Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 May 1889 — THE CENTENNIAL. [ARTICLE]

THE CENTENNIAL.

A GENERAL. CELEBRATION WITH INTERRST CENTERING AT NEW YORK. ' « —— Particulars of the Event—Great Crowds and Gay DeCorations— and Noisy Patriotism— -The President and His Doings. ' ! The celebration? on the 30th, of the IQOth anniversary of George Washington’s inauguration as President in 1789, was very general throughout the nation, but interest centered in New York, where the crowd numbered hundreds of thousands and the decorations and. preparations were in keeping with the numbers. The President and his pa*rty reached Elizabeth at 7 o’clock Monday morning. About 1,200 people wem gathered at the station, and when Mr. Harrison appeared, a hearty cheer was given him. The party dined with the Governor of New Jersey. During his brief stay here he reviewed- a_~procession of local societies. The arrangements for the naval parade were carried Out to the letter. At 7 o’clock the steamer Dispatch, having on board Admiral Porter; General Schofield and representatives of the Centennial Committee, left the foot of East Twenty-sixth street, New York, and steamed down the East river on her trip to Elizabethport, where she was to meet President Harrison. Crowds had gathered at the pierand cheered the Disnatch as she steamed away. The harbor was literally alive with sailing craft of every description, and whistles sounded and guns boomed salutes as the Dispatch picked her way on her course. Half a dozen big men-of-war were anchored in the vicinity of Governor’s Island and Ellis Island, awaiting the return of the President’s boat. After viewing the at Elizabeth, President Harrison was then driven in an open barouche along the shore of the Kill Von Kull to the Alcyone boathouse, where the entire party was reunited. A ten-cared gig from the Dispatch was i n waiting to take the Presidenc on board. Owing to the low water, the Dispatch bid been forced to amhorat some distance. The President walked down to the float, followed by Vice President Morton and Captain Elben. They took their seats in the gig amid the cheers of the assembled crowds, the shrieks of steam whistles and the ringing of bells. The gig then put off, and the measured strokes of the Hnil orETKOonßfought the bbatalongside the Dispatch. Then followed the embarkation of the rest of the party in the tenders of the Navy Yard tug Nina. The first boat to put off from the tug was a small steam launch containing Senators Evarts and Hisceck. These gentlemen were condially greeted at the float by Chief Justice Fuller. Postmaster General Wanamaker, with Secretaries Windom and Rusk, went on board and soon rejoined the President on the Dispatch. The rest of the party, including Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. McKee, went on board the Sirins. At 11:10 both vessels weighed anchor and steamed’up the bay. Suddenly the deep boom of a gun arose above the hissing of steam and the swash of steamer paddles. Instantly every man in the vast fleet was on the alert for orders. The gun was the signal from the tug Nina, anchored in the Kill Von Kull, and it meant that the Dispatch, with the Presidential party on board, was opposite Port Richmond. Then another report from a cannon set every one in action. This was the signal from the Chicago for all vessels to heave up anchors short and prepare to move, Hardly had thia been accomplished when the Dispatch hove in sight. Following close in her wake was the Erastus Wiman, the Sirius and Monmouth filled with invited guests and their families. Soon there vyas a perfect roar of cannon, big and little. The scene was a stirring one. As the Dispatch came opposite the Chicago, the entire fleet of over 400 steamers blew their whistles. She passed the Battery at 12:20. It made a tremendous din, coupled with the incessant gun-firing and was kept up for three or four minutes. On went the stately war ship up through the channel and into the East River, where she came to anchor off the foot of Wall street. As soon as she had got well into the river a signal gun was fired from the Chicago, and anchors that had been hoVe iip short were got on board with alacrity. Then began the real naval parade. The sight of hundreds of vessels all kinds was one that will long be remembered by the thousands of people who lined the docks and house-tops along the river front of the Hudson. The Chica go stf amed on until opposite Tffirtyfourth street, when another gun was tired. This was the signal for the yachts and cutters to disperse fittd like a huge' flockof swans they gracefully heeled around and sued down the bay. On the arrival of the Dispatch and the President opposite Wall Street ferry, the ships anchored. A barge manned by a crew of shipmasters from the Marine Society of the Port of New York, went out on the vessel. It was a crew of this same society which rowed General Washington ashore one hundred years ago. Following the example of Washington, President Harrison was rowed ashore in the barge. As he stepped out of the boat the presidential salute of twenty-one guns was a ß a > n given. The President was received by Governor Hill. Mayor Grant, Hamilton Fish and Wm. G. Hamilton. To the left of the pier was attached the fl®at at which the boat containing the Presidential party emptied its distinguished nassengeis. After the landing the processlbh was at once formed, the President and Governor Hill and Mayor Grant being driven in a landeau and accompanied by continuous cheers. The old banner of the Marine Society, which was bdrmr before Washirrgtoh ofi April 29,1789, had been preserved for one hundred years, and was carried before the President’s carriage up Wall street. A little before 2 o’clock the carriages drew up before the door of the Equitable building. Chairman Hamilten received those in carriages, while the chimes of Old Trinity played the Doxology, the bauds in the street quickly catching rip the strain. By 2 o'clock all had readied the banquet hall. After the banquet the President, held a reception in the city hall. At 5 o’etoek he was driven to Mr. Morton’a residence. Tim ball at night at the Metropolitan opera house was a grand affair. England’s 7,030 flour mills can make 51.00d.000 barrels per year. JTheconntry consumes eighty per cent, of this amount, a great deal of which comes from America and Hungary.