The National tribune., 1885-07-23
FREE NIAGARA,
Opening of the Grand National
Park.
Grand Civic Demonstration - Military Display -
Night Illumination and Fireworks.

| Grand Civic Demonstration - Military Display
| Night Illumination and Fireworks.
| Through the courtesy of Mr.. VIM. Robinson,
| General Passenger Agent of the Southwestern
| Division of the Grand Trunk, resident at De-
| troit Mrs Kate g. Sherwood, Past National
| President of the Womans Relief Corps. and
friends are indebted for the many privileges
| and pleasures attendant upon their participa-
ton in the formal dedication Of New York s
| great gift to the world-Niagara Falls. To
Mr.. Robinson's official courtesy and personal
gallantry the past National officers stand
greatly indebted, especially for exceptional fa-
vors on their Portland trip, which public
| acknowledgment in no way repays though it
| will be duly recorded in the official proceed
ings of the third annual Convention THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE gratefully acknowledges
courteses to its correspondent.
NEW YoRK's IMPERIAL GIFT.
1t was fitting that New York should cele-
brate her munifcent gift to the world by civic
and military demonstrations of an extraordi-
nary character. Not less than 100000 people
were on the grounds on the day of formal
| opening, July Is; scenes of animated interest
| presented themselves along the miles and miles
of romantic drives on Goat Island and at every
| point of interest connected with Niagara Falls
| The special features were reception and ball
l
| Guards at the International Hotel, on the
evening of July ID; the formal services at
Prospect Park, at noon July Is; the grand mil
| itary review by Gov. Hill and staff, of New
| York, in the afternoon, and in the evening the
fine display of fireworks from Prospect Park.
on the one side of the American Falls, and
Goat Island on the other, giving them a new
significance under their baptism of fire.
| THE MILITARY BALL.
| The reception to Gov sRogers, in the immense
| dining hall of the International Hotel trans
/ formed for the occasion into superb banquet
hall, literally abaze, from floor to fresco, with
| the National colors, was one of unusual bril-
| lance and animation. Dancing began at an
early hour, and the brilliant uniforms of the
red coats and blue coats, with the beautiful
| toilets OF the ladies, made up scene of ANNA
| ton and splendor rarely to be witnessed Plog-
| sted's famous band furnished the music, and
the guests present were from Buffalo, Roches
ter, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Toledo,
Chicago Toronto, and other places OF note.
| DEDICATION DAY.
The morning Of the 18th was cloudy, with a
heavy rain at 10 o'clock, which, forbidding at
| first proved q Godsend-cooling the air and
preventing particle of dust. The little city
was in holiday attire, and the hotels and many
of the private dwellings ablaze with color.
| The British flag was unfurled with the red
white and blue in honor of our Canadian cou
sins, who participated in the festivities. Front
| ing the International, an immense archway of
| red, white and blue bore, on one side, the let
tiers, Free Niagara; New York's Imperial
Gift to the World" and lower down. on either
| side, the names cleveland" and Hill" On
| the other side were the words, Niagara Re-
deemed; Free to the World" and beneath the
words Robinson" Landsdowne" The latter
| are the names Of the Lieutenant Governor aud
| the Governor General of Canada, through
whose influence, largely, the Canadian Falls
are to be converted into a National Park.
AT PROSPECT PARK.
The formal exercises of the day were held at
| Prospect Park, the gates of which were for the
| first time thrown open to the public free of
cost. All the morning the sward was dotted
with picnic parties, and when, at noon, the
band struck up the opening note of the dedica-
| ton, an immense throng had assembled. At
| the same time thousands of people, bent on
| sightseeing, were on their rounds, giving no
attention to speech making and music The
| crowd was intent and venturesome, and the
| only wonder is that dozens of men, women and
| children did not, like the poor Canadian woman,
| find q watery grave for too great temerity in
making the acquaintance Of the dashing, fren-
| zied waters.
| Alta pavilion in the park the exercises opened
with prayer by Bishop Cleveland, from
| special form prepared for the occasion. This
| was followed by a grand rendering of the Ma
| tional Ode, My Country, IT'S of Thee" by
chorus of 400 picked voices from the Orpheus
| Society and Schubert Society, Niagara Falls,
| and the Orpheus Sangerbund and Liedertafel
Society of Buffalo, supported by an orchestra
composed of the 65th aud 74th N. Y. Bands,
| the whole under the direction of Herr Gelbke,
| of Buffalo. Letters were read from President
| Cleveland, Lord Landsdowne and others, when
| followed an address by the Chairman of the
| Reservation Commission, Hon. Erasmus Brooks,
| who greatly resembles President Lincoln. After
| Mr.. Brooks, Hon. VIM. Dorsheimer of the
| Reservation Commission, made formal dedi-
| cation address, to which Gov. Hill, in accept
| ing the reservation, responded in excellent
| style. An historic address by Hon. James G..
| Carter, followed by congratulatOry remarks in
behalf of the Dominion of Canada, by Lieut.
| Gov. Robinson and Attorney General Mowatt,
| concluded the official program. Bencdiction
! by Bishop Cleveland, and magnificent rendi-
| ton of Keller's American Hymn by orchestra
and chorus concluded the proceedings.
| GRAND MILITARY REVIEW
| In the afternoon Gov Hill and staff and
visiting guests reviewed the troops in line at a
reviewing stand opposite the International.
| They made superb and soldierly appearance
| and consisted of attachments of Regulars from
| Forts Niagara and Porter, marines and blue
| jackets from the u. S. Revenue cutter Michigan,
| the 65th and 74th N. Y. N. q, the former car
| rying famous battlefag presented the regi-
| menu Wnen In Inc volunteer service by the
ladies of Auburn, N. Y; Cleveland CO., Grays,
| a famous regiment; Buffalo City Guards, Blu falo
| City Cadets, Utica Citizen Corps, 10th N. Y.
battery (dismounted), with separate comranies
| and battalons from Rochester Buffalo, Emira
and jamestown, N. Y. The Detroit Light
Guards were ordered to Bay City, Mich, the
scene of the strike, the eve of their departure
for Niagara, and their place in the line was
vacant OF our American boys, as they APP
| peared to the other side, we have the following
| from the Toronto Globe:
| In point of physique, the troops as whole would
not compare with Canadians; in efficiency of drill
| and precision Of movement they are not superior
to our best regiments but in atractiveness of uni
| form and in regard fer appearance on parade
| body of American troops not eclipsed by any
| are magnificent body of men. They moved like
machinery, and evoked enthusiastic plaudits all
| along the route. few battle SCARED flags were
carried on the march, eloquenty recalling the stern
| and terrible events ofthe great rebellion.
The dress parade and drill at parade grounds
was witnessed by admiring thousands after the
| procession.
| PROTECTING DISPLAY.
The scene from Goat Island bridge in the
evening is never to be forgotten, as one looked
down the headlOng rapids to see the splendid
| archway of stars and rockets and golden rain
that, starting from Prospect Park on the one
| side and Goat Island on the other, met in
fiery arch above. On the farther shore were
the Canadian Examinations; beyond was horse
shoe Falls bathed in the weird lights from