The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
NEW MAYOR TAKES HOLD.
SPARTAN BREvITT OF U CHIEF
MAGIsTRATE,S FIRST SPEECH.

Eighteen words In II RespondinG TO Several
Hundred OF Col. stronE's-Then Firty-nve
Minutes or llandshaE,nE and Then to Work
Policeman wouidnr Let Him Ipto His once.
Robert A. Van Wyck, first Mayor OF the new
New York, second city of the world, took pos
session of his office in the City Hall yesterday
without formal ceremony OF any kind. He docs
not like fuss and feathers. He made a speech
containing exactly eighteen words, after which
he turned from Mayor Strong, to whom his
words were addressed, and began to shake
hands with the thronR OF people who had gath
cred to greet him. At the end of ~nfty.nvo min
utos he retired to his private Office and began
his duties ns Mayor by removing from Office
every man In the five boroughs, which now con-
stitute the city. who held office by virtue OF an
appointment from Mayor Strong. Mayor wurs.
ter, and Mayor Gleason Of Long Island City,
save only the School Commissioners Of old New
York and the Aqueduct Board, which holds
over until 1901.
POLICEMAN WOULDN'T LET THE NEW MAYOR IN.
Mr.. Van Wyck left his home at 1876 East
Forty sixth street for tho City Hall ut 11:2O
o'clock In the morning. He was accompanied
by his brother. Justice Van wyck OF tho Su.
preme Court Of the Second Department, and by
Officer John F. Scully, who was formerly at
eoShSu = u WY SouTb. u tnTeC Incl WHiKeu
to the Forty-seventh street station of the Third
avenue elevated road, where they boarded a City
Hall train. The Mayor and his brother had
seats together. Few in tho car recognized them
until Twenty-eighth street was reached. Here
q crowd Of Tammany men bound for the inaugu.
ration boarded the train. and Mr.. Van Wyck
held an impromptu reception.
When the Mayor eloct walked up the front
steps OF the City Hall at IL :45 o'clock few in tho
crowd there seemed to recognize him. and
fewer still greeted him.. When he attempted
to enter the Mayors private office by the little
door which leads directly from the corridor the
policeman on guard stopped him.
Hoy! you can't no in there" he said.
what's the matter with you T. asked Scully
angrily. This is Mayor Van wyck."
The policeman fell back and the inaugural
party entered. They were greeted by Mayor
Strong, Mayor Wurstor. Mayor Gleason, Gen.
Coils. Gen. McCook and several other depart
mental officers who had assembled in the pri-
vate office to welcome the new Mayor.
In the meanwhile there was n lam in the City
Hall. AS many mon as could crowded into tho
public office Of the Mayor. The remainder. num-
bering more than 200 persons. packed them.
selves In the main corridor and clamored for
was only exceeded by the number which was
massed about the City Hall Park on the previous
rection OF Inspector Grant and Capt. Copeland.
Mayors office. Every now and then the door
would open and a well.known Tammany poll
tician with his silk hat ruffled and awry would
NOON COMES AND A NEW MAYOR.
The public office was crowded almost to suf-
location at seven minutes before noon, when
the Mayor elect. his brother, and Mayor Strong
walked into the room Mr.. Van Wyck glanced
about him cpriously. He saw there a crowd Of
n s%i', ses i Ss1l'ff IN ci9s HAT a'sTl b %eny s Gf wh tSe dad had
Possession, i the Mayor elect fplt any emo:
walked directly 10 his desk and stopped
been sent to him. He smiled when he saw stand
inG on his desk a tiger made of yellow immor.
sent by q Brooklyn, Democrat. He also ex. |
pressed admiration for the huge floral piece
force erected behind the desk, after which he
shook hands again with Mayors Strong. Wurs.
ter. and Gleason. and talked about the weather.
COL sTRoNG's LONG TALK.
At exactly - o'clock Mayor Strong cleared
his throat and said:
"JIage Van ,Wyck, the people of tho city of
you should be the first Mayor of this great city,
and YOU, descended from your honorable posi-
me great pleasure, on behalf of the peo lie Of the
city in which we have both lived about the Same
Cf'ssi" of time to welcome you to your new
Then Col. Strong gave some statistics con-
corning the wealth. ana commercial Importance
of New York, after which he concluded: lit
gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on
the great honor which you have received at the
MAYOR VAN wYcK's SHORT TALK.
Mayor Van Wyck said:
=" received this office from the people, I a-
cept 1t from them. and to them l will answer"
A UNIVERSAL SHAKE.
Then he shook hands once more with the three |
eN-Mayors. whose terms of office had expired
but n, few moments before. and, falling back,
Will hIA hrnthnr Mt IiG lhff aida Hn hnrnV 81, |
receive the congratulations of the men In the
crowd; The policemen opened q narrow path
public office to the door which opens on the
corridor from the passage TO the private office, !
the Mayor 0 shook h 'nds with each one. Many
he ,. called Il by name sn, Others apparently were
brother, ana for all he had u pleasant word.
When the line began to thin out the police got
thhe' cor ri + ioro% and UPv more t%' ~ So1rs 70 an" ND t cRiidrs IN
rushed in. They were Immediately formed into
line and the Mayor shook hands with all WHO
the ceremony, Many in the. crowd who did not
recognize the M,yoT passed by WITHOUT shaking
sorry. Some Of them even forgot to remove
their hats and others kept cigars in their
appear in the line and to such the Mayor WAS
extremely cordialL. As each child came along no
stopped down and shook its hand and spoke q
pleasant greeting.
MAYOR QUITS AND GOES TO WORK.
By 1890 o'clock the atmosphere OF the room
was almost unbearable. 1t was hot and stuffy,
and the Mayor began to show signs OF weari.
ness. His right hand evidently panied him, and
he began TO offer his left to each alternate man
or woman in the line; At. 1880 he glanced at
the clock as though he wished the ordeal was
over. Five minutes later he said abruptly:
81 will have to stop now. must retire to
my private office. as ! have work to do"
Then he took his brothers arm and walked
out of the room. 1t was noticed hat his hands
trembled,, and 1t was evident that the strain had
affected him. Among those who greeted the
new Mayor were: President Guggeuhoimer
and the members Of the Council. John +. Car.
roll, Justice Smyth Of tho Supreme Court. T..
Ellery Anderson, Charles d. Hubbrll., presl.
dent of the Board Of Education. Vernon
NJ. Davis. County Clerk Sohmcr. Regis.
ter Fromme. senator Timothy D. Sulli-
van, Bernard Martin, Col. $, VI u GpugeT.
President Mcmillan Of the old Park Board,
Francis y. Thurber, John w, Killer. Willis
Holly, Elliot Danlorth, @;Jpstlcc qlGntt, John
Whalen, Patrick Keenan,, Thom!s l.. Hamilton,
Avery Ii. Andrews, Andrew J. Parker, Jeffer.
son NJ. Levy, }. Sergeant Gram; col. Warning,
James Il. Goldman. David MCLInro.. ex.Sheriff