Evening star., 1925-10-04

JLD fIAl IL.
cannot be painted in language: and
those who had not that happiness
must content themselves with the as
Surance that the best endeavors Of the
writer to convey them an adequate
idea OF its grandeur viii fail. The
poet by giving full sway to his imagi-
nation. may perhaps partially succeed
in conveying the impressions Enbibed
on the occasion. and some detached
parts of the scene might possibly he
used to advantage by the painter who
unites skin with genius. But we re-
peat, that the narrative, in humble
prose. will fall short OF just repreSen-
tation."
In spite of such handicaps the au-
thor continues and gives a rather
vivid account Of the days events:
THE grand fleet arrived In our
waters from Albany and came to an
chor near the State Prison. The roar
of cannon from different points, and
the merry peals of numerous bells.
greeted the sun as he arose in "a cloud
less sky In a few moments signals
were given by the flagship and the
various banners. flags, and other deco
rations were run up as II by Il maSi-
clan. Shortly afterwards the new and
superb steamboat Washington bore
down on the fleet. She carried the
great banner of the Corporation. The
Washington was an entirely new boat,
chartered for the occasion, of large
dimensions. beautiful model, and su-
perbly finished throughout.
she ran alongside the Chancellor
Livingston, and a committee of the
Corporation. with the officers or the
Governors guard. came on board 10
tender his Excellency their congratu-
lations on his arrival in our waters
from those of Lake Erie.
This duty having been PERFORMED
and there being an hour TO spare, the
several boats entered their respective
docks or came to anchor.
"At $50 o'clock the corporation and
their invited guests assembled in the
session room of the City Hall, ana at
S:45 proceeded to the steamboats,
Washington, Fulton and Providence.
stationed at the foot of Whitehlll
street. At the same place was also
stationed the Commerce with the ele-
CANT safety barge, Lady Clinton. This
barge, with the Lady Van Rensselaer,
had been set apart by the corporation
for the reception of the invited ladies
and their attendants. The Lady Gin
ton was decorated with a degree Of
taste and elegance which was equally
delightful and surprising. In one of
the inches below the upper deck was
bust of Clinton, the brow being en-
circled with wreath of laurel and
roses Mrs. Clinton was on the barge,
which, though the party was select,
was much crowded.
"a few minutes after 9 o'clock, the
entire party being on board, the fleet
from Albany came around from the
North and proceeded up the East
River to the Navy Yard, where salutes
were fired. While there the flagship
took on board the officers of that sta
ton, together with their fine band.
The officers stationed at West Point,
with the celebrated band, having been
received on board the Chancellor on
the previous evening, were likewise
still on board.
"THE wharves and shores of Brook
l. lyn, The Heights, and the roofs
of many Of the buildings were crowded
with people to an extent little antici-
pated and only exceeded by the thick
masses Of population which lined the
shores of New York as far as Corlears
Hook The feet proceeded to the east
end Of the Battery and Governors
Island. Vessels in the harbor were
filled even to the rigging and tops.
Loud cheers resounded from every
direction and were often returned.
"Everything being in readiness and
every boat crowded to the utmost, the
fleet, taking a semi-circular sweep to-
| ward Jersey City and back obliquely
in the direction of the lower point of
Governors Island, proceeded down the
bay in the order detailed by the ad-
mfral, each boat maintaining the dis
tance of 100 feet apart. :,
1.-THE sea was tranquil and smooth
as q Summer lake. AS the boats
| passed the Battery they were saluted
| by the military, the revenue cutter and
! the castle on Governors Island, and
on passing the Narrows they were also
saluted by Forts Lafayette and Tomp-
kins. Then they proceeded to Sandy
Hook at the point where the grand
ceremony was to be performed. The
boats were there formed in circle
around the schooner Porpoise. prepar-
atory to the ceremony"
A last-minute request was then
made of the Governor. It was to the
effect that "a portion of the water
used on this memorable occasion be
preserved in order to send 1t to our
distinguished friend and late visitor,
Maj. Gen. Lafayette" Mr.. Clinton
gladly granted the request.
Gov. Clinton" continues the &C.
count, "then proceed to perform the
ceremony of commingling the waters
of the lake with the ocean by pouring
a keg Of those of Lake Erie into the
Atlantic.
"Dr. Mitchell, whose extensive cor
respondence with almost every part of
the world enables him to fill his cabi-
nets with everything rare and curious,
then completed the ceremony by pour
ing into the briny deep bottles of
water from the Ganges and Indus of
Asia, the Nile and Gambia Of Africa,
the Thames, the Seine, the Rhine and
the Danube Of Europe, the Mississippi
and Columbia Of North and the OH.