<P> The bridge--originally referred to as the New York and Brooklyn Bridge and as the East River Bridge--was opened for use on May 24, 1883 . Thousands of people attended the opening ceremony and many ships were present in the East Bay for the occasion . President Chester A. Arthur and Mayor Franklin Edson crossed the bridge to celebratory cannon fire and were greeted by Brooklyn Mayor Seth Low when they reached the Brooklyn - side tower . Arthur shook hands with Washington Roebling at the latter's home, after the ceremony . Roebling was unable to attend the ceremony (and in fact rarely visited the site again), but held a celebratory banquet at his house on the day of the bridge opening . Further festivity included the performance of a band, gunfire from ships, and a fireworks display . </P> <P> On that first day, a total of 1,800 vehicles and 150,300 people crossed what was then the only land passage between Manhattan and Brooklyn . Emily Warren Roebling was the first to cross the bridge . The bridge's main span over the East River is 1,595 feet 6 inches (486.3 m). The bridge cost US $15.5 million in 1883 dollars (about US $385,554,000 in today's dollars) to build and an estimated 27 people died during its construction . </P> <P> On May 30, 1883, six days after the opening, a lady falling down the stairway caused a stampede, which was responsible for at least twelve people being crushed and killed . On May 17, 1884, P.T. Barnum helped to squelch doubts about the bridge's stability--while publicizing his famous circus--when one of his most famous attractions, Jumbo, led a parade of 21 elephants over the Brooklyn Bridge . </P> <P> At the time it opened, and for several years, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world--50% longer than any previously built--and it has become a treasured landmark . Since the 1980s, it has been floodlit at night to highlight its architectural features . The architectural style is neo-Gothic, with characteristic pointed arches above the passageways through the stone towers . The paint scheme of the bridge is "Brooklyn Bridge Tan" and "Silver", although it has been argued that the original paint was "Rawlins Red". </P>

Who led 21 elephants across the brooklyn bridge in 1884