Evening star., 1865-03-04
THE INAUGURATION.

spoiled by drenching rain and mud-batn com
biued. The night had been drizziing, ana tni'
morning, about O'Clock, a heavy gale sprans
up from the south, lasting bat for Jew , nin
utes, but doing considerable damage uproot-
Ing shade trees, &c. 1t was 1oiio"eo ny
brighter skies through the morning, oul as the
day wore on 1t became pretty certain that the
manhood OF the processionists was 10 De tried
by q march OF considerable discomlort.
either Mud or Dust.
Four wears ago. on the occasion OF the inau-
euration, the weather was dry, and tornadoes
OF dust swept through the streets. Commits
sioper Blake then had q large force Of men at
work on the night preceding the Inauguration
removing the dust from the avenue between
the White House and the Capitol This year
the streets were covered with a thick coating
of N nd, carrying out the saying that Washing g
ton alterDates from dust to mud or rice versa.
The Perils of the Day.
The Engineer Corps, it is reported, made a
survey and took soundings of the avenue, for
the purpose of determining the practieability OF
layipg pontoons from the Capitol to the White
House, but it was found that the bottom was
too soft to hold the anchors of the boats, and
the project was abandoned. The police were
careful to confine all to the Sidewalks who
could not SWIM At some OF the shallow cross. i.
ings, steady stream Of people were passing
throughout the day, some Of whom dashed out
into the avenue in the most reckless manner,
lost.
The City Last Night.
The day, yesterday, which had been rather
disngreeabIe under fost, closed rather threat
entngly over head with driving mists and black
skies, rendering Ii an unpleasant JOB for new
arrivals to pick their way through the muddy
streets of strange city in discouraging qnest
belongings. Carpet-bagged and blanket. strap
ped strangers were boiling in every direction
In a dazed hap hazard sort Of way, and good
many Of them found their way to the brilliant
ly lighted and comfortably warmed Capitol as
if with an eye to quarterIng there for the night.
In the course OF the evening the torches OF
the hremeRs procession lit up the fog of the
avenue with curious sort Of silvery haze. A
somewba similar atmospheric effect on q
grander scale was observed over the Capitol
building the great roof lights over the two
houses in session illuminating the heavens with
q Driifiant naio seen for miles away in the
country. An inspiring effect was produced by
the manner in which the national flag floating
over the Capitol was thus emblazoned, every
ioid IN tue glorious ensign being brought out in
radiant relief.
Within the Capitol curious crowds vibrated
between the two Houses, now interesting them
selves with the hustle, confusion and noisy
whirl OF the House proceedings, and anon ia
king sedatiye by listening 10 the tranquil
debate or the Senate upon the question w he ther
the Smithsonian trust fund interest should or
not be paid in gold; and II so, what about the
Indian annuitIes.
Mr.. Lincoln was at the Capitol during the
night attending to official business, as was also
most of the Cabinet. Mrs. Lincoln was also
there during the evening as a spectator OF the
busy proceedings.
Representatives from the Army.
A large number OF officers from the Army of
the Potomac avaiIed themselves of the occasion
TO visit the city, and added not little TO the
military aspect of the ceremonies. Among
them we've Major General Webb, chief OF GEN
eral Meade's staff, Major General ingalls,, chief
Quartermaster OF t.e armies operating against
Richmond General Sharpe, assistant Provost
Marshal General Of the Army Of the Potomac;
ion Do
staff; Captains Webster and Robinette, OF Gen
eral Grants staff; and Captain Howell and
Lieutenant French, of General Ingalls, staff;
all OF Wnom came up on q special steamer from
City Point. The army in the Shenandoah, at
Baltimore, and all the military posts near
Washington, were represented more or less by
officers and men.
The Crowd.
Up TO this morning the number OF strangers
arriving in the city was not 40 lars. "a ga. 4.
es 81 f8ny @ eo of
coin and the anticipation that some foul play
might be attempted by secession gangs to pre-.
vent the President elect from taking his seat,
caused an extraordinary rush to this city some
days in advance OF the Inauguration. On this
occasion large numbers who proposed to come
IN order to avoid the difficulty or getting lodg-
auguraten itself, and for their accommoda.
ton extensive arrangements were made by the
dlnerent railroad companies in the way Of
running special trains Numbers from a dis.
tance stopped over night la Baltimore, arriy-
ing here by the morning trains
The Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti-
more road run special trains here yesterday
and to. day. and make return trips north at 6
p m. anu y. m. o- -hien'' anu d. lilo d. IN ana
eoV p III w. -inoiio"'
Runners of the Day
So important day could net we'll pass
without Its due proportion of rumors, and
amongst these was one that "something was
going on" indicating that trouble was anticl-
pated from some undeveloped quarter: Rumor
had il that all the roads leading to Washing
ton had been heavily picketed for some DAYS,
and the bridges guarded with extra vigilance,
as II on the watch for suspicious characters
Also, that the Sth Illinois cavalry had been
pusheo OUT from alriaA ". n. on an acuFe
seoe.na ts expeGouon' - as II IN ssarcn OF some OF
.ne seuie eaeP.oIoue enaI ooeeIS. aIso' tnat al
unoue proportion OF "ornary looking cusses'
IN sa,HAeu 's,; aue mete W ue seen upon .he
eueets, IhuIcoiss sonetnihs portenuihG but
as the oay wore on IN tranquility Dame Rumor
1ooA oack seat aud was neard no more
Patrolins the Streets