Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-09

Throughout the length of Columbia
Heights, and the streets opening into that
fashionable neighborhood, the decoration
was very general, and the effect handsome.
The houses of Colonel Roebling, Chief Eli
gineer of the bridge, and of Mayor Low, of
Brooklyn, were decked with flowers and
bunting, and the coats-of-arms of New
York and Brooklyn.
From the towers of the great bridge the
National flag waved, and the p across
the river wa dotted with flags from one end
to the other.
The Seventh Regiment, n. G., State of
New York, Colonel Emmons Clark COM
manding, detailed as the military escort for
the occasion; assembled at the armory in
full uniform. A guard of twenty were de-
tailed to march on either side the Presi-
dents carriage. The command marched
down Park and Fifth avenues to the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, the Presidents quarters,
where it was drawn W.
The sidewalks along the route were lined
with people. On Madison Square it was es-
timated that 10000 people were gathered.
The President and invited guests occupied
line on the south side of the hotel. In the
first carriage sat President Arthur and
Mayor Edison. In the other carriages were
Secretaries F~relinghuysen and Folger,
Postmaster-Genera Gresham, Secre-
tary Chandler, Attorney : General
Brewster, Marshal McMiclael, of the Dis
trict of Columbia; Allen Arthur, T. j.
Phillips, Surrogate Rollins, Governor Cleve-
land, Governor Ludlow, of New Jersey;
Governor Fairbanks, of Vermont; Generals
Stryker and Slocum; Governor Littlefeld,
OF Rhode Island, and staff; General Carr
and staff, Collector Robertson, Congressman
Cox, Hon. William Window and Speaker
Keiferr State Senators and the Peruvian
Minister.
The committee representing the Brooklyn
Bridge Trustees escorted the President and
Cabinet to their carriages, other guests fall
ing into line and taking the carriages as
Signed them. When tlre carriages passed
the Seventh Regiment the command pre-
sented arms. The military then broke into
column and marched down Fifth avenue
and Broadway to the City Hall Park, where
the members of the Common Council re-
ceived the President and Cabinet.
When the City Hall was reached the col
umn halted, and those in the carriages took
their places i'll the line on foot. The march
over the bridge was a pretty sight as viewed
from the roof of a %neighboring building.
The long line of soldiers III white and gold,
with their guns flashing in the sunlight and
the surging crowdo of citizens, seemed to APP
proach the New York tower very. slowly.
Contrasted with the size OF the bridge, the
multitudes upon it appeared almost insig-
niticent. From below the procession which
moved over the footway could scarcely be
seen at all.
In Brooklyn the parade was equally sue
cessful. In the column which started from
the City Hall were the Twenty-third Regi-
ment, National Guard, Mayor Low and the
officials Of the city Government; also tile
Society of Old Brooklynites; Maju-General
Hancock, commanding the military division
of the Atlantic, and his staff; Commodore
Upshur, commanding the naval station of
the port of New York, and his staff: Of
iicers of the United States army and
navy; the Brigadier-Generals of the Sec
ond Division, and tlseir staffs; and
prominent guests who had received
invitations to attend the opening ceremonies.
All were under the command of General
James Jourdan, the Grand Marshal of the
day. The column marched through Remsen
and Clinton streets, and over the bridge to
the New York Tower, where the President
was received and escorted to the BROOKLYN
station, where the formal opening cere-
monies took place.
When the two columns met on the bridge
National Salutes were fired from Forts
Columbus and Greene and the men-of-war.
The chimes of Trinity and the bells of St.
Paul and many other churches pealed out.
and The steam vessels in the harbor blew
their whistles.
A temporary flooring had been laid over
that portion OF the structure which will
serve as a roadway for arriving and depart
ing trains. TO this part of the building the
Dnlk OF the spectators were consigned, the
chairs on the north being reserved for Brook
Ign, and those on the opposite for the gen
tlemen crossing the bridge with the chief
dignitaries OF the day.
1t was half an hour after the time fsur-
Ing on the programme when the real bust
ness OF the hour began. Mr.. j. S. r. Stran-
atan presided over the exercises, which
were opened with music by the Twenty
third Regiment Band, and prayer by Bishop
Littlejohn. Then followed President w. q.
kmgslcy's presentation address, and the ac-
ceptance addresses by the Mayors of Brook
Ign and New York. Levy played a cornct
solo, and Abram s.. Hewitt came .after him
with a long Grafton, OF a historical charac-
ter.
Rev. DR.. Storrs made an eloquent
Grafton, and then the exercises came to a
close. The two cities had been duly and
formally welded, and the arial Highway
declared open to travel.
La the evening the entire population of