St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-20

Gala Day i'm New York over Its
Arrival.

NEW YORK, June 19.-The day broke
auspiciously for the formal welcome to Bar
tholdi's great statue of liberty. The sky
was cloudless and the rays Of the June.sun
were tempered by a gentle southwest wind.
Along the lower river fronts and the Bat
terry wall great crowds gathered early in the
day. AS the morning wore on the multi
tude increased. Over the waters, which
sparkled brightly, all sorts of gaily decked
crafts sped hither and thither. The streets
swarmed with human life and many carried
small bands of music. The tall buildings
in the neighbornood of Bowling Green, not
ably the stock exchange, and also several
dwelling houses, displayed the stars and
stripes Here and there might be seen the
national colors of France. Governors island
looked like great emerald gem. The scene
in the harbOr was one of
the liveliest description. Nearly
every vessel, small or large, waved
the tri-color and the stars and stripes,
and all were dressed up, so to
speak, for the occasion. When the vessels
that were to escort the Isere to Bedlo's
island arrived in the lower bay, the water
was swarming with crafts, and as far as
the eye could reach there were vessels with
out number. Every sort of vessel had
been pressed into service by ambitious
sight-seers. Soon volumes Of smoke were
belching forth from the tunnels Of the Isere,
her propeller began to revolve, and she was
headed in the direction of Bedlo's island.
The French man-of-war, La Flore,
headed the procession. Soon her gunners
opened the salute of honor by firing twenty
one guns in the short space of sixty-one
d1y hod Ia ole rod
away from her deck when the United
States man-of-war Oman replied with a
broadside. Then the Alliance and the
Powhattan fired their guns. The guns Of
Ft. Wadsworth thundered out salute as
the naval procession passed. Such scene
as was then presented has rarely been wit
messed in the bay. One hundred steamers
and yachts with flying flags and
streamers crowded with people, followed for
the Isere. The music of dozen bands
floated over the water, while the war ships
thundered and the forts re-echoed with
booming guns. The guests On.the Atlantic
shouted themselves hearse. The French
officers of the Isere stood on the quarter
deck bowling to the salutes which they
heard on every side. All the way up the
harbor until the head Of the procession had
arrived off Bedlo's island, the
shores of New Jersey and Long Island
reSounded with the crash of guns. 1t
seemed like battle at sea without the
disastrous attendant circumstances. When
the anchor Of the Isere was at length low
cred and had obtaineda firm grip, there was
more firing of cannon, blowing of whistles
and shouting of people. Bedlo's island was
crowded with spectators. Med had climbed
up to the top of the pedestal and seated
themselves on the huge stones. The At
tantic, after parting cheer to the
officers of the Isere, proceeded
on the way to the battery, and
the party went ashore. Over two hours
after the reverberations of the last gun had
been heard, the boat bearing the members
Of the American committee and their
guests, the officers of the French navy,
landed at the battery. The mayor, alder
men, Gen. Shaler and staff, the police COM
missioners and other civic dignitaries were
Fin waiting, and as Admiral Lacombe
stepped on shore the mayor grasped
him warmly by the hand. Carriages
were in waiting On the plaza
and were occupied the first by Mayor Grace.
Rear Admiral Lacombe, Gen. Shaler and
Frederick r. Coudert; the second by Presi-
dent Sawyer of the board of aldermen, the
commander of the Isere, Brig. Gen. Ward
and Senator Evarts. In other carriages
were different city officials and the officers
of the La Flore and Isere and members of
the division and brigade staffs. It was
nearly o'clock when the procession moved.
The line of march lay. through Whitehall
street up Broadway to the city hall, and
the route was lined with spectators.
At the city hall the guests were given a
banquet and afterwards speeches were made
by Mayor Grace, President Sanger and Fred
K. Coudert. The mayor and the aldermanic
committee tonight escorted the officers Of
Isere and Flore to the Star theater, where
a special concert was given by the Mexican
Typical orchestra. Admiral Lacombe is in
raptures over the ovation extended to him
and his brother officers.