Morris tribune., 1883-06-02
Opening the Great Brooklyn Bridge

Opening the Great Brooklyn Bridge
New York dispatches have copious details
of the ceremonies and display attending the
formal opening of the great bridge spanning
the ca river between New York and
Brooklyn. From the towers OF the great
bridge national flags waved: and the spau
across the river was dotted with flags from
one end to the other. From early morning
crowds began to gather at the end where the
speechmaking was to take place. In
the hlrbor flags few from all ship.
ping. The war vessels Tennessee,
Vandalia, Kearsarge and Yantic lay in o
row off Governors island, flying the nation
al colors. The navy yards and all ships
al ,ng the New York and Brooklyn water
front were decked wi h bunting. In New
York business was suspended. Most ofthe
exchanges closed at noon and many bust
ness places suspended work for the alter
noon. Flags flew from the municipal and
other buildings in the City Hall park, from
business places along Broadway and other
streets, and from many private residences.
Houses along the route Of the procession
were decked with colors.
The Seventh regiment, n. G. S. N. Y,
Col. Emmons Clark commanding, detailed
as q MILITARY CSCuIG AOI bhO OOSdol0u, MS
sembled at tn g armory in full uniform. A
guard of twenty was detailed to march on
either side of the presidents carriage. The
command marched down Park and Fifth
Avenues to the Fifth Avenue hotel, the
presidents quarters; where it was drawn up.
The sidewalks along the roIte were lined
with people. On Madison square it was es-
timated 10, 600 people were gathered.
The president and guests occupied car
riages which were drawn up in line on the
south side ofthe hotel. In the first carriage
sat President Arthur and Mayor Edison, and
in the other carriages, Secretaries FEELING
huyseH and Folger, Postmaster General
Gresham, Secretary Chandler, Attorney
marched down Fifth Avenue to the City
Hall park, where members of the common
council received the president and cabinet.
The entire line of the procession to the city
hall was q continuous ovation to President
A thur and the distinguish men in his train.
Continuing in their route to the bridge two
bv two, preceded by the military, the dis
tinguished party moved slowly over the
bridge, Maj. Jewell seeing that they did not
keep step.
On account of the goat crowd, much
difficulty was experienced by the mayors
and officials in obtaining passage way to
Iu6 pldGIOTI1' ~ thC vi q pay
er by Bishop Littlejohn, ]. S. F. Stranahan,
who presided, successfully introduced the
acting presidents of the board of trustees,
who formally presented the bridge to the
people of New York and Brooklyn, through
their respective mayors, and each made g
speech of acceptance. Congressman Hewitt
also made an address and Rev. DR.. Storrs
delivered an oration.- Levy gave, on his
cornet, The Star Spangled Banner, Hail
Columbia and Yankee Doodle. After the
closing exercises on the bridge the presi
dent and party drove to the house of Chief
Engineer Roebling in Brooklyn and paic
their respects to the great, but enfeebled en-
gineer.
After dinner the president, governors and
mayors were driven to the river, and STEP
ping aboard boat in waitin :, steamed out
into midstream, whence they obta ined de-
lightful view of the bridge and the towers
illuminated BY the tall lamps of the United
States Electric Light company. The fPec,
tacle attracted seemingly even more aten
ton than the day display. The exhibition
of fireworks from to o'clock was line.
During the period Of the Illumination OF
the bridge East river was crowded with
every species of craft making necessary the
stoppage of ferry boats and making terri
bic crush of people when traffic and travel
was resumed. The people of both cities
with tens of thousands from abroad made q
holiidayf ths ad.ir anl seemed to enjoy
1t very much.