The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1889-05-02
1880 1880.
WASAlNcToNS INAUGURATION
CENTENNIAL.
Great Naval Pageant.
MILITARY DISPLAY, LITERARY ENERrGSgs
AND RANQUEI,

MILITARY DISPLAY, LITERARY ENERcGSRs
AND BANQuEl.
The celebration of the centennial of
the Inauguration of George Washington
AZ first president of the United States be-
gan IN New York Monday The great
city was deliberately decorated for the oc-
cssion aud crowded with people from all
parts of the Union. The President was
welcomed by naval pageant many miles
In length, as he advanced over the route
followed 100 years ago by Washington.
Like the first President he was rowed to
the shore by American seameu and re-
ceived with imposing ceremony.
magnificent Naval display was made
In the harbor. The water parade was the
finest ever witnessed in New York har-
Dor. The war vessels were grand and
imposing. The line of ships is estimated
as nearly twenty miles long, made up of
the naval division, the revenue and yacht
divisions, merchant marine and small
craft.
Ats o'clock the men-of-war dressed
ship rainbow fashion, with the flag of the
Secretary of the Navy at the mau of the
Chicago, that of the Admiral of the navy
at the main of the Boston, and national
sells, aud all fired salute of u guns,
beginning with the Chicago, and each
vessel thereafter firing a gun at intervals
of 10 seconds. The revenue cutters and
yachts were dressed with flags and col
ors, and the merchant marine was gay
with flags and bunting.
The Dispatch carried the President and
when 1t arrived at the foot of Wall Street
IN hp
Gov. Hill, Mayor Grant, Hamilton Fish.
A procession consisting of military,
militia. Il. A. X. organizations. carriages
containing the President and other Ma
tioual officials and distinguished gentle
men. Governors of the States in the or
der of their admission into the Union.
Representatives of the L. S. House and
Senate, Governors of Territories, Repre-
sentatives of the army and navy etc, etc.
The procession was followed by re-
ception by the President at which hand
shaking was omitted. The Centennial
hall was held In the Metropolitan Opera
House Monday evening.
Tuesday, the Centennial day proper
there was grand parade of troops, mil
lila, grand army posts, etc, and tie pro-
cession took up It's line of march from
9TH Avenue Hotel to the sub-treasury
building where ike literary exercises took
place.
The exercises consisted of brief re-
marks by Elbridge 7. Gerry, chairman OF
the committee, prayer by DR.. Stone, s
poem written by John G. Whittier, ora
ton by Chsuncey M. Dephew.
President Harrison made a brief ad
dress occupying but minutes.
The presidential party was then driver
to the reviewing stand in Madison Square
The parade was not entirely over until 4
o'clock z. NJ.
Grand displays of fireworks were made
at night and the closing exercises con
sisted of the most remarkable banquet
ever given in the great city, in Metropol
tan Opera House. There were % tables
and 500 guests. Mayor Grant presided
Gov. Hill made the address of welcome
Ex-President Cleveland responded to the
toast, Our People; Gov. Lee of Virginia
His Excellency the President; Chief JUS
tice Fuller, Our Federal Constitution
President Harrison, The United States OF
America; Ex-President Hayes, The Presi
dency; Senator Evarts. The Judiciary
Gen. Sherman, The Army and Navy
Pres. Elliott. Our Schools and Colleges
James Russell Lowell Literature; Justice
Harlow, Washington and the Constitu.
ton.