USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Albany bi-centennial. Historical memoirs > Part 25
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LANDING OF COLUMBUS: The graceful foliage of palm trees, green and golden, illumined in the lurid
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light, catches the eye. Behind them stealthy, inquisi- tive, half-fearful Indians lurk and peer to watch the group in front. Beside them a tropical, long-necked flamingo and immense gray crane set off the adorn- ings. But in front the interest centres upon the sea-beach, where rest two sailors, while on the land he has just claimed, stands Columbus, in full court dress, bare-headed, sword in hand, and staff of flag planted, while near by a priest rises to bless the cross. The representation is gorgeous, delights the eye and reminds one of the historic truth in elaborate detail.
FORT ORANGE IN 1624: The massive gates of the fort are open and towering high in air; the loopholes show where muskets do deadly defensive service ; Dutchmen with blouse and breeches stand in front, while one of their number barters for furs with an Indian. The lace-trimmed collars and cuffs of the Dutchmen are a striking contrast to the feathers and blanket of the Indian chief. The fort has a massive appearance, and vines climb about the base of the rough walls. A birch bark canoe rests upon the bank and in it an Indian takes his ease watching the scene.
THE FIRST LAND PURCHASES: This represents a winter scene in 1630. Bales of merchandise are placed in front of a peaked skin tent, while the aspect of winter touches every feature of the scene. Smoke from the wigwam, a squaw before the fire, icicles from the trees, the chief blanketed and feather-crowned, all speak of cold weather. Van Curler, the first patroon, two Dutchmen and another Indian, armed, complete the scene. The illuminated effect is magnificent.
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DUTCH LEGENDS : This unique float shows a vivid scene in the Catskills. Irving's legend of the bowl- ing scene is grimly represented with the Demon of the mountain high perched. In the foreground grim mariners and the white-bearded chief are engaged in the game, while ever and anon the thunder rolls and lightning flashes. The bowls are rolled toward a dark corner, from whose awful depths the agitated waves give back a sound " hollow and dismal as the sullen roar of the volcano's depths."
THE KING'S CHARTER : This is a high court scene occuring in the palace of Charles II. From the rear a gorgeous canopy covers the throne and steps on either side, Charles II, with plumed hat, seated on the throne. British lions, life size and gilded, guard the way, waving tapestry and glittering gold and crimson foil give warmth against the cold marble and onyx pedestals from which rise golden candlesticks with rainbow-tipped pendants. Standing guard are royal soldiers with battle axes, while the central figure is James, Duke of York and Albany, in woven steel armor. His head is bared, his sword is two-handed, and behind him his squire bears his helmet. The bishop of York, standing near, sanctions the grant. Pages in court costume are moving about.
THE DONGAN CHARTER: This float did not afford the designers opportunity for much display if they were to represent truthfully the history of the occa- sion. The British headquarters are plain in contrast with the preceding gorgeous scene. The old Dutch unused fireplace forms a background. The British
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shield is seen. By the fireplace stands Livingston. Governor Dongan stands by the centre table dressed as an English cavalier, and Peter Schuyler receives from him the charter ; Schuyler is in uniform as col- onel. Two Dutch settlers are complacently viewing the scene, little mindful of the nineteenth century aspects to be developed.
THE HOME SCENE: This is located in old Albany in 1686. The float is quaint in design. The rail fence of the door-yard, the grass plot, the cobble pave, the Indian on a stump talking with a Dutch settler, the quaint house with peaked gable and weathercock, the porch with housewife and husband, the foliage of the trees, the on-looking dog, all lend a vivid reality to the scene.
THE MASSACRE AT SCHENECTADY: The terror of this scene of 1690 is sufficient to paralyze the small boy and frighten timid maidens. In midwinter a hideous warrior binds an awakening settler arising from his bed, a father lies killed on his threshold, a mother and babe are at the mercy of a blood-thirsty Indian, and crowning the work of destruction flames are seen bursting from the windows and cabin in lurid mag- nificence as the spectacle passes by.
