The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-28
BY TELEGRAPH.
The Boston TOrchlight.
$4,000 Men in Line-The City n Blaze of
Light-Largest Political DemOustra-
tiou Ever Seen in New England.

The great Republican torchlight procession
In Boston Thursday evening was the gra ndest
political demonstration ever seen in New Eng
land. The city was ablaze with Examinations,
and the greatest enthusiasm was NANTES ted.
Thirteen thousand men were in line arranged
Ia eight divisions The procession surpassed
all expectation. In every respect it was sue
cess. The weather was capital for marching
The moon did not shine through the clouds
with sufficient brightness to dim the effect Of
the torches The line was miles in length, and
hours in passing any given point, But there
was such a constant variety in uniforms, such
fresh surprises in transparences, such a sue
cession of inspiring music from almost number
less bands that the vast crowds thronging the
streets throughout the long line of march were
continually entertained, and hardly thought of
WEAKNESS.
The city was from the early evening till the
early morning hours literally ablazs. The late
afternoon trains from all directions brought
the organizations from out of town, which
came pouring into the city rapidly, filling the
streets in all quarters with marching men and
the rattle of countless drums. Thousands of
rural visitors accompanied these, and long
before the hour fixed for the starting of the
procession the thoroughfares of the West and
South Ends were densely crowded with rest
less throngs of sight-seers The torch-bearers
began to concentrate at and about the corner
of Beacon and Charles streets as early as
o'clock, and every moment thereafter the rein
forcements came pouring from north, east,
south and west as if by magic.
Towards 8 o'clock, the hour for starting, the
scene on the Common and Public Garden was
really magnificent. Standing in the centre of
the Public Garden, the spectator found HIM
self environed on all sides by sea of fire, ex-
tending as far as the eye could reach, about
Beacon, Arlington Charles and Boylston
Streets the undulations of the great masses of
torchlights on all sides presenting the effect of
waves of light. Seen against the dark back
ground of the trees on the Common it was
scene which it would be difficult to excel in
picturesque effect. The drums sounded from
all directions near and far, and occasional dis
tant cheers and strains of martial music added
to the excitement of the occasion. The Chief
Marshal, Colonel Hutchings, was as good as
his word, starting the immense procession at
805 precisely, and his reported remark that he
would "start promptly if he went alone,"
came near fulflment, for a space of six min
utes elapsed before the First Division got un-
der way; but, considering the great number of
men in line, the wonder is that the start was as
prompt. Charles street, down which the pro-
cession moved was brilliant with Examinations
and solidly packed with spectators. Marching
thence into Cambridge street, the line moved
through that thoroughfare to Bowdoin square.
and so through Court, Washington, Boylston,
Arlington, Commonwealth avenue, Dartmouth
Boylston, Berkely, Columbus, avenue. Chester
Park and square, Washington, East Newton,
james, East Brookline, Washington, West
Newton, Shawmnt avenue, West Brookline,
Washington, Union Park street and square,
fremont, Pleasant to Park square, where, 4 af-
ter being reviewed by the Chief Marsh al, the
line was dismissed. The procession was re-
viewed at the Revere Bouse by the Hon. Ru-
fus s. Frost, at the Hotel Brunswick by Gov
ernor Rce and at the St. james Hotel by the
Hon. Walbridge A. Field. 1t would be useless
to attempt to compute the number of people
who witnessed the parade. Every street and
avenue through which it passed was densely
ahronged.
The procession was well worth travelling many
miles to see.
The Harvard College Battalion was the
unique feature of the parade ard ELECTED the
most decided sensation all along the line of
march. IL It would would occupy column s to de-
costumes assumed for the occasion
by the students. Among them were
more old and battered hats, gpg-
ham dressipg-gowns and distressed looking
from all the old clothes establishments in
Chrstendom The battalons from the Latin
School, Institute of Technology, and the Bow
6oin Cadets, formed another novel and inter-
estiDg feature. The visitors from Maine, New
Hampshire and Rhode Island were everywhere
VI ivad