The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-24
| WIRED WORDS.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE.
Business Surrenders to Pleas
ure in Celebration of the
Opening.
Streets and Buildings Decora-
ted with Flags and
Flowers.
Reception to he held at the
Academy of Music
The U. S. Express Co. at Cleve-
land Robbed of $4,000,
Bags taken from Wag
on at Union Depot
NEW YORK.

New YORK, May 24-To-day was /
| gala day in Brooklyn. Throughout tht
city there appeared tn be a general sur
| render of business to sight. seeing ane
celebration The main business avenues
/ the Heights. and many streets clear oui
| into the suburbs were decked most oaily
with flags and bunting and flowers foI
| the bridal with the city oyer the river
Public buildings, private houses, street
cars, wagons, and trucks fly colors of all
nations in honor of the opening of the
big bridge On every hand preparations
are being made of illumination for to-
night Great satisfaction is expressed
among the people of Brookly at the
pletion of which so much is ex-
pected for their city. Vendors
of bridge souvenirs were about in hun
dreds and hundreds, and found ready
sales for their wares. Enterprising mei-
chants took the opportunity of advertis-
ing their wares on the backs of pictures
Of Brooklyn bridge. Fulton street. from
the farthest end to the river front is CAV
with colors. The decoration of the Acad-
envy OF Music occupied a small army of
men, and is being prepared for the recep-
tton 10 night.
The president and cabinet, together
with other distinguished invited guests,
entered carriages on the south side of the
hotel and preceded 10y military escort,
moved down Fifth avenue and Broadway
to the city hall park, where the members
Of the common council received the
president and cabinet The picket fence
IN front of the bridge has been removed
and a strong force of police guard the
approach. Crowds began to gather early
and waited with patience the arrival of
the procession and the beg ming of the
ceremonies. The Seventh regiment was
detailed as a military escort for the occa-
sion. and assembled at the Armorv this
morning in full uniform. A guard of
twenty detailed, marched long side of
the presidents carriage. The command
marched down Park and Fifth avenues to
Fifth avenue hotel, the preside nt's quar-
ters, where it was drawn up by the side |
Of the walks along the reute, which are |
lined with people. All through Column |
bia Heights and streets opening into that |
neighborhood the decoration |
was very general, and the effect hand |
some. The house Of Col Roebling. chief |
engineer of the bridge, and Mayor Lowe, |
OF Brooklyn. were decked with flowers |
and bunting, and coat of arms of New |
Y ork and Brooklyn. The invalid engi-I
neer will receive the president and Mayor |
in the evening for a brief hour with the
public, The colonel is feeling better to-
lay. but is too weak to leave the house |
md share the ceremonies at the bridge
From the towers of the great bridge the
lational flag waved, and the span across
he river Is dotted with flags from one
md to the other From early this
morning crowds began 70 gather at the
md where the speech making was to take
)laee. In the harbor flags flew from all
shipping war vessels Tennessee
Fandalia, Kearsage, and Yantie. lie in a
ow off of Governors island ffying
rational colors. The navy yard aud all
hips along New York and Brooklyn
water front are decked with bunting In
New York business is partly suspended
most exchanges closed at noon and many
business places suspended work for the
afternoon
The day is all that could be desired for
he occasion. Houses along the route of
he procession from Fifth Avenue Hotel
o City Hall are decked with colors. At
he New York end of the bridge. workmen
ave been busy all the morning putting
he finishing touches to the decoration