SURRENDER OF BURGOYNE: The first thing seen upon this float is cannon. Then Continental soldiers are noticed, ensigns and color guards are seen. The detail of accoutrement and costume are faithfully observed. The officer's horse upon the float was a much admired adjunct.
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THE ATTACK ON THE SCHUYLER MANSION: This scene was powerfully impressive. The form of Mar- garet Schuyler half way up the stairway escaping with the sleeping babe is a striking picture. Burly yet foiled Indians are seen dodging about the dark hallway and one has thrown his tomahawk at the escaping woman, which, glancing from its mark has landed, stuck in the handrail at her side. The courage and endurance of American women are here nobly set forth In con- trast to the despicable methods of their British opponents and red-faced allies.
THE WEDDING SCENE OF 1783 : This is a fine pen- dant to the preceding float and shows a garden party at the Schuyler mansion, and presents varying and notable features. The last patroon stands with his bride, the Margaret of the preceding float. Near by are Alexander Hamilton and wife. Not far away is Gen. Philip Schuyler, in full dress ; but probably the most interesting feature is the carved fountain whose wonderful waters are constantly playing in rainbow colors.
THE ERIE CANAL : This float represents a canal lock with the boat Seneca Chief just coming down stream drawn by a magnificent bay. Upon the bow stand Governor Clinton, Governor Yates and others. Over the rainbow, prophetic of promise, which spanned the water, sat the genius of Commerce bearing a golden urn. The whole scene was a fitting commem- oration of the opening of the canal in 1825.
PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE: The last float was a bank of clouds, soft and radiant. A dazzling sun revolves
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with glittering rays and flashing speed, and the' sea beneath catches the reflection, and from crested bil- low to foam-capped wavelet it reflects the moving and evanescent glory of the shimmering scene. The river banks at sunset are seen, upon the river the steamboat palace of to-day rides in resplendent beauty, and upon shore an engine and train of cars arrive. The Clermont paddles in the dim distance. In the cloudy dimness rests the graybeard Time and his scythe. And high above is youthful Albany symbolized in youth, strength and vigor.
THE MYSTERY OF MOMUS.
At midnight a ghostly procession emerged from beneath the Columbia street bridge, bearing a sombre coffin in their midst, and a banner with the inscription " Mystic Order of Momus," surmounted by a skull and cross-bones. The leader of the procession wore white robes and a black mask and had a deep sepulchral voice. The others wore black robes and masks The weird column moved down Broadway, up State, over Capitol place, and down Washington avenue to the roped inclosure, where, in the glare of the electric lights and in full view of the assembled thousands, the mystic services of the order were performed. An invocation to the elements was first in order, as the ghostly crowd circled about the coffin.
THE HIGH PRIEST'S ADDRESS.
Then the most wonderful high priest of the Mystic Order of Momus (H. C. Staats) delivered this address :
BRETHREN OF THE ORDER: We are now assembled about the inanimate form of the departed. Before us lies the record of the past two hundred years of our native city.
