The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-05-10
WASHINGTON RELICS.

admitted close resemblance. The medal
lions and miniatures of Washington were
numerous. some Of them exhibiting
strange variations from the accepted
portrait, due probably to the fact that
miniatures were not Of the best In those
days.
The real centennial began in the fore
noon of Monday, April 20, with the
grandest naval display ever witnessed in
American waters. Some 200 large ves-
sells, besides many yachts and tugs, took
part, the steamers and such others rs
could be handled with perfect safety first
passing up the Brooklyn side Of East
river to the upper end of the city, then
turning and passing down the New York
side and around to the Hudson, while
the great bridge, both shores and oil the
,oavcnient housetops on both shores were
crowded By q million observers. All the
fronts Of both cities blazed in red, white
and blue, and the vast crowd Of specta-
tors often broke into enthusiastic up
plause. The vessels in regular line ex-
tended over distance of fourteen miles,
and tho admirable arrangement for the
parade was largely the design Of Fleet
Captain d. N. Munger. In the first
squadron many of the vessels carried the
flags of the different states, as the Of
ficials and commissioners of those states
wero on board; but by direction Of Ad-
miral Porter, in general command, the
yachts were moorcd in the harbor, as
there was not room for them to maneuver
In East river.
All this was merely incidental to the
formal reception Of President Harrison
and those with him, which Of course
could not be witnessed by the general
public. Governor Hill, with the COM
missioners of the several states, the gen.
eral committee on the centennial, and
others, went out to meet the presidents
steamer on its way from Elizabcthport,
N. j. There the president and party
took the steamer prepared for him,
which moved into the upper bay and
passed through the fleets moored to re-
ceive and salute him.
The scene was sublime beyond the
power Of language to describe. All the
lovely expanse stretching south, south
east and southwest from the Battery was
ablaze with brilliant colors, beautifully
softened and harmonized by the snowy
sails of the yachts and other sail vessels.
| As the presidents boat passed each
squadron the salute was given by dip
ping colors and blowing the steam whis-
Ties for half minute. When the presi-
dent had landed the fleets formed, all the
larger vessels in single line and the small
er two abreast, made the East river cir
cult and then passing around the south
end of Manhattan Island and up the
| Hudson 20 Fiftieth street, made like
circuit on both sides Of that river.
/ Meanwhile the president had descended
from the vessel In East river into barge
manned by a crew of shipmasters from
the Marine Society Of the Port Of New
York, with Capt. Ambrose Snow as coz
swain. Thecrew Of the barge that rowed
President Washington from Elizabeth
port to the foot Of Wall street were MEM
bers Of the same society. Arriving at the
foot Of Wall street the president was re-
ceived by tho governor Of the state, the
mayor Of the city and the committeeman
named for the purpose, and tho entire
party, escorted by q military attachment,
went to the Equitable building, where a
reception took place; but owing to the
narrowness Of the streets there and the
necessity of room for the military, COM
paratively few of the people could wit
ness this part Of the proceedings. The
same must be said Of the much discussed
centennial ball Of that evening and
the lnquet of the next evening, but
after the official reception at the Equita-
BILE building, the great public was ad-