New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-20
Cannon Boom, Whistles Shrek and
Thousands Cheer the Ceremonies.

amid the boom of cannon. the bIare OF steam
whistles from hundreds Of river craft and IN.
cheers OF thousands of sightseers on the roofs
OF the surrounding buildings. Mayor Low ,aa+sr-
day traversed the new Williamsburg F3ri5ps a,,5
a Few minutes later declared it formally onA,
thereoy repeating mis- action in dedcatine +b.
brooklyn Bridge almost twenty years ago. Tba
ceremonies attending the opening OF the great
structure included military civic. naval and re-
hslous exercises. and ended in the evening with
q grand display OF fireworks and a naval parad.
"hlch was brilliant and impressive. for while
the exercises of the day were important as for
naAties, those OF the evenins, far outrivaIIa4
them from a scenic standpoint
The new bridge viii be open 20 the publ,c for
sightseeing exclusively to-day. No vehicles will
be allowed on the bridge during the entire day.
out from o'clock this morning the south road
way viii be open to pedestrians Tomorrow
morning at o'clock this roadway will be omen
TO vehicles Traffic in both directions is to use
this roadway until the north roadway is COM
pleted- simultaneously the north roadway will
De open to foot passengers. who will use il until
one of the prornenades is completed.
1t was nearly 1 o'clock when the procession
attending the progress OF the Mayor to the
bridge formed az City Hall Round the square
the yellow colors of Squadron had added an
effective bit of color for nearly an hour. and the
busy policemen. shutting their dark blue coats
amid the lighter hues OF the National Guards
men, had with difficulty restrained the thou
sands of sightseers who surrounded City Hall
Greeted by the flashing Of sabres, the Mayor
accompanied by the heads Of departments and
the Manhattan members OF the Board OF Alder
men, entered carriages and drove slowly I'D
Broadway. amid the cheers Of crowds along the
street. The real enthusiasm began when the
procession turned into Broome-st. and began
10 traverse the Italian quarter. Here the cheer
ing grew louder at once. amid a display OF
brilliant festoons OF bunting.
When the carriages crossed the BOwery and
passed into the East Side. the demonstration be-
came still more animated. From the crowded
tenement houses. all bOasting at least a flag. and
In many cases a profusiOn OF bunting the greet
ing to the Mayor was cordial IN the extreme.
The crowd was so dense that only the extreme
precautions taken by the police prevented acct
dent. AS the line OF carriages passed along
Broome-st. to Clinton they moved through com
panIes OF the list Regiment drawn up IN COM
pany front and presenting arms IN salute. 10
was nearly . o'clock when the twenty-seven car
riages carrying the Mayors party reached the
Manhattan end Of the bridge and the party en-
tered the plaza
THE PROCESSION ON THE BRIDGE.
The decorations at this end Of the bridge we're
striking Around the iron girders and the
structure intended for the elevated tracks great
festoons OF Christmas greens had been hung
while aloft hundreds OF gay colOred flags and
strips OF bunting waved in the keen. crisp
breeze. As the Mayor left his carriage the roofs
along the line OF the approach 70 the bridge
echoed with the cheers OF the thousands who
had crowded TO the tops OF the tenement houses
10 view the spectacle. and after he had reached
the bridge there arose from the streets below the
dull hoarse sounds OF the shouting multitude IN
the vacant squares where Poverty Hollow was
situated before the razing OF buildings for the
new bridge.
At the Manhattan end OF the bridge the pro-
+ eession formed. headed by Mayor Low. whose