River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-05-31
Opening the Great Brooklyn Bridge

New York dispatches have copious details
of the ceremonies and display attending the
formal opening of the great bridge spanning
the ca river between New York anG
Brooklyn. From tie towers OF the grea
bridge national flags waved: and the spar
across the river was dotted with flags from
one end to the other. From early morning
crowds began to gather at the end where The
speechmaking was to take place. In
the h rbor flags few from all ship
ping. The war vessels Tennessee
Vandalia, Kearsarge and Yantic lay in q
row off Governors island, flying the nation
oil colors. The navy yards and all ships
al ng the New York and BrooElyn water
front were decked wi h buHting. In New
York business was suspended. Most oftht
exchanges closed at noon and many bust
ness places suspended work for the alter
noon. Flags flew from the municipal and
other buildings in the City Hall park, from
business blaces along Broadway and othel
streets, and from many private residences
Houses along the route of the procession
were decked with coloTs.
The Seventh regiment, N. q. S. n. Y.
Col. Emmons Clark commanding detailed
military escort for the occasion, as
sembled at the armory in full uniform.
guard of twenty was detailed to march OF
either side of the presidents carriage. The
command marched down Park and Fifth
Avenues to the Fifth Avenue hotel, th'
presidents quarters; where it was drawn up
The sidewalks along the 70 lie were l1neC
with people On Madison square it was es
timated 10000 people were gathered.
The president and guests occupied car
riages which were drawn up in line on the
south side the hotel. In the first carrisg'
ID A nth ND
in the other carriages, Secretaries Freling-
huyses and Folger, Postmaster Genera
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 the procession to the city
hall was continuous ovation to Presiden
A thur and the distinguish men in his train
Continuing in their route to the bridge two
by two, preceded by the military, the dis
tinguished party moved slowly over tn,
bridge Maj. Jewell seeing that they did no
keep step.
On account Of the great crowd, much
difficulty was experienced by the mayor
and officials in obtaining passage way tC
the platform. At the conclusion of pray
er by Bishop Littlejohn, J. S. f. Stranahan
who presided, successfully introduced tn
acting presidents OF the board OF trustees
who formally presented the bridge to tn
people of New York and Brooklyn, through
their respective mayors and each made
speech of acceptance. Congressman Hewitt
also made an address and Rev. DIR. Storr
delivered an Grafton. Levy gave, on hi
cornet, The Star Spangled Banner, Hal
Columbia and Yankee Doodle. After tls
closing exercises on the bridge the pr7si
dent and party drove to the house ef Oh =
Engineer Roebling in Brooklyn and pai
their respects to the great. but enfeebled en
gineer.
After dinner the president, governors ano
mayors were driven to the river, and step
ping aboard boat in waiting, steamed out
into midstream, whence they obtained 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 witt
every species of craft, making necessary thu
stoppage of ferry boats and making terri
BILE crush of people when traffic and trave
was resumed. The people of both cities
with tens of thousands from abroad made 6
hollidayf the adAir and seemed to enjoy
it very much.