New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-01
AT THE SPACIOUS PLAZA.
. prAI-TIFI-I. SETTING FOR THE PA
RADE As IT SWUNG INTO
THE AVENUE.

TO HIMSELF.
Fifth-ave at Fifty-ninth-st.. where 1t nroadens
into the beautiful open Plaza. with Central fa'H
stretching away TO the north. is one OF the sho"
n,aces Of New-York II IS a spot that lends Nseh
20 d,snlay OF circumstance, pageantry and power
No wonder then that this was the chosen spot Tor
thousands Of the eager onlookers anxious TO eaten
view OF the pomp and glitter OF the Dewey pa
rade.
From the Plaza itself along all the north side OF
Fifty-ninth-st reaching west TO the Circle
s,retchod high stands filed TO overlooking with
a waving shouting crowd OF a thousand hues
There being no houses on the north side or fllty-
nInth-st a superb opportunity was anoroed 10
huld the stands deep and high. with The rerresn-
ing green OF the Park background. On The
south side OF Fifty-nnth-st.. along which poured
the brilliant array Of Navy and Army. the side
walk was narrow. but II was crowded SIX ana
seven deep for tie whole distance, while the great
epartnent houses that lowered above the walk
were ab.aze with color and with spectators. Every
portico touching the street was built out ln'o
miniature granistand. while the jutt!ng balconies
wer. so crowded that Il looked as II clumps OF
wonderful human beings were clnging here and
there on the sheer wall locking for All the worid
Ike eroups OF brilliant hued flies on rs side
The Plaza where the marching files or troops
wheeled maiesticaVy from Ffty-ninth-st into
Iyftr-ave and 50 started the last stage OF their
long march. lay broad and bright and glowing IN
the rays Of the on either side arose those
hotels. sharply cOntrasted IN cOior ahu ue
sign and from out the canyoned streets that run
no,u,een them poured a streaming multitude OF
scurrying people. growing denser with each mo-
nent as tho morning wore away Ana on the no''h
OF the square stretched away the billowy green or
Central Park. IT'S trestops rising and falling In me
wind Ike the waves of The ocean. To the south
of the Plaza the view down the avenue grew dim
and hazv and indstinct clouded with the multi
tude OF steamers and designs OF welcome for the
Admiral
AVENUE READY FOR THE PARADE
Early in the morning along the upper reaches OF
the avenue the sidewalks began to be thronsed ana
hy the hour OF noon It was literally Impossible to
psss up and down Elaborate preparations had
been made for these self-same crowds Many pri-
vafe houses were running little grandstands OF
their own. while the clubs were all ready TO take
care of their guests The University Club had
large stand in front OF rs spacious windows, WhHe
ON the broad stems ana porticos OF St Thomas ?
Church and the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church
benches had been ranged. containing II is safe TO
say as fervld a band OF citizens as may usually
be seen on Sunday al those or any other churches
in the city.
A blank In the long stretches Of color and an eX-
oeption that most Of the sympathetic crowd readily
ennraclated were the Vanderbilt houses. those OF
the late head Of the family and Of his brother
which were unadorned save for single American
flag dropping I'm the wind.
The stands that lay along Fifty-ninth-st were
the livees spots IN this part OF TIC O''S' - ''9
hour % T. passcd by the false alarms grew more
frequent and whispers and ordinations arose on
every side Of There they come" only 20 die away
as the parade failed 10 appear Finally however
shortly before o'clock the whispers and exclama-
tions broke out into final great shout; There
they GOMEZ And this time they did come.
IN THE MIDST OF THE CROWD.
Meantime however, the multitude was amusing
itself and preparing for the pageant after the APP
proved fashion Of big. good natHred crowos. 10
begin with, Il nippng and an eager al" anu
most New-Yorkers end their friends were sensible
enough to appreciate that fact early In the day.