The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-28
the hundreds Of steamers which, hsy-

Ing come up the river in the naval
parade. had taken up positions in
rather inconvenient proximity to the
Dolphin. As the president set foot on
the deck of the Dolphin a presidential
salute Of 2l guns was fired. and the
fleet of steamers blew whistles until
the sound Of the firing was scarcely
audible.
The president was accompanied by
Secretary Of State Sherman, Secretary
Alger. Attorney General McKenna,
Secretary Long, Secretary Gage, Sec
retary Bliss, Generals Miles, Ruggles,
Porter and Butterfield. Elihu Root. J.
Edward Simmons, Governor Black and
Postmaster General Gary.
At $3.50 o'clock the Dolphin started
down the river. followed by the i'm
mense fleet of steamers which had
awaited the arrival Of the president.
AS the Dolphin passed the white squad
were manned by the gallant tars of the
various ships. and French bugle call
from the Fulton was added to Its salute
of the chief executive.
A unique feature Of the naval pa
rade was the appearance of the steam
er Sam Sloan, decorated with Cuban
flags. as she passed up and down North
river. She had been chartered by some
Of the prominent members of the Gu
ban colony, and carried as guests
President T. Estrada Palma and the
officers Of the Cuban legation and their
families. As Mr.. Palma and party
assembled from the Cortlandt street
pier to the Cabin Of the Sam Sloan the
band played the national anthem of
Cuba. while one of the ladies' sang the
air. the passengers joining in the
chorus. Every stanchion and Flagstaff
was hung with the colors of Cuba
Libre. As the Sloan steamed up the
river the band played the national
air of each country while passing its
representative. or visiting warships.
When the Sloan reached the Spanish
men-of-war, Infanta Isabella and
Maria Theresa. the band struck up the
Cuban national war song, while the
passengers cried Cuba Libre." The
officers Of the Spanish vessel maintain
ed a dignif1ed silence.
While the surging crowds were still
ception to President Mckinley was in
progress at the Union League club.
Scarcely hitch occurred in the
whole arrangements for this great
celebration, and the arrangements of
the committee from early morning
until late at night met with complete
success. The brisk cold wind affected
those in the elevated vicinity of the
tomb more than 1t did those in more
sheltered and lower parts Of the city.
1t is estimated that fully a million
persons watched for hours the troops
that passed in review. 1t was such a
gorgeous sight that no dust, no wind
could kin the enthusiasm of the on
lockers many of whom were compelled
to walk out in the early morning to
the park, and thousands of whom
came from distant cities.
When night fell and the greatest of
military. naval and civic parades ever
seen here was at an end the city as
sumed a gala aspect. The streets were
full of bright uniforms of all nations,
while sightseers from every part
wandered from place to place and dis
cussed the wonders of the day.
Once in the history of the world be-
fore has such a ceremony been en-
acted over the reinterment of any great
man, this only other instance being
when the body of Napoleon was
brought back to Paris. when royalists
and republicans alike Joined in one
great triumphal pageant.
At midnight all was quiet. The war
ships lights no longer were reflected
by the placid Hudson, and the gray
tomb on the eminenCe above stood out
boldly against the black sky. at last
a fitting monument erected by CRATE
full nation to the soldier president who
through victories and war brought
peace, and who with peace brought
honor