Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-05-25
The Grand Opening a Gala Day
In New York and Brooklyn.
Distinguished Guests in the Pro-
cessi0n.
The Bridge Presented to the two
Cities-Oraii0n by Hon.
A. s. HeWett.
NEW YORK, May "a

general surrender of business to sight seeing
and celebrating one wav or another. The
streets are decked with flags and bunting and
flowers Public buildings, private honses.
street ears, wagons and trucks hv eolors II
all nations in honor f the opening OF the
bridge VeBder- of bridge souvenirs were
about and found ready sale for their wares.
The decoration of the Academy of Music oc-
cupied the attention of small army OF men
and is being prepared for the reception to-
night All about Columbia heights and
streets opening into that fasinnatie neigh
bnrhood decorations are very general and the
effect handsome. The houses of Col. Roe
bling, chief engineer of the bridge. and Mayor
Low of Brooklyn, are decorated with flowers
and bunting and the arms of New York and
BROOKLYN.
Col. Roebling, the invalid engineer. will
receive the President and mayor, and in the
evening for brief hour, the public. The
colonel is feeling better today, but is too
weak to leave the house, and share in the
ceremonies of the bridge.
From the towers of the bridge the national
flags wave and the span across the river is
dotted with flags from one end to the other.
From early in the morning crowds began TO
gather at the end where the speech making
was TO take place. In the harbor flags flew
from all the shipping. Four war vessels lie
in row of Governors Island, flying the
national colors. The navy yard, and all the
ships along New York and Brooklyn water
front are decked with bunting.
In New York. also, busint SIS is fairly suS-
pended TODAY. Most of the down town ex
changes closed at noon. and many business
places suspended work for the afternoon.
Flags flew from the municipal and other
buildings in the city. Decorations were gen
eral
Crowds began to gather early, aud awaited
with great patience the arrival of the process
sion and the beginning of the ceremonies.
Nearly all vehicles except street cars, were
prevented from passing below the streets
near the bridge from an early morning hour.
and at noon the street cars were stopped.
The 9TH regiment, detailed as military
escort. marched to the Fifth Avenue Hotel
the Preside nt's quarters, where it was drawn
up. The 81 ,ewalks along the route were
lined with people. On Madison Square, it
was estimated that there were 10000 people
gathered. The President and invited guests
occupied carriages.
In the first carriage sat President Arthur
and Mayor Edison. In the other carriages
were Secretaries Frelinghuvsen and Folger,
Postmaster General Gresham, Secretary
Chandler Attorney General Brewster, Marsh
| al McMichael of the District OF Columbia.
L. J. Phillips, Surrogate Rollins, Gov Cl-ve
land, Gov. Ludlow. Gov. Fairbanks of Yer
| mont, Gov. Liiilefield of Rhode Isiand tile
staff Of Gov. Cleveland, Gen. Carr and staff.
Congressman Cox, Hon. VIM. Windham and
| Speaker Krifer; the State senators and Peru
Wan minister and other guests fell into line,
taking the carriages assigned them.
When the carriages passed the seventh
regiment the command saluted the military.
and marched to the City Hall Park, where
the members of the common council received
| the President,
The President and Cabinet and other gen
tlemen riding in the procession alighted from
their carriages at the City Hall and joined BY
the heads of the departments of the city,
marched from the city hall park to the bridge,
| President Arthur walking arm in arm with
| the mayor. The procession of Brooklyn
officials and trustees, headed by the 23d regi
ment, left City Hall at half past twelve, AMI
arrived at one O'Clock at Sands street station.
! rhe regiments passed up on the anchorage
where it took up a position. Mrs. Roebling.
wife of the invalid chief engineer. and her
| party. arrived a!terward in 25 carriages, and
at lsslf past one O'Clock Bishop Litlejohn and
| his assistant in their robes of office also ar
rived. A way made for them with great
| difficulty through the crowd that had already
| flied every too, of space in the station. A
| salute, announcing the Presidents arrival at
the New York tower was fired bv war vessels
| in the harhor and the fort on Governors L.
| land At2 Is =. NJ. the wards of the men-uf
war were manned. Fifteen minutes later
canonading from Fort Green and Williams
burg announced the arrival of the procession
at the Brooklyn tower, where Mayor Low
received it.
| The President and his cabinet was met on
the bridge by tine 23rd regiment of Brooklyn
and escorted to the place set apart for them.
On the platform were seated Bishop Little
john and Rev. George II. Wand, rwater in
their clerical robes, Gen. Christisncy and
staff of the second division. ex Mayors How
ell. Schroeder. Booth, Hunter and Lambert.
members of BROOKLYN common council and
/ United States navel officers of the first aud
/ fifth artillery. The proceedings were opened
BY Mrs. J. Il. Stranhan, introducing Right
Rev. Bishop Liltl John, who, assisted by
| Rev. Mr.. Vanderwater, read the collets of
| the Episcopal service and offered up prayer
| Hon. Abram 5. Heweti delivered an ora
ton, followed by Rev. Richard 5. Storrs. D.
| ID. At the close of the ceremonies, the Pres
ident. governor and few invited guests
under the escort of the I'D regiment, passed
| from the station across Fulton street to the
residence OF Mayor Low, where dinner plates
were laid for eighteen.
| The regular exercises at Brooklyn began
with music bv the band. after which Bishop
Liiil.jphn offered prayer.
Then VIM. C. Kingsley arose. and in be-
half of the trustees, delivered the presenta.
ton address. Mayor Low of BROOKLYN sc-
cepted the bridge on the part of the city 10 a
iew happy remarks.
Al the conclusion of Lows address Mayor
Edison of New York. in a brief speech accept
ed the bridge in behalf.ot the city.
| After dinner the Presidential party viewed
| the fireworks from boat in the river and af-
forwards went to the Academy of Music.
| The streets in Brooklyn were illuminated
with Chinese lanterns and were packed with
people. So dense was the throng that traffic
was impeded and the cars had to be stopped
or travelled very slowly. While the FIRE
works were being set off the scene in the
harbor was very grand. Countless boats and
crafts of every kind, tastefullv lit up with
| colored lights thronged the river. Aiterward
the large span of the bridge was lighted by
| electricity. radiant arch against a dark
background attracted as much attention as
the previous display. The display of fire.
works lasted for about an hour and as very
beautiful.
President Arthur and Gov. Cleveland. at
tended by Mayors Low and Edison, Secrttav