The Russellville Democrat., 1889-05-02
George Washington and John Adams were

George Washington and John Adams were
duly declared elected
General Washington left Mount Vernon
for New York on the morning of April l6
Before his departure he wrote to Henry
Knox that his feelings were not unlike
those of n culprit going to the place of ex>
ecution" Washington wished to make the
trip TO New York as quietly and with as little
show as possible, but he soon found that this
was out OF th3 question: owing to the pa
triotic ardor that was aflaine everywhere
and the intense admiration for the noble
chieftain; so that his journey instead Of be-
ing devoid of incident and ostentation, was
characterized by the widest enthusiasm OF
the citizens all the way from Mount Vernon
to Federal Hall Towns and cities along
the route wore in the highest pitch OF
patriotic excitement and Wed with each
other in honoring { hero of the Revolu-
ton and the first President of a peaceful
republic Among the displays was n long
avenue of laurels through which Washing
ton was escorted at Grays Ferry, in Penn
sylvania AS the President elect passed
under the last arch, boy, concealed in
the foliage above, dropped upon his head a
handsome laurel crown The act aroused
enthusiastic demonstrations among the
spectators. A trlumphal arch was erected
by ladies nj Trenton. Riding upon his
white charger Washington passed under
this and ms he did SO, thirteen beautiful
young ladies' slewed flowers before the
hero, al the same time singing an ode
especially composed for the occasion.
Upon reaching Eiizabethtown Point,
Washington was received by a committee
OF Congress, Elias Bou mot. chairman. with
whom were Robert r. Livingston, Chan
cellor of the State Secretary jay, Secre-
tary Knox, ths Commissioners of the Treas
ury, Mayor Duane and Recorder yarick of
New York, and several other officials A
barge, elegantly decorated, and manned by
thirteen master-plots in white uniforms,
was waiting at this point to con-
vey Washington and his party TO
the city. AS it moved away, other
barges covered with decorations, fell into
line This procession came through the
Kin Won Kull between New Jersey and
Staten Island and up the bay, gathering
I'm It's wake craft of every description. All
the vessels in the harbor, moving and at
anchor, we:.l layiShly dressed with flags and
other embioms of rejoicing, the Spanish
man -of-war Galveston displaying a variety
of national colors fro its rigging A soop
under full sail contain I'd twenty-five gentle
men and ladies, who sang an ode Of well
come to the tune OF God Save the King"
in which every body wi0nin sound eagerly
joined Band music rom boats on every
81 ie, continual cheering and the boom OF
artillery from the war vessels and neigh
boring for fill d the air, echoing and re-
echoing over the wa era
The landing place was Murrays wharf,
near the foot of Wall street, where there
was a ferry Here the stairs and ratings
were oarpeted and decorated Governor
Clinton formally received the President
elect and an enthusiastic crowd that had
been waiting expectantly at the ferry made
the air ring with tumultuous cheering 8s he
appeared in the street Ii was difficult to
form procession among the excited inhab-
itants, who were desperately struggling
with each other In an effort to see General
Washington, but after some delay this was
finally accomplished
W shington was escorted to the house So
lected for his official residence, large,
three-story brick st.uctgre at the corner
of Cherry street and Franklin square ad-
joining where the Harpers publishing
house now stands Every house aal bald
ing along thu roats was decorated with
flags, silk banners, floral and evergreen