NEW YORK, OCTOBER 12. Columbus Day has come and gone, and the triumph of the National Celebration as carried out in this city is complete. The festivities of the remainder of the week must pale before the gorgeous displays of to-day, the military pageant in the earlier hours being succeeded this evening by the most picturesque cavalcade ever organised, at any rate in this country, and witnessed by crowds the numerical strength of which cannot be computed, but only indicated by the fact that the railway companies alone brought into the city this morning over half-a-million visitors. The weather throughout has been simply superb, and to this must of course be attributed much of the success which has characterised the long day’s proceedings.
Bearing in mind that the United States does not pretend to rank as a military power, the procession which set off shortly after 10 o’clock from a point near the Battery was in many respects remarkable. There were fully 50,000 men in the parade, which comprised the entire National Guard of New York State and many regiments from neighbouring States, also a number of uniformed German and Italian military organisations. The whole of the regular troops stationed at the posts along the North Atlantic coast and the Lake regions numbered 3,000, in addition to which there were 8,000 Grand Army men, 5,000 Volunteer firemen, and the brigade of 50 of the City’s Fire Companies.
Grand Marshal Martin T. McMahon was in supreme command, and when the signal to move forward was given, over 50 bands simultaneously struck up national marches, colours were unfurled, mighty banners were borne aloft, and such a scene of enthusiasm has certainly never before been witnessed in America. The entire route to Madison Square was densely thronged, and from windows, roofs, and specially erected stands myriads of flags and handkerchiefs were waved, and myriads of throats gave vent to the national enthusiasm. The parade was unquestionably a brilliant function, and when the inspection of the great muster was concluded in Madison Square by Vice-President Morton, who acted for President Harrison, there was the reflection left that all concerned might justly feel proud of the day’s celebration.
Later in the afternoon, the beautiful monument of Columbus, presented to New York by the people of Italy, was unveiled at the Circle, Fifty-ninth Street and Eighth Avenue, and, of course, this ceremonial afforded opportunity for patriotic speeches, which were followed by a grand concert of national music by the massed bands, this again arousing the enthusiasm of the great assemblage of people.
The sunlight had begun to wane before these interesting proceedings were over, and then everybody sought favourable positions from which to view the cavalcade which formed the greatest event of the week’s celebrations, and which started from the Battery about seven o’clock. It was largely historical and allegorical, and the organisers of the pageant were afforded full scope for the exercise of quaint conceits and originality in device. The procession was headed by a strong contingent of mounted police, and then followed 5,000 bicyclists, each carrying a lantern or coloured light. These were succeeded by a dozen gorgeously-costumed cavaliers, on white horses decked with plumes, each rider carrying a banner proclaiming the triumph of America. Then came the Car of Fame, representing the winged deity Fame flying over the Western Hemisphere to announce to all nations the advent of this celebration.
Various groups representing primeval rock dwellers, Mexican Indians, Toltec sun worshippers, and Aztec warriors followed; and these in turn were succeeded by a car representing homage to Columbus, showing a statue of the great discoverer as the pioneer of civilisation being greeted by History and supported by Fame, while in front of the car sat America, with Spain and Italy on either hand.
The next section of the cavalcade represented the Spanish Court, with Queen Isabella riding under a canopy borne by four knights in full armour, Her Majesty being followed by lords and ladies of Iberia. A model of the Columbus Caravel was drawn by eight Spanish sailors, and followed by Americus Vespucius, Cortez, Pizarro, Ponce De Leon, and other early discoverers on horseback. Then came the car of Liberty Enlightening the World, a model of the Capitol at Washington, and a car representing the press with printers at work. Poetry and romance were represented by a flying Pegasus. Another car was occupied by the genius of harmony and melody, and others represented science and the supremacy of American woman.
The most notable in the great cavalcade, however, was the Car of Electra, on which was a ship propelled by oars in the hands of the Presidents of the United States. The bust of Washington was amidships, and Columbia was at the helm steering the ship of State to a haven of safety. The car was inscribed “The hydra of lightning, controlled by the genius of Edison,” worked out in the form of a huge monster’s ugly head, filled with electric lights. A winged woman reined in the monster by lines of miniature incandescent lamps. Thirty girls in metallic costumes stood on a revolving disc and thus reflected the lights on the car. In the middle of the group was a globe with the latitudinal and longitudinal lines marked by electric lights, there being over 2,000 lights on this car alone, which was thirty feet long and drawn by ten horses. All the other cars were also lighted by electricity, this being accomplished by each car being provided with a storage battery.
Behind the Car of Electra came 5,000 Red men in costume, most of these being on foot, but the sachems, sagamores, and chieftains were on horseback. The cost to the city of this pageant is put down at 30,000 dollars. When this parade was over the entire city was illuminated on a most elaborate scale, and the day’s celebration was completed by magnificent firework displays in all the parks.
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 12, MORNING. The display of fireworks last night in connection with the celebrations was as brilliant as that of Monday, and was witnessed by great crowds, notwithstanding the fact that the Roman Catholic parade attracted several hundred thousand persons. Twenty thousand people in line marched down Fifth Avenue from Fifty-ninth Street to Washington Square, blue and red lanterns being carried by many of those who took part in the parade.
The parade was reviewed in Madison Square by Vice-President Morton, there being also present Archbishop Corrigan, numerous church dignitaries, Governor Flower, and many prominent Catholics. Another event of the evening was the musical and literary entertainment given by the New York Catholic Club and the United States Catholic Historical Society at Carnegie Music Hall.
BALTIMORE, OCTOBER 12. The monument of Columbus, presented to the city by the Italian residents, was unveiled in the Druid Street Park to-day, Cardinal Gibbons blessing it.
CHICAGO, OCTOBER 12. The Columbus anniversary was duly observed here to-day. To-night the Italian colony will give a reception and ball, to which 5,000 guests have been invited.
PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER 12. The Columbus procession today numbered 3,000 Italians.
HUELVA, OCTOBER 12, MORNING. The Queen-Regent has signed several decrees having reference to the Columbus celebration. One of these appoints the 12th October to be a national holiday for ever. Another, in recognition of the services rendered to Columbus by the Franciscan Order, makes a grant to that order of the Convent of La Rabida. A third decree accords pardon to five men condemned to death, while a fourth confers special honours on a number of towns, birthplaces of the great Spanish conquests of Southern and Central America.
MADRID, OCTOBER 12. The festivities in celebration of the fourth centenary of the discovery of America by Columbus commenced here at daybreak to-day, when 17 military and other bands paraded the streets playing a reveille.
GENOA, OCTOBER 12. The French Consul-General waited upon the Mayor of Genoa to present him with a magnificent wreath sent by the Geographical Society of Paris, to be placed at the foot of the Columbus Statue in this city.
MELBOURNE, OCTOBER 12. The fourth centenary of the discovery of America by Columbus was celebrated by the Melbourne Geographical Society to-day by a meeting at the Town Hall. Baron Mueller, the president, delivered a speech on Columbus.
GLASGOW. The members of the Italian Society of Glasgow met in the hall at 115 West Nile Street yesterday morning to celebrate the anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus. The president, Leopoldo Giuliani, presented the society with a new banner. At 10:30 the members, headed by a band, left for Largs, where they spent the day.
(As published in the Glasgow Herald)
