New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-02
"THE FINEST" PARADE AGAIN.
nrvERY LEADS THE RANKS THROUGH
AN ALMOST SILENT TIIRONG.

THE MAYOR REVIEWS THEM AND THE ACT
ING Grief AT A SUGGESTION FROM
THE CROWD. MAKES BRAVE
MAN A RoUNDsMAN ON
THE SPOT
~. most remarkable feature Of the annual police
careie which took place yesterday, was the little
enthusiasm displayed by the onlookers. The num-
hers along the whole line OF march fully equal
% those that witnessed any previous parade: in
deed at points the crowds were larger than
aver seen before similar asions. But the
SPECTATORS were undemonstrative TO the point OF
collness. Neither the sight OF the new Acting
Cher mounted on fine horse. and striking an i'm
posing attitude OF the officers and men, all In
their new helmets and marching with excellent
precision. had power 10 move them TO applause.
There indeed. n certain amount of cheering
st some points for individual members OF the force
but the applause evidently proceeded from their
personal friends. and anything In the shape Of
popular demonstration was conspicuous by its alb
sence. The only person who seemed to arouse anv
enthusiasm In the majority of the onlookers was
tiny coored boy who had IN some way crept into
6 place at the head Of one OF the regiments
CHEERS FOR A BRAVE MAN
TIE only other outeurst Of unanimous popular
APPROVAL was not about anything in the parade
proper, but in Madison Square, before the parade
arrived. when the Mayor gave TO Policeman Fred
eT!ck L. Stahl. of the Leonsrd-st. station. tho
Ri.nelander medal for distinguished bravery Stahl
rescued family at @ fire at the great risk of his
own life. Mayor Van Wyck pinned the medal on
the petroman's breast amid tho enthusiasts cheers
Of those on the two reviewing stands. at the same
time compmenting Stahl upon his bravery. Com
missioner York also made brief speech, In which
he expressed the Police Boards appreciation OF
stahls act and OF the deeds OF others who had
displayed great bravery and were in the contest
for the honor.
Why don't you make him a roundsman7'' shout
Cd some one IN tho crowd while this ceremony
IN progress.
AN excellent suggestion" commented the Mayor.
and he then formally suggested TO Acting Chief
Devery that StahI be promoted The Acting Chief
at once accepted tho suggestion, and told Stahl that
he roundsman. Loud applause followed.
NO SMILES FROM DEvERY.
Just why tho spectators did not fit greet
the policemen with any grea. degree OF heartiness
Is not easy say. The old spirit Of camaraderie
between the force and the people seems TO have
disappeared. however. and those who took part in
the parade looked as II they knew IL The new
acting chief who ought surely TO feel gratihed at
the present time. seeing that II is only short
while ago that his connection with the body Of
which ne is nov tho head seemed likely 10 he
broken altogether marched as though he We're
commanding an invading army in a fallen city.
His attitude he sat his horse was q some
what heroic one. but only or twice did his
features snow dllNlnilS Dut a sN'NA H' ii'''
marched carbohydrates indeed than they have
marched In any previous parade. But few Of
them looked though they were enjoying the
experience.
Perhaps the heat had something to do with all
this Neither the waiting crowds nor those who
took part in the parade can have felt particularly
comfortable. The line OF march a long one
from the Battery to Fiftieth-st by way OF Broad
way. Twenty-third-st. and Madison ave. and then
back through Fqfth-ave to Madison Square BY
anha. fNa
Ncemen were hot and thirsty body Of men. This.
however did not affect their discipline or their
marching. and, as has been said. their marching
and formation we're excellent. As a matter OF
fact the form shown by the policemen was
rood deal Of an Improvement that displayed
By some Of the National Guard regiments as they
recently marched throuSh tho city on their way
TO camp
NEW HELMETS Ugly AS THE OLD.
Every member OF the force yesterday wore his
new helmet Those who hoped that the new head
gear would be an improvement upon the horrible
inverted coal-scutte OF the past were disappointed
Whoever years ago designed that monstrosity has
a good deal 10 answer for. Tho helmets worn b.
the police force Of London are not things OF
beauty but compared with the extraordinary
creations seen upon the heads OF the policemen or
this city they the hats OF the figures on the
PlrthenOn frfeze to those OF the chinese coolies
A patrolman told a Tribune reporter yesterday that
the helmets. because they were cool and comfort
able They may be that. but 1t seems eXtraor-
binary that there has never yet been commits
soner whose eye has not been Offended ny ths
h!deous curves Of these helmets Instead OF me
old military caps. the chief with the inspectors
and CAPTAINS wore helmets similar 70 those or the
patrolmen yesterday, the only distinction being
tina. those OF the officers were white. while those
OF the men dirty neutral tint
OF course every uniform in tho best posi-
BE condition. and every horse scrupuiousiy
groomed And indeed. there Is no finer set OF
men anywhere than tho members OF the New
York police force. Many crack regiment nero
and IN Europe might envy them their average
height-also their g1rth. This year marks period
in these annual parades. being the FIRST IN wh'ch
the combined force Of the new city OF New-ao DIX
;tv was felt as 10 whether the men from Brooklyn
and the suburban precincts would sho" any ~
sisGuS nav be DECLARED with certainty that
nothing OF the kind was observable me who's
force reached a general level OF high excellence as
far as appearance and department went
THE BICYCLE CORPS IN FRONT.
Ono thing indeed was apparent 20 & curious DE-
gree II was that the men vulgarly known as
bicycle cops" an altogether different species
from the rest. Not for them are the compined
majesty and e.nbonpoint of those seen on Broad
sus,nke senderness They had about the hardest
wok YESTERDAY OF any men in The PaFaa keen Gye 6g
moving for long time very slowly. keeping the
same rate OF speed continually and not "wab,
bling" This the bicycle cops mad to 40; an9
they did 1t well. But there was strained ara
anxious expression on each mans face as ne
neared the end OF his Journey and deep signs OF
relief escaped them when they dsmounted 49,
The bicycle corps headed the column. Win mo
exception Of two roundsmen and four patroime'i,
all mounted who cleared the way. After the
hcyclists rode Acting CHIEF Of Ponce william
from the rest by q good many yards In front and
behind. Deputy Chief Moses W. Cortrght was
In command Of the nrst regiment OF twenty com.
panles. Deputy chief Patrick II Mclaughlin OF
The second, Deputy Chief John Mackeilar OF the
third Deputy Chief Elias i. Clayton Of the fourth.
and Acting Deputy Chief William W McLaugh
In Of the fifth. Ten patoons Of mounted men fol-