The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-30

In some Of the bost places. two more back OF
that At first. the early corners had sat on the
stone parapet and hung their feet over
but the police had orders lone OF the few
orders OF q very free day not to permit
that and there was no rest for the weary
thereafter. save such as could be obtained
by leaning over the stone top and watch
Ing tho wiser ones taking their ease on the
grassy slope below. At every entrance 10 the
Park there were police. patrolmen were scat
tered through the principal walks In the Park.
and at points whore II was thought that there
was the greatest chance OF accident ambu-
lances stood ready to bring swift aid. Every
arrangement was made to take care OF the
crowd which. as 1t proved. needed little care OF
that kind. Here ahd there some congestion
resulted from the pouring In OF the crowds
from every street and their coaescing at the
Park entrances. but there 10 so much space on
those wide hisides that the mass soon
melted away and spread out until every one
had found place that suited him.
WHERE THE CROWD WAS TH1cKEsr.
At Eighty third street the rock masses that
project M from the lawn were q picturesque
sight for they were crowded with sghtsesrs.
who were grouped on every available projec-
ton and who furnished ample material for the
camera nends. Along here. In tho vicinity OF
Niueteth street. at 10th street and at Grants
Tomb the crowds were thick est but from end
to end OF the Park there was long solid line
OF watchers for the fret sight OF the coming
ships. a line that stretched like a sernent
around projections. up to the crest OF the slope
to avoid valley here. down to tho edge OF the
river to take advantage OF a rising bit OF
ground there. now broadening out as some
wide hill gave sitting ground for thousands.
now thinning down to a half dozen lines where
trees or shrubbery shut OF the view from
above. but always keeping before it tho vista
OF river. up which the course OF the feet lay.
Through this long, wavy line hurried hundreds
OF fakirs. vending apples. cigars. badges. pea
nuts. sandwiches, lemonade. cushions. chairs.
improvised benches made out OF rough lum
Der nailed together In primitive and none too
safe fashion. and box seats" as they were
called.
Here's yer box seatsi" cried one facetious
fakir with his arms full OF old grocery boxes.
"To-morrer yell have to pay S. fer EN-. T'day
70 git em fer 5 cents. Step up an buy while
they're cheap"
Many did buy. particularly where the park
terminates in bluT look ing out over the rail-
road tracks to the river for a chair on the
brink OF this blufY was a reserved seat worth
having Many too. bought the assorted eata-
bes that the other fakirs had In stock and the
reporter saw some adventurous spirits who
tackled the Dewey nve-cent cigars. A man
with opera glasses to rent would have done .
big business. as there was a general tendency
on the part OF those not having those useful
aides to vision to borrow them Of those who
had. and one mans glasses. II he was a very
good natured man. were made to do service for
dozen Of his neighbors Most ofthe peering
was done at the craft. which by this time fairly
II, thA IL all, alan thA. Hat
ing hthsr and thither under steam or sail. CON-
stantly threatening collision and az constantly
avoiding It. somewhat to the regret OF the
excitement seekers among the crowds. and
forming a stirring spectacle Of color and swift
movement. With good glasses one could make
out an extraordinary spectacle on tho shores
OF Jersey. All along the water line stretched
a broad black wall OF human beings. On the
hillside. back, there were some observation
stands filled with spectators. whore there were
open spaces. but the slopes there are mostly
wooded with an occasional space where
the bluff is too steep for the growth
OF trees. Those sleeps were liter
ally covered with people clustered
like bees swarming. Through the edges OF
the woodland there were more and even the
trees were full OF them. Similarly the steep
cliffs on tho Now York side. far above Grants
tomb. were a mass OF sightseers and II Is like
ly that these. looking as they did straight down
the river. and tho Jersey spectators. with their
unim peded south view. had q much finer sight
OF the great naval spectacle In It's entirety than
did the thousands in the more popular locality
OF Riverside Park.
wARsHIPs ON THE HORIZON
1t was the general impression that the head
OF the parade would como In sight from tho
Tomb at about o'clock At 2 o'clock little
sloop. flying streamers from every peak and
rope and rail and plunging forward under a
heavy press OF sail. skirted the shore and those
aboard OF her seemed to be trying to commu-
nicate by speech with the crowds. Also they
were making enthusiastic. not to say frantic.
gestures which might have meant almost any
thing from strong drink to toothache. but
which the crowd chose to suppose meant
that the line was approaching. At tho same
time the dull booming OF guns was heard from
below. There was moment OF keen expecta-
ton which soon died out. however. and every
body told his neigh Dor that 1t was false alarm.
Nevertheless the guns continued to boom. At
this time the Sun man was near 10th street,
and. as the walks ahead seemed badly
congasted. he found a bit OF lawn I'M
occupied and sat down to wait. A
few feet In front Of him and down the
slope was man with a large telescope
mounted on tripod. Every now and then on Q
or another OF tho tripods legs would slip out
and the man would adroitly catch the glass.
patiently establish the leg again and continue
to examine the river. Then he intimated that
any person might look through his glass for ten
cents look.
1T 10 such powerful glass" said he. that
can plainly see fly walking upon the nose
Of the captain OF that excursion boat on the
other side OF the river"
II want to hire your glass" said a middle
aged woman. much impressed by this, but
don't want 1t until the Admiral comes"
Madam" said tho man calmly; when the
Admiral comes l shall be so keen to look a,
him myself that It will take half q dollar to
hire this glass for one calendar minute"
First on that. If tho lady don't want it," sal d
man in front promptly.
IN take the second chance" said another
man. and others straightway spoke for the fol-
lowing turns.
Take your places In line gentlemen" said
the telescope man. " l was fool not to say q
| dollar"
While everything was calm and peaceful
| enough on shore. still 1t was easy to