The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-03
President Gives Signal for
Lighting. Which Proves a
Beautiful Display
ALL NEW YORK
OUT IN HIS HONOR
Makes Eloquent Address on
Liberty at Function at Wal
dorf-Message Read From
President Poincare

New YORK, Dec AT signal py
wireless from President Wilson, the
Statue Of Liberty tonight suddenly
blazed with light. Thousands of ban
ners waved, flashing In the glare OF
scores OF searchlights sweeping across
the waters OF New York Bay.
In the intervals between the meas
ured booming of gums the sound OF
mighty cheering rang out 1t flowed
in great waves of sound from shore
to shore. taken up from the crowded
decks of ten thousand craft, which
moved restlessly on the shining sur
face of the bay. as IL sharing the ex-
element of the passengers.
The final achievement of the splen-
did scheme of lighting. conceived and
carried out by the New York World.
was carried into effect at 5;45 o'clock.
A moment before the buzz of the
wireless and the roar and fare OF
rockets gave the signal. the Liberty
Statue stood dark and dim. almost
shapeless against horizon where
dusk deepened swiftly into night. and
she seemed asleep dropping till all
the lines of her figure and draperies
were lost. Suddenly. in glow of
soft white light she rose to her full
and splendid stature. proudly holding
aloft the lighted torch to enlighten
the world.
From the deck of the Mayf1ower.
where the President and his party
watched a cry of wonder and delight
was drowned second later in the
booming of the thunderous salute from
Americas hattieships.
Miss Law Flies.
Darling In and out about the glow
ing statue like some huge moth about
a colossal candle. Miss Ruth Law.
rising and falling, revealed frequently
to the watchers on shore and the sur
face of the waters the illuminated
characters, Liberty" carried by her
aoroplane.
The President and his party arrived
at the Pennsylvania Depot al 3:lS
o'clock this afternoon, They proceed
ed with police escort TO the Eightieth
Street landing. North River. OFF which
the Mayflower lay.
At 4 o'clock the Mayors committee
of geo. with a number of women. ar
rived at the same landing and went
aboard the l.. S. s. San Francisco and
Yankton. From the moment OF the
star the Presidents yacht was bathed
with bright white light from the gigan-
tic Sperry light.
From that time onward throughout ,
the parade up to the Golden Way TO
the Waldorf Astoria. the President and
his party were kept in the glare OF
the light.
r.
At the Waldorf Astoria, dinner
was served at 1870 O'Clock in celehra
ton OF the illumination Of the Statute
of Liberty. The President and Mrs.
Wilson were the guests of honor.
Through tho governments repre-
sentatfves In the United States, Ambas-
sador Jules G. Jusserand. President
poincare, of France. delivered mes ,
sage of congratulation and good will
TO the people of America. In the
glare OF the moving spotlight pro- |
eided by the broad beam from the
Sperry light and by smaller search
lights by the score the Maytiower
moved down toward Bedloe's Island.
on board with the President we're
Mrs Wilson. Ambassador and Madame
Jusserand. Ambassador and Mrs. Ger
ard. Senator elect william NJ. Calder.
Mayor Mitchell and Ralph Pulitzer.
The yacht was followed closely by
the two warships. bearing the COM
mittee of 200 and their guests. Cheer
ing rang out from the shores ana
bridges as the three vessels made THAR
way to the stations assigned 20 them
for the liberty illumination.
At 5:45 President Wilson launched
his wireless message signaling for the
illumination. and at the same instant
the red, blazing rockets roared up
from the Maynower's deck.
Soon began rush for Pier A,
North River. where the parties were
disembarked and whirled to the Bat
terry.
With the President leading. the
glowing pageant passed UP Broadway.
'.the golden way" cheered by null
titudes, which thronged the sidewalks
and flowed out into the street in spite
of the efforts of the police.
Multi-colored lights flashed and
cleaned all along the bright thorough
fare NJ the pageant passed. All down.
town New York was aglow.
Beautiful Nominations.
Many comments on the wonder OF
the city's illuminations were made and
many Fluctuations were received by
Arthur Williams, of the New York
Edison Co. chairman of ttse~ commit
tee on lighting. The Golden Way"
OF the parade led up Broadway to
City Hall Park. across to Park Row.
UP Lafayette Street to Fourth Street
and washington Square and up Fifth
Avenue to the hotel, Along the way
fifty thousand Boy Scouts were sta
toned.
The leading float bore symbolic
figures Of Peace and Plenty" 1t was
followed by other Illuminated floats
interpreted with bands. The ban
uuet given in celebration of the IL
Illumination was served in the grand
ball room
President Wilson remained In New
York tonight to give a message to
the nation on the significance Of the
{ illumination Of the Statue Of Liberty.
The occasion was dinner In ais
honor Mt the Waldorf. The President
defined his conception OF liberty, anc
Continued on Second Pags.)