Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-11-27
A Magnificent Celebration In
New York Gotham's Day
Of Glory.
The City Crowded With People
Every Window Coveted.
A Monster Parade -Unveiling
the Washington Statue.

Monday morning, the details of the Evac1a-
ton Day celebration, were fully carried ont.
| Early in the morning trains brought in
throngs of visitors from the country to swell
the crowds already here. The streets and
windows along the line of the march Of the
procession, on Fifth Avenue and Broadway,
we're thronged with people. So dense were
the crowds that progress in any direction was
almost an impossibility. The police. Of
whom there was a large force on hand, could
do but little in keeping the throngs of people
in order, and preserving the line OF route
clear.
The entire sidew ak on the westerly side
of CITY hall park was fringed with balcony
umbrellas, four and five deep, beneath which
thousands of men, women and children stood
for hours in the drenching rain.
The various public buildings and hotels are
handsomely draped. From the British con-
sul's office few small flags were hung. The
shipping along the dock made an excellent
show and the United States ships in the river
were decked from jibbOom to tafirail. When
the rain began to fall the crowd was in NO.
wise discouraged, but maintained it position.
A heavy fog which hung over the river
from early morning and which, at first, was
very dense, prevented the water parade being
seen to advantage, but, nevertheless, vast
crowds of people gathered at tn various piers
and bulkheads, and clustered togather on the
numerous crafts which lined the river front.
The shore of Bedloes and Governors Islands
were likewise lined with sightseers. Besides
these which took part in the parade, the
river was covered with vessels of all descrip-
lions, which throughout the day moved about
from place to place.
Such has been the demand for flags Of
every description that the firms dealing in
them have had to send to Philadelphia and
other points to replenish their supplies. One
firm sold 5000 miniature flags to be used in
decorating the steamboats, which participated
in the river procession.
The proprietors of stores and offices along
Broadway have done a good business letting
seats in their windows which command q
good view of the pageant. 1t is said that
some of the hotel proprietors have received
as high as $50 for single parlor window,
and that janitors of the down town business
buildings overlooking Broadway, the Bat
terry, the sub treasury and the two rivers
have received 81 each from scores of men
for the privilege of occupying the roofs from
10 until o'clock.
All the hotels were Over-run and thous-
ands of guests were turned away.
About nine President Arthur, accompanied
by ex- President Grant and Gen. Varnum,
left Fifth Avenue Hotel for the point where
the head OF the column was being formed.
There they took their places IN the line. 1t
was nearly ten before the line was put in
notion and then the police had great diff
Guilty in clearing a passage way. After the
police came Gen. John COchrane, grand
martial, with full staff. They were accom-
panied by the first troop of the Philadelphia
city cavalry, as a corps of special aids The
first division of the line was commanded by
Brevet Brig. Gen. Richard H. Jackson Of the
9TH U. s. Artillery, and composed of U. S.
troops. acting as escort to the distinguished
guests. who followed in carriages.
In the first carriage was President Arthur,
in the second Secretary Folger, Secretary
Lincoln and Secretary Chandler, with John
Austin Stevens. The third and fourth car
riages contained Attorney General Brewster.
| Marshal of the District of Columbia, Mr.
Phillips, private secretary of the President
| and c. A. Arthur, Jr. In the other carriages
| were Gov. Cleveland and staff; Gov. Butler
and staff; Gov. Waller of Connecticut, Gov
Ludlow of New Jersey, Gov. Hale of New
Hampshire, Gov. Bourne Of Rhode Island,
Gov Robbie of Maine, Gov. Hamilton of
Maryland. After these, in carriages, officers
of the army and navy. the mayors and COM
mon councils of New York, Brooklyn, Jersry
City. Hoboken, New Haven, Newburg, Yonk-
ers, and Long Island City. Then came dele
gates from various mercantile organizations
| Of the city. representatives of New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode
| Island, Maine, Vermont, Delaware, Buffalo
and Worcester Historical Societies, and va
| rious other organizations. The second d.
vision was composed of various regiments of
the National Guard from New York, Con-
1 Nor nd
| third division of ten divisions of the Grand
Army of the Republic, and contained repres-
entatives from nearly all the Eastern States
The fourth division consisted of veteran org
| anzations and volunteers, and the whole was
| under the command of Gen. Stone The
| fifth division consisted of mounted police
and cid volunteers and out of town FIRE de-
partment organizations and representatives
of the Fire Insurance Patrole The sixth
and last division was commanded by Gen.
Harron. and consisted of representatives of
| Tammany Hall and other civic societies and
| trade organizations.
| The column reached the Battery at IL. 80
p. NJ, when President Arthur reviewed the
procession. Later the President reviewed
the river parade of steamboats,. The feet of
400 steamboats, and other river craft moved
up the North river over the prescribed route
L SLOAN
one of the swiftest crafts in the harbor, was
the flagship of the river feet. and was COM
manded by admiral" John H. Starin.
President Arthur was received on board at
the foot of Twenty third street, and the Sloan
| then steamed down to Bedloe's Island to
meet the fiotilla and conducted it up the
river to Sixty fth street, then down past the
Battery. When the flagship rounded the
Battery salutes we're fired from the forts on
Governors Island. and then the whistles of
all the steamboats, and tugs Joined in and we're
wide open" for five minutes.
After this the President went to the SUBJ
treasury to witness the unwilling of the
Washington statue. The statue was cast in
the workshops of the Henry Bonnard
Bronze Manufacturing Co., of this city. II
was cast and finished within less than six
weeks from the time work was commenced
on it, and is pronounced by the best and mos,
competent judges 10 be one of the most ar.
tistic works of the kind that has been pro.
duced in this country or elsewhere. The
statue is Is feet 5 inches high, and 10 made
Of standard bronze. The eminent sculptor
of the statue, Mr.. ]. Q. A. Ward. says that
the casting, chisselling and modelling con.
stitue the finest piece of bronze work ever
executed on this continent.