Meeting of the American Irish Historical Society.
Under the inspiration of these stirring memories, the stimulus of the celebration and the desire of all concerned, a brief but memorable meeting of the American-Irish Historical Society was held on the forward covered deck of the “Asbury Park.” The Vice President of the New York Chapter discussed the events of the day and the week, and the Irish share therein, extending welcome to the members who had come from other states at the Chapter’s call to meet their brethren in this festal trip, and called on President-General, Dr. Francis J. Quinlan, to address the company. The members warmed to the President’s appeal, for he has the happy gifts of enthusiasm and Celtic eloquence. He spoke for the spread of the society and its usefulness in gathering for future generations the story of the Irish race in America, and laying a foundation for a greater communion among its men and women of today. He was followed by Thomas Zanslaur Lee, Secretary General of the Society, who succinctly told of the recent remarkable gains in membership, and gave practical hints for a still greater accession to the Society’s ranks. William Temple Emmet, President of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, made a short speech of sympathy with the aims of the Society, and the proceedings terminated in an interchange of salutations shared by all present.
In Newburg bay the steamers of the fleet were gathering now, hovering and slowly circling about the Half-Moon and the Clermont and their escorts. The ancient town rising on the west bank of the river showed a gala front of flags, while thousands crowded the heights to view the scene upon the bay. The steamer Providence, bearing the officials of the day, had drawn up to the landing, and while they took part in a procession and made speeches appropriate to the occasion, those on the rest of the fleet dined and made merry. Never before, perhaps, had the waters thereabout furnished such a scene as that of the flag-decked fleet going to and fro under the blue sky, framed in the red and gold of autumn on the hills and breaking with screw and paddle the silver of the wide and placid stream. Would that Washington, whose fearless eyes had often gazed in the weary days of the long-drawn war, out over the river there, had caught that vision of young and strong America afloat and rejoicing a century after his passing away! His, however, were the eyes that saw across the mountains, and in the darkest day beheld the sun upon the hills beyond, and it is not for us to say what he did not see.
From Albany far up the Hudson had come the officials to take charge of the Half-Moon and the Clermont, and the pleasant task of the fleet from New York was done. Down the river, then, the prows were turned, and the homeward journey was begun. Many were the visits made and returned on board the “Asbury Park” as she headed south. The evening was deepening as she came by the city now breaking into light, a beautiful spectacle. So ended a day long to live in memory. As the excursionists stepped ashore to each one was handed a souvenir copy of Mr. Tuite’s “Robert Fulton and His Achievement,” which is reproduced in the volume farther on.
By the indefatigable secretary of the New York Chapter, Alfred J. Talley, I am furnished with the following list of the members of the Society who with their families and friends were on board:—
Albeus T. Adams, M. E. Bannon, Michael Blake, John J. Boyle, Henry J. Breen, William J. Broderick, Francis X. Butler, Edward R. Carroll, F. J. Cavanaugh, J. I. C. Clarke, Andrew J. Connick, Patrick J. Conway, Hugh M. Cox, E. J. Curry, Robert E. Danvers, Thomas F. Donnelly, Richard J. Donovan, Willis B. Dowd, John F. Doyle, M. J. Drummond, John J. Falahee, Joseph P. Fallon, Edward D. Farrell, Frank S. Gannon, Charles V. Halley, John H. Halloran, John Hannon, David Healy, John J. Hickey, Michael J. Jennings, Alfred J. Johnson, James G. Johnson, Michael J. Joyce, Phillip J. Magrath, P. J. Kelly, T. P. Kelly, Daniel Kennedy, T. Zanslaur Lee, Charles Leslie, Warren Leslie, Thomas S. Lonergan, Richard J. Lyons, D. H. McBride, Robert E. McDonnell, D. J. McGinnis, James J. McGuire, Edward J. McGuire, John C. McGuire, James A. McKenna, Stephen McPartland, Stephen J. McPartland, J. D. Morton, John Morgan, Bartholomew Moynahan, Michael J. Mulqueen, John E. Murphy, Thomas F. Noonan, John E. O’Brien, John O’Connell, John G. O’Keefe, D. P. O’Neil, James O’Shea, John O’Sullivan, Sylvester J. O’Sullivan, James W. Power, Francis J. Quinlan, Clarence W. Ramsey, James F. Reilly, James Rorke, Joseph Rowan, James T. Ryan, John J. Ryan, William Ryan, Dennis A. Spellissy, Thomas N. Mulry, Alfred J. Talley, Edward M. Tierney, Frank L. Tooley, William Tully, Watson Vredenburgh, Jr., Henry Wright, A. J. MacGuire, Harry L. Joyce, Thomas A. Emmet, William M. Byrne, William E. Hill, James A. McKenna, William J. Farrell, James Martin, Daniel M. Brady, John Fitzgibbon, Timothy Murray, William T. Emmet.
The guarantors of the contract were:
On behalf of the American Irish Historical Society: J. I. C. Clarke, Edward J. McGuire, T. Vincent Butler, William Michael Byrne, P. J. Magrath, Harry L. Joyce, John O’Sullivan, Francis J. Quinlan, M. D., Alfred J. Talley.
On behalf of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick: William Temple Emmet, Thomas T. Fitzsimons, Morgan J. O’Brien, Edward B. McCall, Warren Leslie, John D. Crimmins, John G. O’Keefe, Edward R. Carroll.