The National tribune., 1883-05-31
OPENING THE BRIDGE.
The Brilliant Procession which Marched Across
from New York to Brooklyn.

The Brilliant Procession which Marched Across
from New York to Brooklyn.
Last Thursday was gala day in New York
and Brook yn. The opening of the Brooklyn
bridge-an event for which both cities had
been patiently waiting for fourteen years
took place on that day, and was attended with
imposing ceremonies. Besides residents who
turned out en- masse and congregated along
the East River front, thousands from Long
Island and adjacent cities and towns fiocked TO
the scene. Every available spot from which q
comparatively near view of the immense struc-
ture could be obtained was thronged with
eager spectators.
The procession in Brooklyn consisted of the
Twenty-third regiment; a detachment of the
Fifth artillery, q. S. A.. a battalion of U. S.
marines; Commodore Upshur and staff, and
General Hancock's staff, the General himself
being absent Mayor Low and the city officials,
and other civilians During the march to
the bridge the procession was preceded by $50
picked policemen under command of Police
Superintendent Campbell. The United States
soldiers led the troops, being the first to march
over. The order Route step" was given as
soon as the flooring of the promenade was
reached. The twenty third regiment and the
marines halted on reaching the Brooklyn
tower, while the Regular army soldiers moved
across the river span to await President Ar
thur. Mayor Low and the city officials stopped
at the Brooklyn tower.
THE PROCESSION.
Madison Square, New York was beset by
multitude before the forenoon was half over.
At 11:40 a. m. the Seventh regiment-fourteen
companies of twenty files each-left its armory
headed by the full band of ninety-one pieces.
One hundred policemen on horseback cantered
ahead of the soldiery, and wheeled into Madi-
son Square precisely at 1870 O'clock. They
formed in double rank in front of the Fifth
Avenue Hotel, and stood motionless SIS the
regiment amid burst of hand-cIapping and
hearty cheers, swept past the hotel entrance.
Thirty drums rolled in unison and the band
played the inevitable Hail to the Chief" as
the detachment of $50 assigned as guard to
the Presidential party broke from the main
line, and, turning with the precision of clock
work, swept into West Twenty third street.
Forty privates with glittering rifles stood
guard in two rows at the entrance and at 1910
they presented arms, and President Arthur,
with his right arm linked in Mayor Edson's
left, emerged from the corridor of the hotel
with uncovered head and entered the first of
the row of carriages which were to convey the
party to the bridge. Following the President
came Secretaries Frelinghuysen Folger and
Chandler, Postmaster-GeneralG Gresham, Attor-
ney-General Brewster, Bridge Trustees John T.
Agnew and J. Adriance Bush, President Ar
thurs son Allan, and Mr.. c. Z. Miller, his law
partner; Governor Cleveland, General Slocum
and Others. There were twenty-five carriages
in all. The carriages stopped at the City Hall
and the President and his party followed the
military escort on foot to the bridge entrance.
and the city officials and National Guard officers
followed them. Thousands upon thousands
lined the bridge roadways awaiting Them but
the promenade was free of all but policemen.
CROSSING THE BRIDGE
Opposite the Wall Street ferry were anchored
the u. S. men-of-war Tennessee, contain
ing Rear Admiral Cooper; Yantic, Kearsarge
Nandaiia and Minnesota. The President, arm
in arm with Mayor Edison, advanced along the
roadway, bowling in acknowledgment of the
cheers which greeted him. At the head of the
stairs of the tower he was met by Acting Vice
President of the Board OF Trustees VIM. c.
Kinsley, and, together with the other trustees,
welcomed him and his Cabinet. The Twenty
third Regiment Band played ''Hail to the
Chief" four times. The President then moved
by the United States troops, who presented
arms, and as he stood fairly upon the tower,
a signal was given, and a cloud of smoke, fol-
lowed moment later by the sound of heavy
gun, hoated out from the gray fort on Gov
ernors Island. Then followed boom after
boom until the Presidents salute was finished.
Grand Marshal James Jourdan, with his aids
in their big black plumed chapeaus, gave the
signal, and the Twenty-third regiment formed
line and moved ahead with its big brass band
in full sound. The procession followed-the
President and Mr.. Kingsly in advance. In
this way the bridge was crossed.
The arrival at the BROOKLYN tower was the
mostvitalmoment. Artillerymen on Fort Greene
plaza, at the foot of Stage street, and on the
fleet of men-of-war awaited it anxiously. The
Seventh regiment opened ranks, and the Pres
ident and Mr. Kingsley, followed by the civil
ians, advanced. Mayor Low, of Brooklyn,
who stood at the head of the platform, grasped
the Presidents hand and babe him welcome
AN EXCITING SCENE.
The United States marines presented arms
and the signal flags were set waving. Instantly
after the booming Of gun from the Tennes-
see the whole fleet began to cannonade, and
the tugs, steamboats,, ferryboats, engines. and
mills along the river front opened the Threats
OF the steam whistles ia one long, loud scream.
The cannons doomed the bells rang the
chimes jingled, the throngs eheered. The
band played Hail to the Chief" some more,
and the climax of fourteen years suspense
seemed to have been reached, since the Presi-
dent of the United States of America had
walked dry shod to Brooklyn from New York.
Later the bridge was formally handed over
to the two cities by the trustees. Mr. Kingsley
announced to the Chief Magistrates of the two
cities that the bridge was ready to be opened
to the public and Mayor Low accepted it in
DenalI OF brooklyn ana Mayor Edison in be-
half of New York. Hon Abram s. Hewitt
and Rev. DR.. Richard S. Storrs delivered ora
tions. At night magnificent fireworks were
discharged from the bridge. The Brooklyn
gates were first opened to the public at 1920
and the New York gates at 11:50 Thursday
night. AT noon on Friday it was officially
announced that 1880 people had paid the
one-cent fare at the New York gate One fare
taker took in STA and the other $91 The
toll collectors think that they will each take
in about SIS an hour daily 1t is estimated
that about 10000 persons crossed over before
'nightfall. In round numbers, perhaps $780, 600
people passed over the bridge in the twenty
four hours. Deyin Post, No. 14S, G. A. R., lis
men, with bugle and drum corps, crossed the
bridge at 1890 o'clock Friday night.
Twelve boxes full of money were taken after
midnight to the Office of the company, on
Water street, Brooklyn. Each box was as
much as a man could lift. The whole amount
taken in for the first twenty -four hours after
the bridge was opened was computed by a
ticket seller approximately at 81 700 The
elevated railroads in New York carried 3S9. 40
passengers on Thursday the day of the formal
opening of the bridge, the largest number thew
have ever carried in a day.
News from General Crook
Mexican courier, who arrived at Tomb
stone Arizona on the 26th inst, says that the
battle reported between General Crook and the
Auaehas is believed m bava ncourrad on Al