The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-01
lEAT TOWER BRIDGE
" THoROUGHFARE OVER THE
THAMES FORMALLY OPENED.
Ince Of wsIes Was Master of Cere-
nonies and Pressed the Electric
Button-A Royal Procession.

london, June 30.-The great Tower
dge was formally opened to-day by the
nce Of Wales in the name Of the Queen
p weather was blazing hot and the
ne was a magnificent one. Tens Of
lsands OF persons lined the route OF
royal procession The ceremony took
tat noon. AT IL o'clock the process
On, consisting OF five state carriages,
I'd Escorted by a detachment of the Life
yards, left Marlborough House for the
ridge. which spans the Thames short
istance below London bridge, from a
BOT adjoining the Tower of London on the
[iddIesex shore to Bermondsey on the
urrey side. In the first three carriages
[ere the members of the household of
ne Prince OF Wales and the Duke Of
9rk; in the last two carriages were the
ince Of Wales and Princess Of Wales,
Duke Of York and the Processes Vic
, and Maud of Wales. The royal car
Eses proceeded through Pail Mall to the
rand, through that thoroughfare to
eet street. Ludgate Hill and Cheapside.
the Mansion House the royal party
hs received by Lord Mayor Tyler and the
keriffs Of London and at the new bridge
|She Prince OF Wales and his family were
received by the Duke and Duchess Of
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Duke and
duchess Of Connaught, Prince and Prin-
cess Henry of Battenberg and by the Duke
and Duchess of Teck and other notable
tiles. special Enclosure to the left or
the royal dais was left for the diplomatic
corps. ansCng whom were the United
States ambassador and Mrs. Bayard. From
Temple Bar 10 the Tower bridge the
streets were lined with cavalry and infan>
Try, and at the bridge the guard of honor
WAS composed of blue Jackets. the Honor
Fable Artillery Company, the Rifle Brigade
land attachments of volunteers Extraordi-
nary precautions were taken TO guard the
royal family. Every detective and police
man In the metropolis who could be spared
from regular duty was stationed at some
point along the route of procession or else
about the bridge.
On reaching the northern approach to
the bridge the royal party was received
by the Lord Mayor and the high civic
officials. all in full robes. and were con-
Quoted TO their places on the bridge. The
ceremony of declaring the bridge open was
performed by the Prince OF Wales, who by
means OF electric button opened the
enormous bascules which have been built
so as to allow the loftiest vessels to pass.
a flourish or trumpets the laundering OF
guns from the tower, loud and enthusiast
tic cheering from the crowds and the
shrielxfng and hooting of the whistles of
announced the completion of this work.
\ The Bishop OF London. wearing his robes
'and hoods, then pronounced the benedic-
ton, and the officials connected with the
construction of the bridge We're received
by the Prince on behalf of the Queen. The
massed bands then played the national an
them. and the steamers, decked with bunt-
Ing, passed through the bridge amid ire
mend0Us cheering. Leaving the bridge the
royal party proceeded to the tower and
after inspecting the beef eaters embarked
on the steamer and, escorted by the
Queens watermen. returned to Westmin-
ster. and were from there driven in car
riageS 10 Marlborough House.
The decorations for the opening ceremony
were of an elaborate character. At two
points along the royal route huge trium-
phal arches had been erected. On the bridge
itself the decorative effects were complete
and picturesque The entire fOotway, both
east and west of the northern approach
was decorated into grandstands of five
tiers of seats, and a handsome pavilion for
mkhe royalties was also erected on the
horthern side of the bridge. The whole Of
he structure was magnificently decorat ted
With flowers and palms. and hung with
iags and shields. The sum of f300 was ex-
Ypended by the corporation In giving a din
4 ner 10 the people employed on the con-
structicn OF the bridge. Moreover, special
rows of seats were provided for them In
honor of the event the Lord Mayor has
been made a baronet and all the sheriffs
have been knighted.