Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-22


shouted. cheered and then sang ''The Sta
Spapgled Banner In one mighty choru
as the feet passed the Christopher stree
recreation pier at II o'clock. It was al
inspiring scene. with all the whistles
footing. the bands on the boats playint
and the thousands Of people singing OF
the pier. When the Brooklyn passed {
mighty cheer went up. and the Texa.
1 came in for another great reception.
! An incident occurred at this point tina
slightly married the parade. The Umbris
OF the Cunard Line was In midstream
heading for her dock. This caused some
of the warshtps to sheer OF toward the
Jersey shore. much to the regret of the
people on the New York side. The slight
change OF course of the fleet was neces.
sary to avoid a collision.
There was a tremendous din from botf
the New York side and the Weehawker
and Shadyside banks of the river when
the New York passed 4ed street at Ills
O'Clock. The piers along the North river
sire were literally packed with people
who cheered Justify.
| 1t was a picturesque sight to see the
crest of the Weeha vixen Heights frlnged
with people, who stood out in sharp out.
line against the sky. When they shouted
and cavorted they looked like a lot oil
marionettes.
/ When the fleet passed this point the
long row Of factories from 42d street up
the river let of pent-up steam reserved
for the purpose. The whistles of the fac
tories drowned everything else. The win
| dows of the factories were filled with
people. who added to the din.
| The noise of the acclamatiOns down
stream notified the people at the lower
end of Riverside Park that the feet was
coming.
! The New York was abreast Of the slop-
| ing grassy banks of the park at 11.25
o'clock. Then Lieut.. Kobler of the %
| Battery gave the signal, and the two fiel6
| guns doomed. They kept booming unit.
the fleet had passed. A large number O.
| people thought that the parade would b.
| delayed, and the side streets leading tc
| the southern end of the park from SSH
| leisurely walking along.
| When they heard the guns boom ther'
was mad stampede toward the river
front of men, women and children. Ii
looked like a vast army on the double
| quick. The booming of the guns was q
| signal for a great outburst of enthusiasm
from the crowds along this shore.
| BY 11.30 O'Clock. at which time the fee
| hove into sight just below Grants tomb
| fully 125,OOO people were seated upon the
| approaches to the lawns and hills neal
| the tomb. Every inch of land. almost.
was occupied. and even the side of the
steep hill running down to the railroad
track was black with human beings who
were obliged to hold onto the sod to keep
| themselves from falling to the bottom.
| The crowd kept increasing even aftei
| the parade was over. A steady stream
| kept pouring upon the ground when the
! last ship had passed the tomb on her way
down.
| A platoon of light infantry of two pieces
under command of Capt. Louis Wendell
| from the list Battery, had planted its guns
directly opposite the tomb under the
| trees on the edge of the bank.
nose in front of the tomb. and as she did
| so the battery fired salute. Scarcely
mad the smoke from the guns cleared
| away when the bow guns of the flagship
ran out and saluted. Then she passed or
her stately way. The other ships also
saluted as they came abreast of the tomb
Capt. Wenders battery answered every
salute, and salutes were constant from
| the Jersey shore.
| The great crowd watched the fleet pass
! in awed silence. There was practically
no sound except from the guns. Slowly
| the fleet steamed on to 13Oth street, a2d
| there the New York turned to the left al
| 11.5O o'clock and started down the river.
At 1912 o'clock she passed the tomb once
more. but her guns were silent, although
those of the Wendell battery doomed oui
many times.