The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-06-02
Opening the Great Brooklyn fridge,

New Ork esp itCneS nave CO lluuS Httiii IS
of the ceremonies and display attending the
fOrmal opening Of the great bridge spanning
the eat river between New York and
Brooklyn. From the towers o. the great
bridge national flags waved: and The span
across the river was dotted with flags from
one end to the other From early morning
crowds began to gather at the cnd where thc
speechmaking was to take place. In
the h h,rbor flags few from ali ship.
ping The war vessels Tennessee,
Vandalia, Kesrsarge and Yantic lay IN a
row Off Governors island, flying The nation
al co!0rs. The navy yards arG all ships
al Dg the New York and Brou8lyu water
front were decked wi IA buHting. IN New
York business was suspended. Most of the
exchanges closed at noon and many hu,i-
ness places suspended work for the after
noon. Flags flew from the municipal aud
other buildings in the City Hall park, from
business baces along broadway and other
streets, and from many private residences.
Houses along the route Of the procession
were decked with cOorS
The Seventh regiment, y. G. s. y. Y.
Col. Emmons Clark commanding, detailed
as q military escort for the occasion as
sembed at the armory in fall uniform. 4
guard of twenty was detailed 10 march on
either side Of the presidents carriage. The
command marched down Park and Fifth
Avenues to the Fifth Avenue hOtel, the
presidents quarters where II was drawn up.
The sidewalks along the 70 ,le wsre lined
with people. On Madison square il was es-
timated 10000 people were gathered.
The president and guests occupied car
riages which were drawn no in line on the
south side ofthe hotel. In the first carri9ge
sat President Arthur and Mayor Edison, and
in the other carriages, Secretaries Feeling
huyseH and Folger, Postmaster General
Gresham, Secretary Chandler, Attorney
General Brewster, etc. The procession
marched down Fifth Avenue to the City
Hall park, where members of the common
council received the president and cabinet.
The entire line OF tae procession TO the city
hall was q continuous ovation to President
A thur and the distinguish men in histran.
Continuing in their route 10 tbs bridge two
by two, preceded by the military, the dis.
tingushed party moved slowly over the
bridge, Maj, Jewell seeing thai they did not
keep step.
On account of the great crowd much
difficulty was experienced by the mayors
and officials in obtaining passage way to
the platform. At the conclusion OF a pray
er by Bishop Littlejohn, j. 5. +. StraDahan.
who presided, successfully introduced the
acting presidents OF the board Of trustees,
who formally presented The bridge 10 the
people of New York and BroOk lyn, through
their respective mayors, and each made q
speech OF acceptance Congressman Hewitt
also made an address aud Rev. DR.. S:orrs
delivered an Grafton. Levy gave, on his
cornet, The Star Spanslei Banner, Hai!
Columbia and Yankee Doodle. After IN .
closing exercises on the bridge the presi
dent and party drove To the house of Chiei
Engineer Roeblng in Brooklyn aud paid
their respects to the great, but eniteblel Ell
glneer.
After dinner the president, governors and
mayors were driven TO the river and step
ping aboard boat in waiting, steamed out
into mids,ream, whence they obta ined de.
lightful view OF the bridge and the towers,
illuminated by the tall lamps Of the United
States Electric Light company. The spec
tacle attracted seemingly even more atten-
ton than the day display. The exhibition
of fireworks from to o'clock was fine.
During the period of the illumination of
the bridge East river was crowded with
every species of craft, making necessary the
stoppage OF ferry boats and making terri
bic crush OF people when traffic and travel
was resumed. The people of both cities
with tens OF thousands from abroad made a
holldayf the affair ani seemed TO enjoy
IN pnrb