The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1889-05-04
An Eight Days journey.

Before setting out on the direct Journey
to New York, Washington went to Freder-
icksburg to bid adieu to his mother, then
nearly eighty years Of age, and, as she then
predicted, It was their last meeting on
earth. On the morning Of April l6, l7SS,
Washington bade adieu to Mount Vernon to
private life and domestic felicity, and with
a mind oppressed with anxious and painful
sensations set out for New York with Mr..
Thomson and Colonel Humphreys. He was
eight days on the road, travelling in his pri-
vate carriage, preceded in a stage By his
private secretary, Tobias Lear. 1t was his
desire to make the journey privately, but so
great was the enthusiasm all along the line
that this was impossible. Indeed, at the
very threshold of his own estate he was
met by a cavalcade of the citizens of Alex
andria his neighbors and friends, and in
vited to attend pablo dinner in that city,
which invitation he reluctantly accepted,
and whereat he was welcomed by the mayor
In touching speech. From this point on
his trip was q continued ovation. Approach
ing Philadelphia he was met by a cavalcade
under the command Of his old companion
.n-arms, General St Clair, and escorted TO
the city. At the crossing Of tho Schuylkill
u IIOu u III
umphal arch beneath which he passed
little girl perched aloft dropped upon his
head a civic crown amid the wild huzzahs of
twenty thousand assembled to greet him.
That night there was a banquet at the city
tavern, ~ attended by the State and municipal
officials, and the city was brilliant with il
luminations and fireworks
A military escort was To have proce eded
xxyit WaSbinertop 70 tho a
but rain prevented the pageant and he and
his suite went alone in a close carriage
Thence on through New Jersey he went by
the same road over which his little army
had fed in 1.76 At Elizabeth Point he was
received by committees OF the two houses
Of Congress, Federal, State and municipal
officials. and q great concourse of citizens
To carry him across the bay to New York
City splendid barge had been prepared,
manned by thirteen master pilots in white,
under command Of Commodore James Mich
olson There were other barges, almost
equally handsome, for the Congressional
committees and heads Of departments. and
private barges fell into line forming grand
f1otilla that moved across the beautiful bay
the oars keeping time to the strains of vocal
and instrumental music All the vessels in
the harbor but one were gayly decked with
flags and upon some OF them parties OF
ladies and gentlemen sung congratulatory
sdes. The Spanish man-of-war Galveston
alone displayed no token OF respect Sur
prise and indignation were finding express
sion when, in an instant, as the Presidents
barge came abreast Of her, her yards were
manned as if by magic; every part of her
rigging displayed flags of all nations, with
the effect, as Losing says, Of an immense
shrub bursting suddenly into gorgeous
bloom, and the roar of thirteen cannon, dis
charged in quick succession, attested the
respect of the Spanish Admiral for the first
President The effect upon the multitude
was electrical, and over bay and city a
shout, long and loud, tioated upon the noon
tide air.