The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-10-25
CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY
OF the Disbanding Of WaSbinctOn's
| Army.

NEwBURGH, n. V, Oct. 1S.-This
is one OF the loveliest autumn days,
during the preparation for the centrn-
NAL celebration of Washington'S dis
banding and taking leave of his vic
torious army. All questions about
possible rain were met with the ans
Wer that for the past ten years the
18th of October had been clear and
bright. Great crowds of people ar
rived by boats and trains last night
and thronged the downtown streets.
Many could not find lodgings, so
crowded were the hotels and dwell
liDgS of tho city and towns round
about. Torchlight professions. fire
mems display, fireworks and much en-
thusiasm were the preparations last
night for to-day. The place i lllum-
mated with electric lights. All along
the river front are large number OF
vessels, including yachts, steamboats,,
and United States war SioopS, riding
at anchor, made Il picturesque scene.
Brass bands and the fife and drum
seemed not to be still during the
night. Mayor Ward held a reception
in honor Of the distinguished guests
at sunrise to-day. Five navy vessels
fired salutes and were responded to
from the shore by cannon planted ut
Washington headquarters and else
Whtre on both sides Of the river. and
by the ringing of ali church bells.
Immense throngs OF people gathered
on the streets. One train on the West
Shore railroad arrived in four sec
tionS, with 1900 passengers. One Erie
train with two engines had nineteen
cars packed with people and the plat
forms also crowded. New y DIRK Cen
trail and local roads are also pouring
into town masses of people. Farmers
families are coming in in all sorts OF
vehicles, aud farm hands are trudging
along afoot. The lawn at Washing
ton Headquarters was thrOnged long
before the hour for the beginning of
the exercises. Two hundred New
! ork city policemen and the local
force are preserving order, AMI flags
float everywhere. There were not less
| than $4,000 strangers in town at noon.
and q score of steamboats, arrived,
bringing in military excursion parties.
The Seventeen regiment of Now
Y DIRK, with veteran corps, arrived by
special train; the TWenty-third and
Thirteenth Brooklyn regiments ar
rived on the steamboats, Grand Re-
public and Columbia. Owing to the
| late arrival Of the state troops, the
parade was not even forming at the
time appointed for marching. Trains
on the North Hudson River road are
delayed by the breaking down
of the engine of way
train with nineteen crowded
coaches. The Putnam Phalanx is a
notable body. The phalanx looks as
if band of "Old Puts" soldiers had
come again upon earth, with their
uniform step and tactics of the revolu-
tionary days. Although at II m. there
was no appearance of a parade, the
scene around the receiving stand was
inspiring. Spectators crowded every
| vantage spot, and enthusiastically
| cheered the various organizations.
Governor Cleveland and staff ar
rived from Albany on the West Shore
train at 1890, which had eighteen
coaches crowded with passengers,
President Arthur sent letter of re-
greet. ConkliDg was also invited, but
could not come. The procession
started at 1915 p. H., an hour
later than was expected. The Cover
nors and their stats, generals and
stats, marines and sailors and favor
tie troops of the state made an impos-
ing display, while joined with these
were visiting troops, veterans, civic
societies, etc, which made recession
four miles long. 1t marched along in
five divisions. Five bands Of music
were in line.
The line of march was crowded with
people. who applauded enthusiastic IL
ly, and the windows and steps Cf rY-
cry house were filled with ladies. who
clapped their hands or waived their
handkerchiefs as the troops marched
past. A few minutes before l Gov.
Cleveland and staff, Gov. Brown, of
Rhode Island. and staff; Senator Iiaw-
ley, of Connecticut, and other invited
dignitaries took seats on the platform
and one division of the procession,
headed by police of New York, came
in sight