The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-01
TRIP ACROSS THE BAY.
Journey over the Same Course Covere'
by Washington a Century Ago

NEW YORK, April 29.-The scene at the en-
barkation of the president and party at Eliza
bethport was an attractive one. The sun had
come out again in brilliancy, and there was
stiff breeze which kept the yards of highly
colored bunting, everywhere displayed, hut
tering vigorously. The arrangements for the
reception and embarkation of the distinguished
guests to-day at the port were elaborate and
effective. The procession overland from Eliza
beth headed for the slip of the Alcyon boat
club, from the landing of which the start for
the L. :. Dispatch was made. The boat-house
was hung with the bravest colors of the club,
and the galleries were crowded with friends OF
the members 10 see the start.
Owing to the shallow water in the Kill Won
Kull, near the port. the Dispatch had been
obliged to anchor in the stream two miles
down. To this point the president was TO be
rOwed by q picked crew OF the club in their
finest barge. The Dispatch arrived out in
waiting from the city at $3.50, and Immediately
Chairman Asa Beard Gardiner of the naval
committee put of in the vessels steam launch
to receive the visitors entitled 70 board the
steamer. President Harrison and Vice-Presi-
dent Morton were rowed as rapidly as possible
amid well-nigh deafening Outburst of steam,
to the launch. and, in company with Mr.. Gar
diner and Capt, Erben, rOwed down the stream
10 the Dispatch. A local committee directed
the departure of the remaining members OF
the presidents party assigned TO the Dispatch.
SecyS. Window and kuSk, Il. M.-tien. Wanna
maker, Chief Justice Fuller, Justices Field and
Blatchford and ex-Justice Strong Mr. Walker
Blaine, Col Barr L. :. A.; Lieut.. Mason, L.
n; Lieut. Judson, the presidents personal
aid; Mr.. OBJ. Potter chairman of the commit
tee transportation; the committees photog-
raDher and a representative OF the Associated
Press, who was the only newspaper man &C.
companying the president TO the boat.
The wind had treShened up considerably by
this time and the transfer from the TUG to the
steamer made with considerable difficulty,
but fortunately with no mishAp. That the day
passed off with no serious accident it may be
remarked in passing, was a matter of profound
gratitude on the part of President Harrison,
who expressed his appreciation of the efforts OF
every one interested to make the occasion the
brilliant success il was.
When the president and vice-president
reached the dispatch in the Alcyon's barge,
| the former was received at the gangway by Mr..
| Jackson ;. Schultz, on behalf of the committee
| on navy, without any remark further than a
respectful Salutation and greeting. Mr..
| Schultz introduced the president 10 the other
| members of the committee and the president
was then escorted to the main deck by Messrs.
| Gerry and Bowen, chairman and secretary OF
| the executive committee, and presented to the
several members of the party on board. The
same routine carried out in the reception
| of Nice-President Morton
On the Dispatch, besides these named above
on Its trip to the city were the members of the
committee on navy, in whose technical charge
the ship was: Gov. David B. Hill, Mayor Hugh
/ j. Grant Admiral David ID. Porter Gen. John
NJ. Schofeld, Secy. Tracy and bis son Frank
| Secy. Proctor, Secy. Noble Atty. Gen. Miller
| Gen. Sherman, Commodore Ramsey of the navy
| yard and James NJ. Barnum of the plan and
| scope committee.
There was a little delay in getting the Dis
| patch under way, a part of which President
| Harrison utilized in securing dose Of guinine
| as a preventive against possible harm result
| ing from the exposure on the bay. Tie was
! not in any way uncomfortable despite the fac
/ that his overcoats had become shifted a
/ Elizabeth and his heavy winter garment, which
/ he needed now, II ever, was then on its peace
l ful way 10 the Fla avenue hotel, and buttoneC
around him was u lighter weight for protection
/ against the mild breezes Ton land) of sprinG
/ and fall.
While waiting for the boats to start. tn,
/ president remarked to the Associated Pres.
/ representative that the demonstration at Eliza
/ beth lar exceeded his expectations; that il was
! in fact a great surprise 10 him.
He spoke of the arch thrown across thI
| street, on which young girls represented the
/ original states of the Union, feature tina
/ seemed TO strike him most favOrably. He al
/ luded to the great interest shown by the PEG
/ pie in the event of a hundred years ago as
/ gratifying evidence of their devotion to cOun
/ try, its history and Institutions.
Finally, at IL: 10 o'clock, amidst chorus O.
| whistles, the screeching OF which seems TO b.
\ the only way in which boats officials can ex
] press their emotion OF JOY, and numberles
1 salutes from ordnance of various calibe
afioat and ashore, the Dispatch begaI
| its trip over the same course covered
a century ago by the first president o
| the republic. The changes of that hundred
| years were more than finite mind can cOmpre
bend, and hasty mental review, an effort u
reproduce the scene of 1889, engaged major
q he. D,,k IL. -
and sounds of to-day crowded apace and de
manded all the attention that could be be
| slowed.
Such scene as the boat turned Staten Islam,
| point into the bay from Kill Won Kull may b.
/ witnessed nowhere else on earth, and those VIII,
naval display in New York bay will carry q
their graves the memory OF spectacle unique il
I all respects Words fail TO adequately describ
/ II. -Four hundred steam vessels, in long line
of hundred each, radiating from the Dispatcl
/ in long lines that maintained their integrit,
with faithfulness that was surprising undo
the circumstances Millions of spectators VIII
viewed the stirring scene from every availabl
/ site making the shores dense black clouds
made combination Of power and resource tina
was striking.
There was little on board the Dispatch dun
ing the hours run to anchor off the foot o
Wall.st. that merits special reference. A lunc
spread on the second deck aft attracted at on
/ time or another on the way, the presence o
| most Of these on board, whose appetites wer
sharpened by the breeze, and who did ampl
justice to the bountiful provisions of the con
mittee. To President Harrison, evidently, a
TO many others on the Dispatch, the line 0
American men-of-war was the most attractiv
part of the display. Beginning with the Bos
ton, from the peak OF which flowed tn
admiraps four stars in a blue field, on in lin
came the Atlanta, the Yorktown, the Juniats
jamestown, Brooklyn, Essex, Yantic, Keal
sarge aad the Chicago, flying the pennant o
the secretary Of the navy. They all in tur
saluted the Dispatch she steamed past. Tn
deep boom of the reverberations following tn
discharge of their guns was a grateful chang
from the sharp reports OF pony pieces on tn
merchant marine and yachts, which had mad
a terrible din all along the way.
As the president came in front of each Q
these boats he responded TO the salute b.
raising his hat, and his steadfast gaze indicates
deep interest in the maneuvers Of the men o.
the yard arms of the bow spirits.
To those from the interior, and doubtless I
many who have lived long shore" the mar
ming of the farms" was one of the most notabl
features Of the occasion. The new vessels wer
the cynosure of all eyes and favorable opinion
of their strength and ability were expressed
Secy. Tracy was congratulated on having 70
his flagship such fine vessel the Chicago
! But here q turn into the East river was mad