Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-06-07
DECORATION DAY.
The Observance of the Day at New
York and Brooklyn.
Monster Parades in Both Cities, Reviewed
by the President and Members of
His Cabinet-At the Tomb of
the Old Commander.


NEW YORK, May 30.-Decoration Day
dawned with threatening and lowering
skies. The atmosphere was humid, and
the heat almost unbearable. More
interest was manifested in observance Of
the day than for years past Business
was nearly wholly suspended, and at an
early hour the streets were thronged with
people flocking to points in and around
the city at which the more interesting and
important ceremonies were likely to be
performed. By nine O'Clock the immedi-
ate vicinity of Madison and Union squares
was impossible, SO great was the crush of
sight Madison Square, where the
reviewing stand of the G. A. r. had
been erected, and at which point
President Cleveland was to review the
parade, was the great center of attrac-
ton. In Union Square the statues of Lin
coin, Lafayette and Washington were
handsomely decorated with evergreens
and flowers of all descriptions.
The procession, composed of the militia
and Grand Army posts, formed at $3.50 a.
M, and the line of march was down Fifth
avenue, from Fifty-third street to the
Worth monument, where the reviewing
took place, thence through Seventeenth
street to Union Square to Broadway,
where the parade was dismissed.
The procession was headed by the
First Brigade of the National Guard Of the
State of New York, comprising the crack
militia regiments of the city, who acted
as escort to the G. A. R. posts. The lat
ter were divided into fifteen divisions,
each led by marshal. Every Grand
Army post in the city was represented.
1t was estimated that from $4,000 to $1,000
men were in line. AT exactly 9:45 the Old
Guard, to the number of 100 escorted
the barouche containing the Presi-
dent, which was drawn by four
deep black horses, to the reviewing
stand. AS the President mounted the
stand its occupants rose to their feet.
There was an animated futtering of
handkerchiefs. but no applause. Mr..
Cleveland was attired in black diagonal
frock coat, with a glimpse of black scarf
showing. He wore a broad-topped silk
hat. He Immediately took up his position
in the center alcove of the stand, and after
glance at the distinguished assemblage
on the stand turned to review the parade.
The President was accompanied by
Secretaries Fairchild, Endicott, Whitney,
Secretary Lamont, and several other
prominent personages. These filled the
a1cove behind the President. Secretary
Endicott stood on the right Of the Presi-
dent. During the passage of the First
division the President remained silent,
doffing his hat to General Fitzgerald,
Co1onels Clark of the Seventh and Cavan-
agh of the Sixty-ninth regiments and
other regimental commanders. AS the
famous Washington Greys of Richmond,
Va, passed the President uncovered
his head and smiled proudly,
but the most pronounced manifestation
of pleasure evinced by the President was
8, &c. Ia,,
passed leading the Twenty second Regi-
ment, playing "Wav Down South in
Dixie" Tie occupants of the stand ap.
plauded Gilmore, and he raised his helm
let several times and waved it proudly.
The President remained uncovered most
of the time W allie the veterans marched by,
and moved his head repeatedly as the tat.
tered battle-ilags were dipped before him.
These flags we're dipped by all the posts
except the Alexander Hamilton Post OF
Harlem. Commander Andrew NJ. Under
hill saluted fifty, but the flags did not go
down.
The procession over, the President,
after shaking hands with half a dozen
citizens within reach, hurriedly left the
stand, and was escorted to the carriage in
waiting by the committee in charge of the
Decoration Day exercises in Brooklyn.
The tomb of General Grant, at River
side Park, was beautifully decorated
early in the day, and late this afternoon
the Richmond Greys and u. S. Grant Post,
escorted by Company E of the Ninth
Regiment, marched to Riverside and fur
Their decorated the tomb.
Memorial exercises were held at night
at Ethe Metropolitan Opera-House. The
Decoration Day Grafton being delivered
by Colonel Ingersoll.