The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-05-30

The Reception Given to the French
Delegation

New York. Nav sT.-Count De Roch-
ambeau and the others of the party OF
french delegates. after passing most OF
the day IN journeying to West Point
and reviewing the cadets there. arrived
in this city shortly before 4 o'clock Ia
the afternoon. They came down thI
Hudson on the United States dispatch
boat Dolphin. AS the DOLPHIN teamed
UP TO the battery salutes were fired.
Lined up on the dock were 100 blue
Jackets from the Gaulois. with their
band. and about double h a number OF
United States sailors from h kear-
sarge and the Alabama.
A large crowd stood in a pouring rain
and witnessed the debarkation, cheer
ing the visitors as they proceeded to
~carriages, and. escorted by the military
and a platoon of mounted police. were
driven TO the city hall. From the side
walk or the roadway, the party was
welcomed with the cheers and acclama-
tons Of thousands. while the big build
ings which line the t~horougbtare fur
nished a share of the applause from
hundreds stationed at the windows.
Countess de Rochambeau absented her
sci from this procession.
Arriving at the city hall. the French
men were formally welcomed to the
city by Mayor Low and President
FORMER Of the board Of aldermen.
The mayor called the attention of the
Frenchmen to the writing table u
Washington by saying: This is the
writing table that Washington used
when he was first president of the
United States" The visitors locke at
il with great interest.
The visitors were presented TO the
aldermanic committee and all adjourn
ed to the council chamber. The room
was crowded with city officials. The
FORMER who welcomed them in a brief
address. The visitors were then shown
to seats n Mayor Low began the well
coming address. He said:
THE mayor of the city of New York
carries on his official business in thu
presence of the portrait of Lafayette
who represents to US Americans the
generous ardor of the French people fo4
the deals of political liberty. The rep
resentatives of New York are glad to
have the opportunity today, in greeting
your distinguished delegation to ac-
knowledge the services to this city OF
the French nation through the Cooper
alton of the regular army and navy
with the forces of the American colo
Mes"
Ambassador Cambon replied briefly.
speaking of the friendship of the two
nations and paying a compliment to the
American people The ceremony con-
cluded with the address of Ambassador
Cambon.
Carriages were then taken and the
visitors and government n city Off
Gals were driven to the reviewing
stand, where they were to witness the
parade Of the New York national guard
and the American n French sailors
from the warships.
The reviewing stand had been erected
IN Madison Square park, on the Fifth
avenue side. 1t was prettily decorated
and surrounding it were detachments
of the veteran artillery corps Of 1872.
An immense throng a gathered in the
park as the detachments of sailors from
the French warship Gaulois n the
vessels composing the American squad
ron marched UP Fifth avenue and took
positions facing the platform.
After Count Rochambeau Vice Adj
miral Fourier, Generals Brugero and
DeChalendar and Ambassador Cambon
had taken positions on each side OF
Mayor Low, under the canopy at the
front of the stand, Major General Rowe
and his staff rode past at the head of
the parade Of citizen soldiery.
This parade was an hour and a half
in passing the stand and $500 men took
part in it. Count Rochambeau express
ed himself as highly pleased with the
display made by the citizen soldiery.