Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-05-25
GAYETIES ON THE BRIDGE
ALL NEW YORK AND BROOK
LYN AT THE OPENING.

L1N All THE OPENING.
Gala Scenes Afloat and AshOre-Bat-
teries Belching Forth their Thunder
Tones from Ship and Fort-Business
at StandstiIl-Plebians and Aristo-
Gratis in Confusion.
NEW YORK, May 24-To-day was gala
DAY IN Brooklyn throughout the city.
There appeared to be general surrender
OF business to sightseeing and celebra-
ton in one way or another. The main
business avenues, heights and MANY of
the streets clear out into the suburbs are
decked most gaily with flags and bunting
and flowers for the bridal with the city
over the river. Public buildings, private
/ houses, street cars, wagons and trucks
I fly the cOlOrs of all nations in honor of
the opening of the big bridge On
every hand preparations were being made
for llluminatiOns tonight. Great salts
faction is expressed among the people of
Brookly at the completion of the work
from which so much is expected for their
city. From the towers of the great bridge
| national flags wave, and the span across
the river is dotted with flags from one
end TO the. other. From early i'm the
morning crowds began to gather at
the end where the speech making
was to take place. In the harbor
flags flew from all the shipping.
The tour war vessels, Tennessee, Vandalia.
kearsarge and Yantic, lie in a row of
Governors Island flying the national col
ors. The navy yard and all the ships
along the New York and Brooklyn water
fronts are decked with bunting. In New
York also business was partly suspended
to-day. Most of the down town
exchanges closed at noon and
many business places suspended
work for the afternoon. Flags flew from
the municipal and the other buildings i'm
the City Hall Park. from the business
places along Broadway and other streets,
and from many private residences. The
day was att that could be
desired for the occasion. The
houses along the route of the process
sion from the Fifth Avenue Hotel to
the City Hall were decked with cOlors,
Ehe Seventh Regiment escorted President
Arthur, Mayor Edison, the Presidents
Cabinet, the Peruvian Minister, Governor
Cleveland, Governors Ludlow, of New
Jersey, Fairbanks, Of Vermont, and
Littletield of Rhode Island, the State
Legislature and large number of other
invited guests from the Fifth Avenue
Hotel to the bridge. At the City Hall
Park the members of the Common Council
received the President and the other
guests. Here all alighted from the car
rlages and, joined by the heads of the city
department, marched from the City Hall
Park to the bridge, President Arthur
walking arm in arm with the Mayor.
The procession of the Brooklyn Off
cials and trustees, headed by the twenty
Third Regiment, left the Brooklyn CITY
Hall at halfpast twelve O'Clock, and ar
rived at l o'clockat Sands street station.
The regiment passed upon the anchorage,
where it took up its position. Mrs.
ROebing, wife of the invalid
Chief Engineer, and her party, arrived
afterWard in carriage, and at l 80 O'Clock
Bishop LittlejOhn and his assistant, i'm
their robes of office, arrived. A way was
made for them with great difficulty
through the crowd that already filled
every foot of space. The salute annOunc-
ing the Presidents arrival at the New
York tower was fired by the war
vessels in the harbOr and the forts ON
Governors Island. At 2:16 O'clock the
yards Of the men-0f-war We're manned.
Fifteen minutes later the cannonading
from Fort Greene and williamsburg an
nounced the arrival of the procession at
the Brooklyn tower, where Mayor Lowe
had arrived.
On the platform were seated General
Christensen and staff of the Second nj
vision, eX-MayOrs Scroeder. Howell
Booth, Hunter and Lambert, the members
of the Brooklyn Common Council and
United States naval officers and the Off
GERS OF the First and Fifth Artillery. On
account OF the great crowd much difficulty
was experienced by the Mayors of New
York and Brooklyn and the officials who
accompanied them, in obtaining a mas
sage way to the platform. The proceed
ingS were opened by Mr.. John Stranahan
introducing the Right Reverend Bishop
LittlejOhn, who, assisted by Rev. Mr..
Nandewater read the collects of the Epis-
copal service and offered up prayers.
AT the conclusion of the PRAYER by
Bishop Littleiohn, Mr.. j. 5. 7. Stranahali.
who presided, successfully intrc,duced
William c, Kinsley, Vice President of the
Board of Trustees, who formally presented
the bridge to the people of ,NeW York and
Brooklyn through their respective Nav
ors; mayor Lowe, of Brooklyn, who
the city of brooklyn: :" Mayor or
Edison, who delivered an address of ac-
ceptance in behalf of the city of New
York, and Hon. Abram S. Hewitt and
key: Richard Storrs, D. d., who delivered
oratiOns.
Julius Levy rendered the sstar
Spangled Banner" "Hail Columbiao and
yankee DoOdle,' with variations ON the
cOrnet.
After the closing exercises on the bridge
the Presidential party drove to tha hoise
of Chief Engineer Roeblihg, in BROOKLYN.
and paid their respects to him. After the
Presidents departure stream of promi-
nent men poured into the house. The
President dined with Mayor Lowe. and
afterwards witnessed the fireworks
from boat in the river and then Went to
the Academy Of Music. The streets i'm
Brooklyn were illuminated with Chinese
lanterns and were packed with neonle
So dense was the throng that trafic.
whlch was heavy, and ears had to be
stopped or travelled very slowly. While
the flre works were being set off the scene
IN the harbor was very grand.
Countless boats and crafts of every kind.
tastetully lit up with colored lights.
thronged the river. Afterward the large
span was brightly lighted by tall electric
lamp, radiant arch against dark back
ground, which attracted as much attep-
ton as the previous display. The exhi-
bitlon Of fireworks lasted about an hour
and was very beautiful.