The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-07-26 00:00:00

ALONG filE ROUTE.

The first notable incident after the start was made
was that the processionists were agreeably surprised to
discover that the very earliest point of observation
had been tak en by the Prince and Princess of Wales,who
were witnesses of the scene inWhitehall from first to last.
Their Royal Highnesses, with the Princess Louise,
Victoria, and Maud, witnessed the procession from a
first floor window of Lord Carrington's house in the
middle of Whitehall. Lord Carrington's guests for
the occasion also included Lady Spencer, Lord and
Lady Dalhousie, Lord and Lady Rosebery, Lord and.
Lady Clarendon, Lord Alcester, Lord Fife, Lady Suf-
field, the Earl of Cork, the Rev. W. Rogers and Mrs.
Guinness. A little before three o'clock the Princess of
Wales had been observed at the window by some of
the spectators on the opposite side of the street. The
Royal party was probably unobserved by the rushing
mob which preceded the processionists, but by the
time the first band was opposite the house
the presence of the Royal party had attracted atten-
tion. The band changed its tune and stopped to
play "God save the Queen," and from that time
almost every succeeding section of the procession was
brought to a longer or shorter halt at this particular
spot, and every succeeding band came along White-
hall playing "God bless the Prince of Wales."
A great crowd remained opposite to the house during
the whole time the procession was passing. ' The
scene was one of almost continuous cheering. If the
Prince of Wales was not to be seen for a moment
the processionists stopped and cheered until he showed
himself. His acknowledgments of these acclama-
tions were the signals for renewed cheering. His
Royal Highness took the greatest interest in the
whole procession, was much pleased with what
he saw, and expressed his great gratification with the
hearty spontaneity of the reception he had received.
It was four o'clock before the first section of the
trades—printing and paper trades—began to pass
the Prince of Wales. It was 4.20 when the iron and
metal trades reached Whitehall, 4.30 when the cloth-
ing trades passed, 4.55 when the leather trades fol-
lowed, 5 o'clock when the shipping trades came on,
5.15 when the cabinet-makers arrived, and 5.30
when the general trades had passed. It will be
remembered that it had been arranged that the
meetings should commence at 5 o'clock in Hyde
Park; and at 5.30 the first half of the procession
was leaving Whitehall. The second half, consisting
of political clubs, Liberal associations, temperance
looked quite as formidable on paper, but
rove to be so. It was of no use attempting
to follow them programme in hand; they came in any
did
dgneosi dx p
order ; the larger clubs in compact bodies, the smaller
societies in isolated groups; and by six o'clock all had
passed. Nor had they been passing thickly 111 the
time. At 545 there was a shower, and Whitehall
became a sea of umbrellas. In five minutes more it
was a drenching downpour, and spectators were rushing
away for s&lter. Not so the processionists, who stuck
to their ground. A few badges were taken off and
put into bags to protect them. But the misfortune
was borne bravely.
The Prime Minister hnozl occasion to cross from
Downing-street to the House of Commons while the
procession was passing
along Parliament-street, and
the right
•hon. gentleman. was so surrounded by an
enthusiastic crowd that it required the utmost efforts
of the, nolioa to zet him into Palace-Yard, where the

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