New-York tribune., 1909-09-26
100000 PERSONS
OPEN CELEBRATION
ACCLAIM HUDSON'S YALOR
And FULTONgS GENIUS.
The Half Noon Rams the ClermOnt,
adding Excitement to Start of
the NaUal Parade.

In a spectacle unusual in the annals of cee-
brations. half the nations of the world joined
with America yesterday to acclaim the valor OF
Henry Hudson and the genius of Robert Fulton
While the deeds of both are peculiarly the prop
erty of America. the results belong TO the world.
and the four corners of the earth sent their rep
resentatives to pay tribute. while America
poured forth its wealth and 100000 persons to
honor the memory of the explorer and the in
ventor. From early morning until long after
midnight the celebration continued, and when
the crowds at last began to seek their homes Il
was onty because tired nature could stand no
more.
Long before daylight the throngs began to
gather. when the first Of the fleet coming from
nearby waters to join the marine of New York
began to creep into the harbor through the
slowly breaking dawn. And from daylight on
the throng increased in numbers and enthusi-
asm, until the height was reached late at night
in the great crowds in the brilliantly Illuminated
streets and avenues of the city and the masses
that jOurneyed a second time to the shores OF
the Hudson to see repeated the pageant that had
drawn them in the day time.
SaIvos of artillery. shrieks Of whistles and
cheers from thousands of Iusty lungs had greeted
by day the two tiny vessels that embodied the
deeds of centuries ago. At night there was
and of the great fleet of warships anchored in
the Hudson. and the display Of fireworks that
lighted up with even more brilliant effect than
the decorations Of the day the shores of the
river where the principal happenings OF the
opening OF the celebration had occurred
SHORES OF RIVER LINED
A day of exercise had been planned calculated
To tire the energies of the hardest. but it was
carried through with a vim and enthusiasm
that would book no hindrance The day broke
with>ss cloudless sky and breeze with just chin
enough To temper the warm rays of the sun.
The thousands who had feared Friday that
yesterday would be stormy and inclement came
uravtiy forth in all their hnery for the day
that had been long expected When the two
tiny prototypes of the fighting monsters lined up
in the Hudson started on their journey from the
Kill van Kuu the shores 6r Staten Island.
Brooklyn Manhattan and New Jersey were
lined with a dense crowd. all craning their necks
for the first glimpse of the two vessels.
The first vessels of the fleet had begun to
gather in the Upper Bay soon after daylight.
and these were constantly augmented all
through the morning, until when the Half Moon
and the CIermont had begun their voyages up
the river fleet OF thousands of pleasure craft
and representatives of the mechant marine was
waiting 10 fo,iow. while yet other thousands
Swdrmed around the great WarShlpS or lay at
anchor within sight Of the water gate where the
Half Moon and the ClermOnt were 10 become
officially the property of the celebration com
mission
Soon after the Half Moon and the CIermOnt
mad started from their anchorages for Staten
Island the Halt Moon fouled the ClermOnt. and
ii was at first thought that the latter would
have TO leave the procession. Both vessels were
proceeding under their own power. when or
Stapleton. Staten Island. the engines OF the
CIermont ceased to work properly and the Hall
Moon became unmanageable while her crew
trying TO make sail The Half Moon re-
fused to answer her helm. The ClermOnt could
not get out of the way and the little Dutch ship
carried away part of the port rail of the Cler-
mont and smashed her own hgurehead. Tow
boats came up quickly. and the vessels pro-
ceeded from there under tow.
CONTINUE AFTER COLLISION.
The Half Moon headed away at once on tho
line of the parade. going to TompkinsvnIe and
thence to the Brooklyn shore. But il was az
first uncertain whether the ClermOnt could con-
tinue her part In the celebration. She was
turned around and headed back To her anchor
age. bat in few minutes once more turnea
and made into StapletOn where she was visited
by the Richmond Borough delegation and took
on her passengers for the voyage up the river
After the ceremonies at Stapleton she headed
across the bay and picked up the Half Moon
off the landing place OF the Crescent Athletic
club, on the Bay Ridge shore. where the brook
lyn delegation visited both vessels.
This ClermOnt carried no guns and fred ne