The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-25

where Fulton set his steamboat was
the place toward which the eyes of
five million persons turned today for
the most impressive pageant that
ever f1oated in the New York harbor.
Humanity speaking, the city today
was shell with probably twO-thirdS
of it's own population massed on it's
water front. From the battery to
Spuyten Duyvil, the sloping western
edge of Manhattan island afforded a
vantage ground from which two mill
lion spectators viewed the naval
parade that moved up and down the
river. Two million more lined the
Jersey shore. and on the western
bay, at least half that number
watched the gathering of this pageant
in the waters between the mainland
and Staten Island. This is what they
September sun and what they will
have a chance to look at tonight un-
der the glare. scarcely less brilliant,
of millions Of electric lights.
A thousand vessels varying in type
from the one man cat boat to the
mighty British cruiser batt1eship IN
flexible. .,
F1fty-Seven Warships.,
Fifty-seven warships, representing
TIE navies of the United States, Great
Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Ho1-
land, Mexico and gentina-45O 900
tons of steel, bearing $4,000 officers
and men and armed with 1897 guns.
Copies of the Half Moon and Cler-
mont, so faithful to the original mod
els in every detail that Hudson and
Fulton themselves would have been
puzzled to tell the difference.
One hunderd and twenty steamboats,
and ferryboats.
Seventy-five steam yachts.
Seventy-five motor boats.
Three hundred tugs and steam
lighters.
ITor~ b,,dard SoiIipe orof+ aDd
small launches.
All but the greatest and least of
these craft gathered in the upper bay
for the parade that escorted the Half
Moon and the C1ermant UP the Hud-
son.
The warships remained at their an
cherages between Fcrty-fourth and
Twenty second streets, while the sail
along tt e route where they could afford
those aboard the best view of the spec
tacle.
The Days First Spectacle.
The days first spectacle-not count
irg the grim lines of warships in the
North river-was the assembling of the
naval pageant in the upper bay. Be
tween 10 ard IL O'Clock the squadron of
four American cruisers and five sub.
marines assigned to esccrt the Half
Moon and the Clermoat met in the
Kill Won Kull between Staten Island and
the New Jersey shore. The Clermont
was tOW6d IrOn It's night anchorage AT
Stapleon, S. L, to join the Half Noon
eff st. George.
Then with the escort trailing to the
rear the two little craft cruised along
the Brooklyn shore in sight of spec
tators that blackened every street and
housetop in view.
Meanwhile the rest of the parade was
assembling and when the Half Moon
and the Clemont finished their round
of the upper bay and sailed into the
mouth of the Hudson they fell into
line.
The assembling of the 500 or more
boats that followed Hudson's and Full
tons craft up the river occupied the
after 1 o'clock that the mass straight
ened out into something like process
sion formation. First came police and
scout and patrol boats a nd torpedo,
then the Half Moon and CIermont with
their Immediate escort, then in order
the five squadrons of steam merchant
craft and the ferry boats, steam craft,
motor boats, tubs and steam lighters
and sailing craft
Column Fifteen Miles Long.
The boats moved up the Hudson in
double line at a speed of s miles an
hour, but such was the number of par
t1clpants that the column was nearly
Is miles long.
When the Half Noon and the CIer-
mont reached the United States ship
Newport, which marks the southern
end Of the line of warships at Forty
Fourth street. they passed up on the
New York side Of the river, while the