New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-29
VOL XIv1-.....-.N0' l4.59a
YORLD-LIGHTING LIBERTY.
THE RARTHOLDI STATUE UNVEILED.
COMPLETION OF THE GREAT WORK On
BEDLOW'S ISLAND
THE PARADEs AND CEREMONIES INTEKfEhHD
WITH BY RAIN AND FOG.

. ,nr.rn,v rop pARruOIDI AND FOR THE TWO
RFpupIlCs-THE LAND PARADE sUCcEsorO"N N
sp,rr or OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ON THE WA
TER LOST IN MIsT-EXEaCIsEs ON Dho
lows sIsIAND-ADDREssEs BY sENA-
TOR EyARTs AND MR.. DkPEW-
THE TORCH NOT LIGHTED.
Only the luckless weather yesterday robbed New
York of one of those brilliant spectac les which
come now and then with great national celebra-
ti,ns and leave a dazzling memory of pomp and
circumstance for years to come behind them AS
!, was the PROMISES of clearing skies which the
SIGNAL Service men had tantalzingly sent out
were broken one by one to the most patient nope
and the day dragged along from one ceremony 10
another in disgusting mess OF ram ana ioe' which
,,ghten.d now TO a misty drzzle or thlckened al
terward TO n steady pour.
The hinge land parade formed of Filth Avenue
in the wet and marched along the slippery muddy
streets with dripping ranks and ragged edges ihe
Presidential party and the French delegates stood
shivering for hours on the unsheltered reviewing
platform and looked dreariiy forward to the mo
ment when the long procession would pass. Inc
naval column in the North River was hid almost
from the start in fog and mist. No traces OF the
great marine spectacle which fair day had prom
se were 20 be seen from the Battery or the BIook-
lyn Bridge.
Al the island itself a raw east wind swept the
omen ramparts of old Fort Wood and the sof.
drizzing rain fell in slanting sheets OH the crowu
huddled closely in the grand stand under the pro-
tectine shadow of the pede tails foundations Uin-
brellas and great coats were useless ana the cere
MONIES were shortened unexpectedly. but perhaps
TO the relief of many by mistake of signals for the
unveiing and the salute.
Yet in many ways the ceremonies of Barthodl
Day will always be memorable here. The land pa
rade itself was 10000 strong and though the rain
fell necessarily on the slippery streets, the line
showed scarcely a struggling or broken edge.
The crowds along the route too, numbered hun
dreis of thousands, all filled with enthusiasm and
reckless good will. Men and women pushed and
trampled upon one another and the slushy mud
was spattered right and left; yet good order was
kept and fewer disturbances were reported to che
police than on any other recent Agreat celebration
dav.
Nothing. too. conld quite overcome the impress
syeness of the unveiling itself or the graceful flow
of elouuence with which the splendid gift of the
French people was finally turned over, after 80
many years of waiting, to the hands of the United
States.
twas a great day for Bartholdi. who saw at last
the fuIflment OF that scupltors fancy on which he
has lavshed so unselfshly the best ten years of his
life. 1t was great lay. too, for the French and
American Committees, which have reached at last
and with overwhelming success. the end of the
vast undertaking i'll which they so courageously
embarked
And if one may believe the poets and orators. or
iudge by the enthusiasm of the crowd, in distress
and discomfort as it was when the stately figure OF
tho huge clear-lined. pure faced Goddess was un-
velled it was great day for Liberty, for America
and Tor France.