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It is customary, upon an occasion of this nature, to eulogize the character of the deceased, to pass lightly over his many errors, and to dwell at length upon his virtues. But our day is of too high and solemn a character to permit us to do aught, save proceed with the strictest regard to truth and justice. Two hundred years ago to-day, the morning sun- light, as it flashed upon the old Dutch roofs and pavements, and was again reflected back into the soft summer sky, carried with it the news that Albany officially assumed the rank to which her wealth, populace and situation entitled her. But few of the old roofs remain to greet this anniver- sary, although many of the pavements are still here. These, added to the number of hills which ornament our beloved city, combine to furnish a greater amount of exercise for the distance traveled, than any modern city in the Union. This is a great point, and all our old Fogies are proud of it. We also point with pride to the fact that few towns could ever have attained the greatness of Albany, and still have managed to retain so large a number of its primitive ways as we have done. We feel assured that no other city of the same magnitude, so closely resembles a country village, as to tolerate the gossip, the slander, and the miserable, small meannesses, which the dear departed delighted in. And, as we reflect upon these, and kindred facts, and gaze upon our casket of virtues, our breasts throb with mingled pride and grief,-utterance fails us, and our silent tears alone, mark our loss. But, my brethren, while we mourn our dead, it is but meet that we temper our grief with tender reminiscences of the past. Dear Old Fogies! Old Antideluvians, whose lumbering, tortoise-like pace has held us back in the race of progress for so many years ! Is it, indeed, true that we are to part from you forever ? That you are about to vanish from our gaze in a cloud of flames and smoke, even like the obstacles which you were so wont to strew in our pathway. And, as the flames ascend skyward, and the glowing sparks are all borne upward on the bosom of the billowy vapors, will we perchance view your disembodied spirits ? Perhaps, my brethren, we will even be able to recognize some of them. Oh, what joy to be able to point out the patriotic soul of him who spoke the immortal words, " I see no necessity for commemorating our Two Hundredth Birthday." What bliss to distinguish, 'midst the curling smoke, the shining immor- tality of that ancient relic who remarked, "Yes, by all
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means, let us have a celebration. I see opportunities for earning much by it, but I can't afford to give anything." Or even to view the mis-shapen, deformed vital spark that animated the man of wealth, who subscribed $5.00. But oh, my brethren ! while the past centuries are slipping onward toward the brink of eternity, let us pause in our lamentations. I offer you, in your great grief, words of comfort and of joy. There is yet a future ahead - a future before which the history of the past will sink into oblivion- a future in which the years to come shall retrieve the errors of those that are gone. Let us, then, exchange tears for the dead and smiles for the living, while we congratulate ourselves that there is among us an element battling nobly for prosperity. The seed is sown, and it needs but time to bring forth the harvest, and " by their fruits shall we know them." Then, brethren, when the " ancients" awake to find themselves the " Rip Van Winkles" of modern times, and realize that their sun is set, and they must " move on," then will Albany rise to the dignity which it deserves, and on our next centennial anniversary may the half-civilized Trojan, as he hangs over the fence which marks the boundary between ancient Troy and the rest of Albany, exclaim, as he gazes seriously upon our fair proportions, " This is indeed a city." Amen.
As the address drew near a conclusion, the torch was applied to the tarred lid of the coffin and in an instant the flames leaped high in air, and the mystic brethren, burning blue lights, joined in a ghostly dance about the burning pyre. The banner was thrust in and added fresh fuel to the flames, and finally the high priest kicked over the pyre, and amid an uproar that was deafening the mystic crew re-formed, marched out of the inclosure down Pine street to Lodge, over Lodge and up Maiden lane to Russell's stable, where robes and masks were removed and they were recognized as common mortals after all. They were :
Officers- H. C. Staats, M. W. H. P .; T. E. Burn-
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II
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ham, W. H. P .; H. W. Robbins, H. P .; A. A. Allen, A. H. P .; J. F. Umpleby, jr., secretary ; C. B. Staats, treasurer; Horace Hogle, warden; H. G. Stevens, marshal; Frank Winnie, first assistant marshal; W. E. Bortle, second assistant marshal; B. F. Waite, H. S .; A. Harding, A. H. S .; J. A. Selkirk, I. G .; E. L. M. Robbins, C. R. B .; R. G. Bingham, A. R. B .; I. H. Meroth, R. B.
Members - J. A. Daniels, H. B. Winne, D. M. Alexander, G. H. Sharp, W. J. Hall, J. W. Ten Eyck, G. P. Bingham, W. J. S. Killicorn, A. H. Rennie, L. J. Barhydt, C. Strevel, J. A. Howe, jr., F. W. Hem- ming, W. M. Crehan, W. L. Becker, H. Simmons, G. F. Whysley, H. D. Buck, A. E. Bachelder, C. A. Eversten, G. E. Uline, H. P. Williamson, J. Long, G. J. Green, D. M. Kinnear, J. M. Holler, B. F. Haight, D. W. Bugle, W. H. Branion, J. Q. Van Alstyne, E. E. Wygant, J. F. Kennedy, W. F. Clark, C. W. Brown, D. H. Johnson, C. J. Sohni, D. M. Watkins, J. G. Agar, D. E. B. Fales, J. D. Rockefeller, C. G. Hubbell, G. H. Parker, W. W. Mink, A. K. Sang- master.
