St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-06-01

THE CEREMONIES ATTENDING THE OPEN
ING.-A GRAND CELEBRATION.

The Brooklyn bridge was opened
Thursday, May "a, with imposing GER
emonies. President Arthur. Governor
| Cleveland and other distinguished per
sons were present. There was grand
military parade and display of fire
works in the evening. Most of the
buildings in New York city and Brook
lyn were decorated. At ! 30 p. m. the
procession, escorted by the Seventh
regiment, with their band of ninety
two pieces, entered the New York ap-
prOach of the bridge amid cheers from
the thousands lining the way. The
president and Mayor Edison occupied
the first carriage, which was followed
by carriages containing Secretaries
FrelinghuySen, Folger, Chandler, Post
master-ge general Brewster, Governor
Cleveland, Governor Ludlow of New
Jersey, Ex-Governor Fairbanks of Yer
mont, Governor Littletield of Rhode
Island and others. The procession
moved slowly and it was late before
they reached the New York pier and
walked out on the planking of the main
span. Orders were then given to break
ranks so us not to vibrate the bridge
W ltll lhN SA'flNlN lldtill [AS lllCN Is
sued out from under the New York pier
il heavy salute was fired from the man
of-war anchored in the river below the
bridge. The signal was replied to from
the forts in the harbOr. The excite
ment of the pOpulace was intense, and
a storm of cheers was kept up until af-
ter the salute on the Brooklyn side was
fired on the arrival of the presidents
party at the tower on that side. The
second cannOnade announcing the ar
rival of the distinguished party at the
Brooklyn tower still further intensified
the ardor of the immense multitude.
Arriving at the Brooklyn side of the
bridge Mayor Low formally received
the party and, escorted by the Odd reg
iment, walked with them to the station
building of the Brooklyn terminus.
Shortly after the president, governor,
cabinet and staff and other officials
| from New York reached the platform
at the station the ceremonies were
commenced, the assemblage being
called to order by Trustee j. S. T..
Stranahan, who presided. He made a
few appropriate remarks, welcoming
the president and all those who had
been invited to join with them in this
memorable celebration prayer was
then offered by the Right Rev. Bishop
Littleiohn, after which the bridge was
formally presented to the two cities by
Mr.. w. c. kinsley, acting president of
the board of trustees. Mayors Edison
and Low in accepting the completed
bridge on behalf of Brooklyn and New
York delivered an appropriate address,
4 colo I,,- I
Abram ). Hewitt delivered an Grafton
He was followed by Rev. Richard 5.
StOrrs, ID. ID. After the ceremonies the
presidential party proceeded to the
residence of Mayor Low, where dinner
was served.
Before reaching the mayors resi-
dence the presidential party drove to
the house of Chief Engineer Roebling
and paid their respects to him. A
stream of prominent men then proceed
ed into the house among whom were Of
ticers of the army and navy, clergy and
distinguished visitors from abroad.
The presidential party in the evening
viewed the fireworks from a boat in the
river and afterwards went to the Acad-
envy of Music. The streets of Brooklyn
were Illuminated and packed with
people. So dense was the throng that
traffic was impeded and cars had to be
stopped or travelled very slowly.
While the fireworks were being set off
the scene in the harbOr was grand.
Countless boats and crafts of every
kind tastefully lighted up with colOred
lights thronged the river. Among the
vessels in sight of the bridge the fleet
OF four war slOOps, the Tennessee, Van
dalla and kearsage, together with the