Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-03-14

The inauguration

| BALTIMORE, March 4th, 1915.
Dear Journal: To-day being the
time appointed when the President
elect would take upon himself the oath
of Office to preserve, protect and de-
fend the Constitution of the United
States, and it being a circumstance
which takes place only once in four
| years, we thought we would make one
of the spectators who would witness
the scene. Early this morning crowds
could be seen vending their way to
the Baltimore and Ohio Depot. and
| also to the Baltimore and Potomac
Depot, eager to take the first train,
Washington bound. AS the trains left
for that point every thirty minutes, We
made no special haste. We reach the
Baltimore and Ohio Depot just in
time to miss the 9 o'clock train which,
beside having aboard the 9th Mary
land Guards, was also densely packed
train just in from Washington. The
crowd pour in until not only every
seat is taken, but every available
standing place within the car. At 81
the whistle blows and we leave for the
Capital. leaving numbers waiting to
catch the next train. If due time we
one-fOurth Of mile of the depot and
from there we foot it up to the depot.
There, some who are willing and able,
take hacks, some take the omnibus,
others, we among them, foot it on mp
to tho Capitol.
g March is in all his glory, playing
sod havoc with the beavers of one and
the crinoline of the other portion OF
the foot passengers. Not only do
tho beavers and crinoline suffer, but
oh, how he makes the ears and noses
rt those exposed tinSie with pain
Ne arrive st the Capitol, everything
around ii presents the appearance Of
one grand military parade. Here may
be seen rcginlent OF cavalry prancing
along with glittering sabres and gaudy
trapplnSs: here G company OF artillery
with their fine horses and flashing red
uniforms, making indeed q gay ap-
pearance. Here and there the rifles Of
the infantry regiments. stacked, while
they stand round ready 70 grasp them
at the first tap Of the drum. We at
tempt to gain adEnittanca iato the
Capitol. iIut the door-koeners wave rs
back and shake their hends much rs to
say g keep cut Of here" We wander
about over the plateau in front Of the
Capitol. nov among the civilians, now
among the .oldierv. 4, last the stand
erected in front OF and on the steps Of
the Capitol is filled with distinguished
perso0agcs, consisting OF the Supreme
Court judge, Senators, Con ongressr1en,
e1-CoDrre- srF2an, Diplomatic Corps,
Governors o. different States present,
and others.
Oa reaching tho portico, the= =Presi-
dent elect took q eeat provided for him
in front, with the Chief Justice OF the
Supreme Court Oh his right, and the
Sergeant-at-ArlIs OF the Senate On his
Jeff. All being il readiness. the Chief
,!IIstico administers the oath OF Office
10 the President eject niter which,
stepping still nearer IN front, he
reads his inaugural address We see
the oath sdDl!nisterel, and see thc
address read, but ne3r neither The
Chief Justice having done his duty,
and the address having been read, tie
President desceEas iToI1, the poTticc,
takes his seat III :sn open coach drawn
by four magnificent horses, is driven
round in front o. tho lett wing of thc
capitol, aad there stopping for twenty
or twenty-five inmates, employs his
time IL shaking hands with aIl who
EldE ttilie up 10 tf.2 coach. - 90
not have that honor.
The military then commence their
line of march mp Pennsylvania Avenue.
Conspicuous among them may be seen
tho West Point Cadets, the Naval
Cadets, the Old Guard from New
York, and the Fifth Maryland
Guards from Baltimore. During the
procession. the Avenue is literally
packed from beginning to end. One
surging naas Of humanity, every o.
endeavoriny to get better view iiah
his neiehbor. The Avenue : guy
decorated. presenting mo ''e"o''iu ia
sight.
ro1n5 70 The ,,;ffar 1T hotels. propound- !
ing the questiC- no" arc >'''' on 'o'
rooms ?"
Jn:Sing from the way the hotels |
re crowded ard the throng upon the |
streets, there must have been one hun
dred thousand persons present.
Having refreshed the inner man, we
wend our way rp to Wizards Hotel,
to call on orr Congressman, Colonel
4. II. Waddeil. who entertains us most
agreeabiy during our visit. Bidding
hun good bye. we make for the Depot,
to catch the first train for Baltimore.
We catch it. but oh surh catch. We
stand up al the wav from Washington
to Baltimore We reach here ct =
o'clock, p NJ. tired and physically
worn ont Mnst close. Adieu,
a'r;llv yours.
OBSERVER.