New-York tribune., 1909-09-26
ON THE BATTERY WALL
CROWDS WATCH PARADE.
They Sa1o Only the Half Noon and
the ClermOnt, but We're Satisfied.

When the Lusitania came in on her maiden
voyage from Liverpool, about two years ago,
big crowd swarmed over Battery Park, and stand
ing room along the wall was at premium. The
throng was Of the same proportion that which
assembled when Dewey returned from Manila, but
nothing since these events has even approached
in volume the throng assembled yesterday to see
the Half Moon and the Clermont pass up the North
River.
The din Of whistles from the floating parade
made IT Impossible to hear the cheering from the
crowd at the Battery. Surveyor ClarksOn, watch
ing the excursion fleet from open window in
the Barge Office unable for two hours to hear
anything but the blasts Of the steamboat AIattea-
wan shrieking in vain for passengers. She is al
lowed by law TO carry eighteen hundred passen-
gers, but the best she could pick up yesterday at
reduced prices 302 souls. The crowd at the
Battery was there see not to ride buy, and
even the and souvenir medal man went away
with unsold wares There was plenty Of Opportu-
nifty to what there was to be seen from the
Battery green and the excursion boats tied up
along the wall went begging, although their 50
dollar and 81 seats offered for less than the
proverbial SO cents.
The crowd tiptoes when the Half Moon
and the Clermont within the range of vision
between the Statue of Liberty and Governors ISL
and. and there a bobbing of heads up and
down and a holding aloft of children under four
feet tall. The parade moved slowly. The boat
of the inventor, and that of the bold navigator
remained long enough before the gaze of the Bat
terry 10 satisfy ALL and, While the greater part OF
the sightseers were from Manhattan and vicinity
there goodly showing of out-Of-town visitors
so that's the Clermont," said who took
pains TO let the crowd know she from Joliet
III. well, I don't think much of that. Looks just
like the boat my Hiram made when he was
boy I'm pants in "a"
girl from Spearfsh. who had once crossed
Lake Michigan on steamer the way 10 .St
joe" thought the Half Moon Just too cute
for all get out" and really appeared be what it's
name implied. young man from upper Sanduskv
ventured that maybe the Half Moon was made of
green Dutch cheese, but ne actually Missed by
an adjacent group from FIatbush and he Just
didn't say another word.
Columbus O'Regan a small boy who caused much
annoyance TO man he called father, asked repeat
edly when the Grand Republic would come along
When that big excursion boat finally did come into
view. Columbus O'Regan pointed to her and picking
the pilot house, said: There he
is father There is DR.. Cook" The remark drove
at least a dozen persons across the park 10 the
subway entrance.
Some fifty young men took possession of the ter
ritory around the big South Pole" the steel mast
of the yacht Constitution which stepped into
a concrete base at the Battery few months ago.
They waited impatently until the vanguard of the
parade passed by, and, with the arrival of the
cursion fleet, they marked time the concrete
pavement. Suddenly one of the party shouted.
Right about. face Forward. march! :" and they
retreated from the firing line near the wall. BY
coincidence, this action seemed 10 Ee the signal
for raj evacuation or the park Tor SightSeerS
by the hundred hurried to the subway and the ee-
waited stations South Ferry and Battery Place
and Bowling Green.
A man from Hester street with red "chioolahs"
asked the way the fish theatre" So the day
went.
Those who had come early ana glued themselves
to good places on the edge of the wall clung ten
aciously to them, and long after dark the electric
lights of the park revealed black fringe of sight
seers waiting for the night parade.
The reports from the inspectors at places of
embakation showed that the steamboat patronage
was unusually light over two hundred and ninety