Gilpin observer., 1908-12-31
ROBERT

New York city is planning for a big
Hudson-Fulton celebration next Sep
temaer. There will be eight days of
pageantry, with parades on land and
water, to commemorate the three hun
dredth anniversary of the arrival of
the Half Moon.
The Half Moon ascended the Hud-
son to the present site of Albany and
a bit beyond and it is expected that
all of :he river towns between New
York and that point will join in the
noise-Ioaking. the illuminations and
the general gayety.
A duplicate of the Half Moon is be-
ing bailt in Holland. and from. the
scant knowledge that is extant of the
CleI mont, Fulton's boat Naval Con
stru~tor w. ]. Baxter is preparing
plaIs from which the Clermont is to
be reproduced. 1t is a curious fact
that the naval parade committee has
ha: greater difficulty in determining
the appearance of the Clermont, built
in 1907, than in determining that of
the Half Moon, which entered the
river nearly two full centuries before.
The findings of the committee with
respect to the Half Moon have been
approved by the highest naval au-
thorities in Holland, and the ship is
now being built by the people of Hol-
land to be presented to the commit
tee. But In making the fac simle of
the Clermont the committee not only
lacked contemporaneous pictures of
the vessel. but authentic descriptions
IL. -. a La,
lacking. and still further, the Cler-
mont being a pioneer vessel 1t was
not one of a type, and no aid could be
drawn from the appearance of any
other vessels of that period.
Thus, in next September, one may
see a bluff.bowed, castellated struc-
ture, with heavy hemp rigging and
curiously fitted sails. making its way
up the waters through which its name
sake went three centuries ago. Like
the old Half Moon, the new one will
have two masts, the foremost stayed
so far forward as to give the impress
sion of intent search ahead.
AEd splashing behind or ahead or
somewhere near this new reproduc-
ton of the ancient craft. will be the
reincarnation of Fulton's Clermont,
her uncovered paddles awkwardly
stopping the water and the smoke
pouring from the wooden fires which
are to feed the crude furnace Of her
crude boiler.
The Holland-America Steamship
Company has assumed the task OF get
ting the Half Moon safely across the
Atlantic.
The vessel will not be much longer
than fair.sized tugboat, being only
~ feet in length. 1t has not yet been
decided what means are to be
adopted to get this exhibit over. Some
of the big steamships Of the Holland
America Company might without
much trouble find room for the Half
Moon on one Of their upper decks,
but 1t is more likely that the craft
will be either towed over or sent over
under convoy.
But while the method OF getting the
vessel here is still in doubt, 1t has
been definitely ascertained that Hol-
land will send crew garbed in the
same fashion of the men who sailed
the old Half Moon across the Atlantic
and up the Hudson. The new dupli-
cate will also carry reproductions of
the ancient armament with which the
old Half Moon fought OFF the Indians.
The vessel is being presented by Hol-
land as permanent memorial, and
after the close OF the celebration It is
likely that 1t will find a resting place
in Innwood park.
Holland Is also to send detach-
ment Of her navy ships. and in all
probability the entire Atlantic fleet
will be on hand.
The plan adopted by the commits
sion contemplates that the new Half
Moon on Its latter-day entrance into
the Hudson will initiate as far as
possible the movements OF the cid
Half Moon, as she felt her way up