Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-29
A Lavish Display of Patrioric Bunt-
ing All Along the Line.
elLDED EAGLES PERoHEo HIGH,
While the Hawks Roost Low For the
Multitudc-Statucs and stream
ers Give a Centennial Tone
to the Metropolis.
Centennial Decorations.

ration, and wher the clouds began to break
away work was resumed without a moments
loss of time. The chief interest seems to
center at Washington square, at the end of
Fifth avenue, where the first great arch
stretches from curb to curb. The arch is
built entirely of wood, and Is ornamented
with fringe of garlands and laurel wreaths
in papier mache. 1t is ivory white and is
surmounted by a carved wood statue of
Washington, ten rect high. This is the
statue that is said to have been first erected on
the battery in 1872. AT the foot of the statue is
a large trophy of national flags, and from
four corners of the arch streamers are ex-
tended to the corners of the neighboring resi-
dences Four large trophies of flags are on
each side, and upon either keystone are
perched fine specimens of American eagle.
The arch has also been fitted with colored
electric lights. and at night it will present a
most beautiful appearance.
The First Presbyterian church, between
Eleventh and Twelfth streets, has been util
lied for an immense stand, ani the Presby-
teran building on the ether side of the way
presents very brilliant 'front.'
Up at the corner of Fourteenth street, the
Grand armory first attracts attention,
with trophy of flags over each window
and flag draped on every sill The large
Hanover apartment house on the corner of
Fifteenth street is handsomely decorated.
At the corner of Twenty-first street the
South Reformed church yard is filled with
stands. The union club is beautifully decor
ated.
Nothing was done to-day towards the COM
Pletion of the decoration of the arch al
twenty third street, but it is said four hours
will suffice to transform it from its heavy
ran-soaked appearance into veritable pic
ture of lightness and life. Looking through
the arch. one first sees four golden eagles in
the midst of trophies Of flags that surmount
each window on the corner of the Albemarle
hotel. The same idea has been carried out
in the ornamentation of the broadway and
Twenty fourth street sides of the hotel, and
is very pretty. The Hoffman house people
have been lavish in the expenditure OF
money and talent.
Private houses innumerable and many of
the club houses on Fifth avenue are also
handsomely decorated, while others will be
finished tomorrow.
Such crowds as were on the streets to-day
were never seen before in New York on
Sunday. Fifth avenue and Madison square
were almost impassable while Lower Broad
way and Wall street were packed. The
crowd was drawn to Wall street and vicin
ity to view the scene of decorations of the
new sub-treasury and custom house.
Tonight the finishing touches are being
put on the pier at the foot of Wall street,
where the president will land tomorrow. II
is pier No. 16, East river. The pier is 45O
feet long and is divided into two apart
ments by means of two large curtains sus-
pended from beams. The part facing the
river will be decorated only with a large
American flag on the roof. That part OF the
pier facing South street Is covered with
decorations. Over one hundred large Amer
ican flags are draped over it, supported by
the coats of arms of the various states, and
numberless streamerS are hung from every
point. float is arranged for the presiden-
tial party to land. 1t is covered with a car
pet and concealed at the sides with bunting.
Extending from piers 16 and II were strung
two lines of streamers. Sixty flags and
many streamers decorated the roof of the
pier. The decoration of the city hall has
also been finished tonight.
The Sabbath was not observed among the
craft on the rivers to-day. Everything was
being put into shipshape for tomorrow
Many steamers already had their bunting
flying, and on all the work of overhauling
decorations IN readiness for the early morn
ing hours was being pushed rapidly.
The Presidents Train.
WASHINGTON. April 2S-About s o'clock
this afternoon magnificently appointed
train of ten cars pulled up at the siding at
South street, just outside the Pennsylvania
railroad station. 1t was the train to bear
the president and party to New York to at
tend the centennial celebration. 1t
was soon surrounded by Sunday
sight-seers. The cars form the most
gorgeous and best appointed train ever
run in America or in the world. They are
lighted by electricity, heated by steam, and
are fitted up with every appliance that lux
ury could desire.
The committee to escort the president
came from New York to-day and called on
the president, the diplomatic corps and other
high officers. The train was drawn up in
side the yard early in the evening to await
the arrival of the guests. Lieu
tenant Mason and Mrs. Mason were
the first to arrive. Justice Blatchford,
Justice Field and Chief Justice Fuller came
down about 10 o'clock. 1t was twenty min
utcs to II when the president and party
passed through the gates. There was quite
a crowd gathered in the station, but way
was quickly made and the party passed
quietly into the car reserved for 1T. The
president went through all the cars and
| then came back to No. 20, where he seated
himself
The other cars were set apart for newspa-
per correspondents who accompany the party,
Chief-Justice Fuller and wife, Justice Blatch-
ford, Justice Field, Justice Strong, Secretary
Window and family, Walker Blame and the
Misses Margaret and Harriet Blaine, Secre-
| tory Rusk and family, Lieut.. Mason and Mrs.
Mason, and Col Barr of the war department,
| members of the inaugural reception commit
| tee, Private Secretary Halford, Col. Wilson,
| Lieut.. Mason, Henry w. Raymond and Mr.
! and Mrs. A, j. Halford The president and
| his immediate family and guests occupied car
| No. 60.
| secretary WAS HOu Ouc VI lue
| The attack of lumbago, from which he has
| been suffering, did not yield as readily tc
| treatment as had been expected, and he de
| cided TO abandon the trip. Tine blinds of the
presidents car were drawn, and there was
quite a little social gathering in it while
| they waited for the time to start
| which in Difference TO the presi
dents antipathy for Sunday travelling,
had been fixed at 12;l0 o'clock. 1t was sub
| sequenty determined TO delay the departure
of the train until O'Clock, and shortly after
midnight the blinds of the presidents ca
were drawn fast and the party retired fo
| the night. Promptly at | o'clock the or,
"All aboard" rang out, the train men sprunl
| TO their places, and the long train Slow.
| steamed out of the station.
| Des Moines Centennial Services.
DEs MoINEs, Ia, April 2S.--TSpecial Il
| THE BEE. l-Des Moiues began its celebra
tion OF Washingtons centennial Tudsday
! At Grace Episcopal church there was I
! repetition substantily of the same service
that was conducted in old ST Paups church
| New York, where the first president and hi
staff went for worship immediately after hi
formal inauguration at the city hall, on
hundred years ago. Bishop Perry, who il
the Episcopal bishop for the diocese OF Iowa
| s...o l.. 49,,