THURSDAY, JULY 22ND.
BI-CENTENNIAL DAY.
SUNRISE .- Salute of two hundred guns-fifty from four different points.
MORNING .- Grand parade of local and visiting mili- tary organizations and Grand Army posts, acting as escort to President Cleveland, to Governor David B.
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Hill, Orator of the Day; William H. McElroy, Poet, and to distinguished guests, among whom are Mem- bers of the cabinet, Governors of the States, mem- bers of Congress, mayors of the leading cities, and others.
AFTERNOON .- Oration, poem and addresses com- memorative of the Two Hundredth Anniversary. The literary exercises interspersed with orchestral and choral music on a grand scale.
EVENING .- Municipal reception in Senate chamber, State Capitol, to President Cleveland and cabinet, Federal and State officials, and other invited guests. After the reception, grand display of fire-works in Washington park.
THE MILITARY PARADE.
GENERAL ORDERS.
HEADQUARTERS BI-CENTENIAL MILITARY DAY PARADE. ALBANY, July 15, 1886.
General Orders No. 1 :
I. Having been elected marshal of the day, I do hereby assume command and appoint Col. Alexander Strain adjutant and chief of staff.
II. The following officers are assigned as division marshals :
First division, Brig .- Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver, Na- tional Guard.
Second division, Maj. George H. Treadwell, Grand Army.
Third division, Capt. Thomas W. Cantwell, inde- pendent military organizations.
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Fourth division, Maj. Edward D. Ronan, escort division.
III. The following are appointed assistant mar- shals and aids-de-camp: Col. Theodore E. Weiders- heim, Maj. John Newman, Maj. Hiram L. Wash- burn, jr., Capts. James H. Manning, John Palmer, Henry B. Diamond, Joseph Fisher, Wm. E. Milbank, Benj. R. Spellman, jr., Frank Childs, G. Henry Secor, George H. Mackey, Simeon Lodewick, John B. Mil- ler, Lewis H. Smith, Lieuts. James McNaughton, Wm. M. Whitney, jr., Amasa J. Parker, 3d, Alexan- der Strain, jr., William Wallace, Peyton F. Miller, John W. McKnight, James Purcell, Kyran Cleary, George Story, Isaac Hungerford.
IV. The above named officers will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
AMASA J. PARKER, JR., Marshal of the Day.
ALEXANDER STRAIN,
Adjutant and Chief of Staff.
FORMATION AND ROUTE.
First division, Brig .- Gen. Robert S. Oliver, will form on North Pearl street, right resting on Steuben. Second division, Maj. Geo. H. Treadwell, will form on Broadway, right resting on Steuben. Third division, Capt. Thos. W. Cantwell, will form on South Broad- way, right resting on State. Fourth division, Maj. Edward D. Ronan, will form on Eagle, right resting on State.
Route-State to Eagle, to Washington avenue, to Lark, to Clinton avenue, to North Pearl, to Columbia,
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to Broadway, to State, to South Pearl, to Hudson avenue, to Dove, to State street.
Parade will be dismissed corner State and Eagle streets, after the fourth division has passed in review of the first, second and third divisions on State street. At conclusion of the parade, the staff, with the Troy Citizens' Corps and band, will proceed to the Delavan House, and escort the Senate and Assembly and all ex-senators and assemblymen to the tent in Capitol park.
