Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-10-01
THE HOOKER TABLEAU.
It will Be Feature of the Hartford .. Bridge Celebration,

One of the, most picturesque feat
 ures of the bridge dedication at Hart
 ford on October 6, ' and 8, will be the tableau showing how Thomas
 Hooker, the founder of Hartford and the Connecticut. colony arrived at the
 site of the present capital of the
 state. It will be remembered that the
 Hooker party, numbering about 100,
 came overland from their former
 home in eastern Massachusetts in 1636, to establish in the Connecticut valley a settlement where greater freedom of thought and action might
 prevail. After a fortnight's journey of severe hardships, they reached the east bank of the Connecticut river, opposite where Hartford now stands. They started to cross the river on rafts, and were met in midstream by Indians who had coem out in canoes from the west shore. A friendly con- ference followed, and the Indians finally escorted the emigrants to the shore on which they were to lay the foundation of the state of Connecti- cut.
 This historic event will be repro duced with faithful regard to every detail. The affair is in the hands of the Hartford Yacht club and the Hartford Canoe club, who have made most elaborate preparations to pre- sent spectacle that will long be re- membered by all who see 1t. The canoeists of the state, and large delegation from Springfield will have from forty to fifty canoes in the pa- geant, one of which will be the fa- nous old war canoe of the Hartford club. Conoeists to the number of 100 or more, will impersonate the In- dians, and their costumes will be his torically correct in every particular.
 A band of Indians will cross the river about 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning, October 6, and pitch a reg ular camp at the foot of Ferry street. About noon signs of life will be seen on the east shore of the river, and soon afterward the Hooker party of 100 men, women and children will embark upon couple of rafts. The Indians on the east shore, having sighted the party, will dispatch scouts in canoes to midstream.
 As the Hooker party hears the cen- ter of the river they will be surround ed by Indians In canoes, the women and children showing signs of fright, but the Indians will appear friendly and will escort the rafts to the Ferry street slip. On arrival at the slip the party will disembark slowly, the men assisting the women and children, and then all will ascend to the high ground just to the north of the slip. Here Hooker and one or two others will have conference with the h. dians, smoking the pipe extended by the chief. the Indians putting down their bows and arrows and displaying the palms of their hands, which Is the peace sign. Next, in token of thanksgiving for their safe arrival and peaceful reception by the Indians at the beat of the drum all except Hooker will kneel while prayer is of fered. At the close of the prayer all will rise and sing the doxology led by the Tempo quartette.
 All the school children of Hartford and vicinity parade In the morning of the same day, and after the parade they will be massed in the unreseryed grandstands on the boulevard to see this tableau. It will be an event that they will remember all their lives long. For that matter no one is too old to fail to get inspiration from the sight of this vivid portrayal of the most famous scenes in Conneeticut's history.