Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-11-04

Republic was moored at the end OF the
pier 10 facilitate landing, All around lay
yachts, catboards, rowboats, tugs, lighters,
barges and other craft, the big mon n-of- war
with their yards braead square aihwart-
ship, and their flags displayed rain
bow fashion, serving as a background.
On arriving ut the island the visitors
passed through an iron gateway in an
angle of the stone buaiion and going
around the base of the pedestal asccnded
a temporary flight of wooden stairs TO the
platform.
The platform was built in front Of the
pedestal on that side toward which the
statue faces. The speakers stand was
erected against the wall of the pedestal.
Its floor was about eight feet above the
platform and canopy sheltered IL, On
the top of the canopy was group of
French and American flags. immediately
The right half of the shield bore the
colors of France and the left half those
of the United States. They were divided
by an axe and fasces, Across the face of
the shield was painted an olive branch
and the word "Liberty." At the top
was painted ga. Bartholdi." The entire
stand was trimmed with the French and
American flags, and so also were the
flight of steps, one on each side, leading
to the platform Above the platform rose
maiestieally the great form Of the statue
glistening with rain and rich in tiiits of
brown aud gray. Across the face was
stretched flag that constantly huttcred
in the breeze.
Police Captains Clinchy and Kilhlea,
with l50 men. guarded the ramparts, the
stand, and all the approaches. A battery
of regulars was stationed near the water's
edge, aud detachment of infantry did
guard duty on various parts of the Island.
Sentinels paced up and down the stand
in front of the speakers platform and
kept space clear for the distinguished
guests who were to come with the Presi-
dent and his party and the French visi-
tors. Gilmore's band was stationed be-
hind the crowd.
It was 2.45 o'clock when the French
delegation arrived at the island. With
the exception Of Count Ferdinand de Les
seps, who assembled the speakers stand
they took seats on the platform on the
front row. M. Bartholdi sat at the ex-
trenle left of the line, with Mime. Bar
tholdi at his side. Gen. Pellssier and
Admiral Jaures, in full uniform and gilt
tering with medals and orders, sat next.
Then came Count de Lesseps's daughter,
Milo. Tototte, Nine. Max Leon. Deputies
Spuller and .,,Desmons, M. Villegente,
Col. de Pusy, Col. de Iaussedat, Director
of the Ecole des Arts ct Meters; Leon
Robert, of the cabinet of the minister OF
public instruction; M. Deschamps, vice.
president of the municipal council OF
Paris; M. Hielard, of the Paris chamber
Bigot, Napoleon Ney and Leon Meunier.
escorted M. and Mime. Bartholdi to seats
on the speakers stand, while the entire
assembly cheered yociferously. Most Of
the other French guests were taken to
the stand before the speaking begon.
Before they were all seated the thunder
of big gun doomed from the Tennessee,
and then great cloud of steam assembled
skyward while all the vessels opened up
their whistles and made the air tremble
with deep-mouthed steam cheer. This
tremendous burst of marine enthusiasm
heralded the arrival of President Cleve.
land, who, looking hale and hearty and
with his face wreathed with smiles, soon
| aacended the speakers stand. He was
greeted by the assembly with long con.
| tinued cheers and the waving of hats and
| handkerchief The President was accom-
| panied by Secretaries Bayard, Whitney
| and Lamar, Postmaster. General Villas,
| General Sheridan aud Colonel Lamont,
all of whom took seats On the speakers
stand. The Bartholdi Society arrived 0
| few moments later. The steam vessels
| continued to blow their whistles and
/ Mile. Tototte held her hands over her
ears and looks about her with an expires.
sion of wonder.
Gen. Schofeld stepped to the front Of
the speakers stand and vainly waved hii
| hat in the direction of the harbor in the
nope that some one might see him and
| persuade the steamboat captains TO cease
their uproar. They would not cease, how.
ever, for some time, and il was nearly
| half an hour before the last whistle uttered
o final whoop and those on the platform
were able TO hear what was being said
| Gen. Schofeld finally announced that tht
exercises would begin with prayer by the
Rev. DIR. Richard s. Storrs. DIR. Storri
offered up thanks for the lofty memorial
which had been reared by the friendship
/ Vi lNO REGhl AhltOhbt ttlo Aot tttl blhb ~
| signified. The whistling continued al
through the prayer and while Genera
\ Schofield announced Count de LessepI
to speak on behalf of the Franco
| American Union. M. de Lesseps wal
clad in evening dress, and, pulling
off his overcoat and barring his gray hail
to the fine penetrating rain, he stepped t.
| the front of the stand. The crowd re
ceived him with loud and prolonged ap
piause. At first he was much troubled by
the, noise of the whistles, but this soor
subsided, and as he spoke with grea
energy, in clear, ringing voice, and will
the clean cut elocution of skilful orator
every word was audible at the extrem,
limits of the crowd. His speech, which
he read from manuscript, was listened II
with close attention and frequently inter
rupted by bursts of applause.
M. de Lesseps retired amid great ap
plause. Some one in the crowd proposes
three cheers for him and they were givel
with rousing enthusiasm. Then Genera
Schofield introduced Senator William M
Evarts who made the presentation ad
dress, MIR. Evarts was not heard dis
tinctly by all the crowd and there were
frequent cries of Louder"
A young gentleman standing near hin
on the platform had been eagerly watch
ing for the end of his address. Away III
in the mist and rain, on the head Of the
statue, were three men eagerly watching
the Young man near MIR. Evarts. Tn
three men were M. Auguste Bartholdi
Richard Butler, secretary Of the Ameri
can committee, and ID. III. King, VIII
erected tho statue. They held in thei
hands the cord attached to the veil owe
the face of the statue. The young mai
down below held in his hand q whit
pocket handkerchief. The three Incl
above leaned fur over and looked down
When Mr.. Evarts paused for breath tn
Young man beside him leaned far out an
looked up. Then he looked at MIR. Evart
and, seeing that the speaker had paused
pulled out the handkerchief and waved
, nadlv, The three men above gave th
, cord a pull, and the veil fell from the fac
of Liberty. M. Bartholdi, shaken wit
emotion. turned and kissed and embrace
the two men with him.
, ALI the noise that had gone before wa
/ child,s play to what broke forth ther
, The whistles blew, the guns doomed, tn
bands played, the drums rolled, and th
thropos on the island and on the rive
! shouted one laundering pecan of acclt
, nations that swept down the bay ON th
wings of the north. east gale and smot
! the hills of Staten Island with hug
shock of sound. Through the mist i
every direction could be seen leapin
sudden, sharp flashes of light, and the
!, q | the peal of guns echoed across the watel
II was the end of tho oration of MI
Eysrts. What he might have said had
l H. f,.1lpaoo tf hio haart ,