The heavy bass of two hundred cannon sang in continuous strain that morning to greet the sunrise of Bi-centennial Day. Tenor and soprano of horn, pistol, cheer and fire-cracker, long before daybreak had made sleep well nigh impossible and the heavy tone of the guns roused half-awake Albany, or at least that portion of its inhabitants that had secured any sleep at all, to participate in the exercises of the clos- ing day. Down town the shrill notes of the fife and the rataplan of the drum betokened the early arrival of the visiting military companies. The sun was not high in the sky when the red line of the Burgesses corps was drawn up to receive President Cleveland and party at the railway station. The pomp and circumstance of war had been reserved for the last day. The soldiers were to surround with evidences of power and perpetuity the end of the celebration. Two hundred guns then hailed the dawn; men pano- plied in all the might of arms tramped the street and with them those to whom war had once been a stern reality. With this display of might, honored by the presence of the chief magistrate of the nation and of
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the representatives of Holland, whence Albany drew its first strong blood, praised in eloquent words by the Governor of the first State of the Union of which she has long been the capital city, and sung by the poet, Albany celebrated the day, marking the completion of its two centuries of municipal life. By ten o'clock, all the troops were in position ready to move and the leading thoroughfares were so thronged that passage through them was almost impossible. The four mounted police riding ahead of the column were able to clear the pavements only with great difficulty.
THE FIRST DIVISION.
The Pearl street sidewalks from State to Steuben streets were fenced in with heavy ropes, and the crowd kept back of them by a liberal cordon of policemen. Brig .- Gen. Robert Shaw Oliver com- manded the First division and formed it in the space named. He was ably assisted by these staff offi- cers, Capt. Harry C. Cushman, A. A. A. G .; Maj. Samuel G. Ward, Maj. Jacob H. Tremper, Maj. Albert Hoysradt, Maj. Henry A. Allen, Maj. Richard T. Lockley, Maj. James O. Woodward, Maj. Harmon P. Read, Maj. Robert L. Banks, jr., Capt. Guy E. Baker.
The division was composed of the various com- panies and the battalion of the Fifth brigade and was divided in two regiments and a provisional battalion.
The First regiment, in command of Lieut .- Col. William E. Fitch, was headed by the Tenth regiment band and composed as follows: Tenth battalion drum corps, twenty men; Company B, Tenth battalion,
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Lieut. A. K. Sangmaster, commanding, one officer and forty-eight men ; Company C, Tenth battalion (color company), Capt. James L. Hyatt, commanding, one officer and forty men; Company A, Tenth battalion, Capt. Albert J. Wing, commanding, one officer and forty-three men ; Company D, Tenth battalion, Capt. Edgar V. Denison, commanding, one officer and forty-five men; Twelfth separate company of Troy, Capt. Joseph Egolf, commanding, one officer and sixty-eight men; Twenty-first separate company of Troy, Capt. Samuel Foster, commanding, two officers and sixty-three men; Sixth separate company of Troy, Lieut .- Col. James W. Cusack, commanding, three officers and ninety-five men ; Gatling gun squad, eight men, Capt. Wm. B. Thompson, com- manding.
The Second regiment was in command of Maj. William Haubennestel, with John P. Wilson of Pough- keepsie as adjutant, John I. Pruyn of Yonkers, as quartermaster, and Stewart B. Carlisle, of Mt. Vernon, surgeon. It moved in this order: Twenty-first regi- ment band, twenty-one pieces; Nineteenth separate company of Poughkeepsie, Lieut. Lewis P. Hauben- nestel, in command, four officers and eighty-seven men ; Fifteenth separate company of Poughkeepsie, Capt. Berthold Myers, commanding, two officers and forty-three men; Twenty-third separate company of Hudson, Capt. William B. Elting, commanding, two officers and fifty men; Fourth separate company of Yonkers, Capt. Raffaelle Cobb, commanding, three officers and fifty-eight men; Fifth separate company of Newburgh, Capt. Joseph C. Chase, commanding,
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two officers and thirty-nine men; Eleventh separate company of Mt. Vernon, Capt. I. N. Pressey, com- manding, four officers and fifty-two men; Sixteenth separate company of Catskill, Capt. A. M. Murphy, commanding, three officers and forty-two men; Four- teenth separate company of Kingston, four officers and fifty-four men. Both regiments were in full State service uniform.
