bulkheads and river boats; where the
canoe had stealthily glided, its savage
owner watching with furtive eyes the ar
irving proprietary, a nations men-of-war
thundered sulphurous salutes, and the
commercial transport of a metropolis cut
the water with swifter keels than PENIS
dreams could ever have imagined. Once
on shore, the hypothetical founder was
escorted through more than half million
people, who were stretched out in two
lines five miles long, and who were burst
ing from windows and balconies, stages
and seats. The march was such q tri-
umphal pageant as no ancient city, though
imperial mistress of q world, could ever
have seen. The nation, tho state, the city
and the nationalties which have been
blended into cosmopolitan unity,
and which have transformed COL
Ony into commonwealth, were
all represented, and all sent their impos-
ing tribute of honor and congratulation.
The labor whic!. has wrought that change
which was the real inspiration of the day
ceased and the oity's heart beat not
with the regular stroke of its normal life,
but quickened its pulse in an interval of
mingled retrospection, pride in the pres
ent and glowing hope for the future.
Perhaps tho rabble did not know the phil
osophy of their joy but there was excuse
enough in the gala decorations, the dense
life of the streets, the bright color of the
parade and the quickening impulse of un-
ceasing strains of music, for all the eager
demonstration a crowd can make. A Just
record of the day, after saying these good
words, must criticise the landing ceremo-
MES as lacking in dignity and the process
sion as too thin and struggling, losing the
imposing effect which heavier masses
would have given.
Tho River Pageant.
The days ceremonies began on the Della
ware river with the reception by the North
Atlantic squadron of the ship Welcome,
bearing Penn and his companions from be
y0nd the sea and with its escort by a naval
procession to the landing place. Penn's
ship, high-poOped and rigged after the
naval models of his time, bearing in gilt
letters on the stern the legend, "Welcome
of London" manned by picturesQueiy.
clad Norwegian sailors, her quarter deck
crowded with gray -clad Quakers pointing
eagerly to the shores of new land,
forged up the stream from League Island,
passed five United States men OF. war, from
whose huge black hul.s, looming above the
silveryshecn of the river, !urid flashes, white
smOke-clouds and crashing reports hailed
greeting to the historic conner; this on tho
Jersey side. On the other were miles of
piers black with people, and back of them
acres Of roofs and brick walls, all aflame
with flags. streaming their folds in 4 wind
just stiff enough to display we'll heir
colOrs. Behind the Welcome there steamed
up the river ten dozen tugs, all decorated
with bunting and flags, and meeting this
procession On natures highway were ex
cursions and passenger boats of every size,
crammed with expectators to sometimes
dangerous degree, but all enjoying to the
full the gala scene upon the water. Amid
the boom of cannon which punotuated a
Shrieking strain of whistles from tugs on
the river, aud from factories and lOcOmo-
tives along the shore, the feet sailed past
the city as far as ShackamaxOn street, and
then doubling upon itself followed the
Welcome to the foot of Dock street. Slowly
the bulky craft was hauled to the wharf,
and as it touched the edge Of Pennsylvania
the bells and chimes from every church in
thl city pealed their recognition of the
founder of state Of spiritual freedom.
The scene which followed was ons of
the most remarkable of the day. The
middle of spacious Dock street, from the
wharf to the Blue Anchor inn, which first
sheltered the real Penn, had been lined by
a rope, and though hemmed about BY
thousands, offered a free passage for the
procession Of Quakers, Dutch, Swedes and
Indians which was to escort the persOnatOr
of Penn to the historic hOstelrie. This
wide vacancy, in such open contrast to
the derse mass of people which sur
rounded it for time was a rare example
of the self-restraint of an American
crowd. Only a frail rope, with a tlue-
coated officer here and there, kept back
the packed multitude. But this was not
for long. The shrieks of whistles, the
sharp report of the Welcomes little can
non and the applause of favored few on
the pier told the crowd of Psnn's arri-
val.
The Debarkation.
A handful of Norwegian sailors in but
ternut clothes were bobbing about aft,
firing blank cartridges from a small gun,
right in the faces of the people. Just as
the Welcome touched the heavy timbers
of the wharf all hands went forward and
faced camera which was leveled at them
from the top "f the Pennsylvania freight
house.
This performance over, a ladder was
placed against the ships side and debark-
alton began. First came Penn, assisted
down the improvlsed stairway-none too
gracefully--by Captain Mckinley.
President Knight, of the Bi-Centen-
nial association, and Manager Colesberry
were the first to grasp the hand of the