The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. IX, 1910Various
History
The journal of the American-Irish Historical Society, Vol. IX, 1910
Various
American-Irish Historical Society -- Periodicals; Ethnology -- United States -- Periodicals; Irish Americans -- Periodicals
Another day on the water came with Friday, October 1, and the weather
again was all that could be wished. Early the excursion steamers took on
their loads, for the route was long of the Naval Parade. Shorn of the
hundreds of tugboats and small craft that had swarmed the water on the
Saturday before, it was a powerful and select squadron that turned its
prows upstream to escort the Half Moon and the Clermont as far as
Newburg, fifty-five miles above New York. The torpedo boats and a couple
of the new sub-marines formed the governmental escorting party—the very
old and the very new thus touching sides—and then came over one hundred
powerful craft in line, decked in vari-colored bunting and with bands
playing. It was a splendid sight, as passing the war ships they swept on
beyond Manhattan island up the broad, deep stream. Commander Peary on
his stout ship, Roosevelt, freshly arrived that morning from the North
and his conquest of the Pole, received the tribute of the thousands in
the procession. The dark rocky masses of the Palisades, now glowing here
and there with autumn foliage, towered on the left, and on the right lay
the river towns set amid fields and woods.
Many a flag of Ireland fluttered from the upper works of the great swift
steamer “Asbury Park” on which had gathered some nine hundred of the
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and the American-Irish Historical Society
with their families and friends. Every provision for their comfort had
been made, and the occasion rapidly became one of delightful enjoyment
under the stimulation of the grand and historic scenery of the noble
river, and the glow of friendly courtesy wherever the Irish race
foregathers. The pace could not be very fast, for the greatest of the
steamers was bound by the speed of the slowest, and these latter were
the Half-Moon and the Clermont. All the more could the time of
observation of the many points of interest along the river be extended.
Dobb’s Ferry, where Washington had headquarters for so long, while his
little army watched the English forces then holding New York against the
patriots. Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving’s home and the scene of his
romance of The Headless Horseman, were pointed out. Tarrytown, where
Major André, the British spy, was arrested, and Tappan, where he was
executed, were noted as the line of steamers ploughed through the Tappan
Zee where the Hudson broadens almost to a lake, and is four miles wide
and twelve miles long, then past the great prison of Sing Sing on the
East bank. Presently, the line was passing Stony Point, the promontory
of the Hudson near the entrance to the Highlands. And the gallant story
was retold of how the Revolutionary soldiers posted in the rude fortress
there had succumbed to an attack by the British; how the loss of the
fort rankled in the patriots’ breasts, and how, at the dead of night, in
mid-July of 1779, mad Anthony Wayne with a devoted band delivered so
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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