Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-05
THE EMBARKATION.

Inc HISl W embark lOr BeQlOeS Island
was the Goth regiment. Other organiza-
tions followed quickly and heavily loaded
vessels pushed off, one after the other,
until the river and bay Were covered with
gailN decked craft OF every size and shape.
while men ot-war We're anchored in line
off he island.
The invited guests began to arrive about
: o clock, and filing through the mist
clambered upon the platforms assigned
them. Finally came the boom of the sig-
nal gun, and the sailors manned the wards
OF the warships. The president and his
party were taken from the Dispatch to the
wharf III little steam yacht being greeted
with cheers from the boats nearest by
No sooner had he landed when the salutes
began from the battery nearly at Liberty's
feet being answered by the warshps and
the heavy guns on Governors island
al he same moment every steam whistle
IN the fleet began to tOOt, and the mist
settled down more thickly than ever The
pedestal OF the statue, the fort and plat.
forms for the spectators were bright with
FLAGS and streamers, the tricolOr of France
dividing the honors with the Star
Spangled Banner, and over the face of
Liberty was drawn large French flag
The balcony from which the addresses
were given was reserved for the pres-
dents party, the French visitors and
speakers, The Frenchmen We're cheered
as they arrived and modestly took their
places. The END regiment band led by
Gilmore played Marsellaise and other
popular airs. After a long delay Gen
Schotield tried to call the multitude to
order, but was only partly successful, and
the exercises were disturbed at
intervals by the rude footing of whistles
off on the water. Finally Rev. DIR. Storrs
offered prayer. Ferdinand De Lesseps then
made a brief presentation speech in be
half of France to the American Union.
He spoke OF the conception of the statue,
the work of the committee of which he
was member TO bring the matter to the
attention of the French government, to
the popular contributions to the cost of
founding the work and its final departure
on the lzere. Senator Evarts followed :
wv hat ornaments of speech" he said
what eloquence of human voice, what
costly gift of gold, frankincense and myrrh,
of our hearts tribute can we bring
mate triumph of genius, of the
skill of this labor which speaks
to-day, and will speak forever of the
thoughts, feelings and friendships of these
TWO populous, powerful and free republics,
knit together i'll their pride and Joy at
their own own established freedom and in
their hope and purpose that the glad light
of liberty shall enlighten the world" AT
ter appropriate illusions to the friendly
relations which have existed between the
United States and the liberty loving peo-
pie of France, he paid high compliment
to ''the great sculptor, Bartholdi," eulo-
gized the principles which the statue rep
resents, AID reviewed briefly the circum-
stances attending the statues acceptance
and reception in this country. me adj
dress was cut short by the premature un-
yelling of the statue, the wrOng cue being
taken as the signal for the ceremony. The
senator accepted the situation gracefully
however, and retired. The unwilling was
one of the prettiest and most perfect fea-
lures of the day. The corners of the veil
were Unloosened and lluttered for IA mo
ment in the breeze when the whole flag
was drawn up through the opening in the
tiara, disappearing as if by magic into the
forehead OF the statue. Then the digni
fed features of the goddess appeared &c