, 1885-06-20
Welcome to the Statue of Liberty

1hON ~ .
NEW YORK, June l9.-The day broke
auspiciously for the formal welcome of
Barthold's great statue of Liberty. The
day was cloudlcss and the rays Of Il June
sun were tempered by a gentle southwest
wind. Along the lower river fronts and
battery wall great crowds gathered early
in the dag. As the morning wore on the
multitude increased. The scene in the
harbor was one of the l~iveliest descrip-
ton, nearly every vessel, small and large.
showed the tri-color and stars and stripes,
When the vessels that were to escort the
Isere to Bedloe's island arrived in the
Lower bay. the water was swarmed with
crafts, and as far as the eye could reach
there were vessels without number; every
sort Of vessel had been pressed into ser
vice by ambitious sightseers. Soon vol
umes of smoke were belching forth from
the tunnels Of the Isere, her propeller be
gan to revolve and she was headed in the
direction Of Bedloe's island. The
French m%an-of-war, La Flora, headed
the procession, and soon her gun
ners opened Il salute Of honor
by firing twenty one guns in the short
space of sixty-one seconds. Hardly had
the smoke cleared away from her deck,
when the United States m~an-of-war
Omaha replied with n broadside, then the
Atlantic and Powhattan fired their guns,
the guns of Fort Wadsworth Numbered
mi a salute as the naval procession
passed. Such a scene as was then pre-
scented had rarely been seen in the bay.
One hundred steamers and yachts with
flying flags and streamers, and crowded
with people, followed the Isere, the music
Off dozen bands flowed out over the
water, while war ships Numbered and
forts re-echoed with booming guns.
Guests on the Atlantic shouted them
selves hoarse; the French officers of the
lsere stood ON the quarter deck bowling
to salutes which they heard on every side,
All the way up the harbor until the head
of the procession had arrived of Bedloe's
island, the shores resounded with the
crash of guns. 1t seemed like a battle at
sea without the disastrous attendant cir
cumstances. When the anchor of the
Isere had lowered and had obtained a
Thrm grin there was more firing of cannon,
blowing of whistles and shouting of
people. Bedloes island was crowded
with spectators; men had climbed M to
the top Of the pedestal and seated them
selves on the huge stones. The Atlantic,
after n parting cheer to the officers Of the
lserc, proceeded on the way to the bat
terry, and the party vent ashore. Over
two hours after the reveberatiOns of the
the last gun had been heard from Capt.
Williams boat, beoring the members Of
the American committee and their guests
and the officers of the French navy,
landed AT the battery. The mayor, al
dermen, Gen Shaler and staff, police
commissioners and other civil dignitaries.
were in waiting, and 10 Admiral Tacombc
stepped on shore, the mayor grasped him
firmly by the hand and they entered car
riages in waiting in the plaza. 1t was
nearly . O'Clock when the procession
moved. The line of march lay through
Whitehall street to Broadway, to the city
hall the route was lined with people; al
the city hall the guests were given a ban.
quet, and Afterwards speeches were mad,
by Mayor Grace, President Sanger and
Frederick II. Condert.