The right of the provisional battalion was given to Co. D, First regiment of Philadelphia, the Zouave Cadets' guests, Capt. Henry O. Hastings command- ing. The command was dressed in blue blouse of Prussian pattern, white helmets and wore white trou- sers. They were preceded by the Waccaco band of Philadelphia.
The battalion was in command of Maj. Norton Chase, with Lieut. Albert L. Judson as adjutant, and moved in this order, following Co. D. of Philadelphia : Thirty-sixth separate company of Schenectady, Lieut. Joseph F. White, commanding, two officers and forty- eight men; Ninth separate company of Whitehall, Lieut. R. H. Davis, commanding, three officers and sixty-five men; Twenty-second separate company of Saratoga, Capt. Robert C. McEwen, commanding, three officers and fifty-five men.
THE SECOND DIVISION.
The Second division formed on Broadway with the right resting on Steuben street. It was the division in which were all the veterans of the late war who paraded. Men were there who marched just as steadily and sturdily amid the tempest of shot and
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shell on the battle-field as they did to-day over the pavements of Albany. Men were there, too, who bore on their persons the marks of gallant and honor- able service. It was the division of the Grand Army of the Republic. The marshal in command was Maj. George H. Treadwell, and his aids were Capt. A. H. Spierre of Lew. O. Morris Post No. 121 as chief of staff, Commander William A. Wallace, Commander Abram Ashley and Comrades C. F. R. Coe and J. G. Breckenridge. All of them were mounted. The City band of Plattsburgh, numbering fifty-two pieces, headed the division, which was divided in two regi- ments, one commanded by Col. M. J. Severance and the other by Capt. W. Green.
The right of the First regiment was occupied by the Tibbitts Veteran Corps association of Troy, in full uni- form, under command of Lieut. Walter L. Davis, and numbering thirty-five musketmen. Next came Lew. Benedict Post No. 5 of this city, who did full honor to the Bi-centennial anniversary by turning out two hun- dred strong, under command of Capt. Geo. W. Davey. Capt. Frank Edgerton was in command of the post staff. The post's drum corps of twelve pieces were also on hand. Following them came Lewis O. Morris Post No. 121, one hundred and twenty strong, under command of Capt. William W. Bennett, headed by the drum corps of Dahlgreen Post No. 113, numbering forty-four. G. L. Willard Post No. 34 of Troy, under command of Judge L. E. Griffith, numbering sixty-five men, came next, and were headed by a drum corps of eight pieces. Kane Post No. 312 of West Troy came next with fifty men and the Watervliet band of eighteen
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pieces. Thurlow Weed Post No. 400 of East Albany came over the bridge with fifty battle-scarred veterans, commanded by N. W. Bell. Following came E. S. Young Post No. 33 of Amsterdam, thirty-four strong, under command of Capt. J. W. Kimball. The next post in order was R. L. Lathrop No. 138 of Hudson, T. Berridge commander, all uniformed, and numbered fifty men. Thomas M. Burt Post No. 171 of Valatie, put in an appearance with forty men, T. Goldsmith commander. New Baltimore contributed a delegation of twenty members of A. O. Bliss Post No. 305, with H. W. Mead as commander, and thirty members of Tyler Post No. 131 of Jefferson were in line under com- mand of Comrade R. S. Taber. Washington county was represented by ten members of Post No. 309 of Cam- bridge, of which W. J. Gibson is commander, united with twenty-six members of Post No. 570 of Salem, and came down together under command of Maj. W. J. Cruikshank of the latter post.
Saratoga county was represented by twenty-five members of Gilbert Thomas Post No. 480 of Still- water, under command of Capt. John Ward, and several members of Wheeler Post No. 92 of Saratoga Springs. Eighteen members of Henry Ensign Post No. 568, under command of R. Hulbert, representing Brunswick, Rensselaer county. In carriages at the end of the division were contained these veterans : Commander R. F. Knapp of Wheeler Post No. 92 of Saratoga, Col. George T. T. Downing, aid-de-camp on the staff of Department Commander Sayles, Junior Vice-Commander Ormsby of Wheeler Post No. 92, comrade L. C. Ormsby of Lew. O. Morris Post No.
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