Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-19
THE GRANT BOOM
IN THE CITY OF BR0THERLY LOVE,
Completion Of the Worlds Circuit BY the
Man Who Puts Daniel Pratt, G. A. t.
in the Shade-Some Account
Of the Great Ovation,


citement in anticipation of the event
which eliminated in the arrival OF Gen
U. 5. Grant in the city to-day Tuesday
Great and extensive preparations were
in progress during that time, and Phila'
delphis, irrespective OF party $50 claimed
but We doubt it) had prepared itself to
give the ''silent man" a welcome scarce
ly ever before accorded an individual.
Sunday at 3 A. N. Jupiter Pluvius let
loose, and the rain fell in torrents almost
necessarily until about the same time
Monday morning. Monday was alter
nately cloudy and clear, and towards
evening it got colder and the prospects
were favorable for bright day Tuesday.
which aroused the dampened ardOr OF
the pOpulace, and the work of decOrat-
ing was proceeded with. Bunting
OF every color and device,
representing every nation on the globe
were flung 10 the breeze from hOusetOps,
windows and iestOOned along blocks OF
stores and dwellings. The Cradle OF
Liberty" independence Hall, had its
eptire front beautifully bedeCked with
flags Of all nations, evergreens, and
directly over the entrance a life size
painting, representing Grant on horse
back. MAS suspended. The time hOnOred
ediice has not been arrayed in such gay
attire since the days Of the Centennial
exhibition. ~
The indeiatigable John WanSmaker,
in whom there is more enterprise than
any one man within our knowledge,
fairly ecipsed himself in preparing tor
the "big blowout" AT his Chestnut
street store a large arch was erected,
which was handsomely decorated with
flags, evergreen trimmings and laurel
wreaths studded with immOrtelles. One
side contained theiOllOwing inscriptions:
Phlladelphia's Farewell, Philadelphia's
American Line welcome.
May II. lSI7. Decemb Der 10, 1879.
To-day completes the
journey around the world.
And on the reverse side as follows:
"TO the honOrs of Europe, Asia and
Africa add the affections of America"
over the arch was swung q large
white Tag, red border, with the inscrip-
Grand depot, on Market street, the dec
OratiOns were nearly as elaborate and
more extensive. A platform running
the entire length of the Market street
front Of the building, and tastelully dec
Grated, was erected expressly tor Wana
makers employees 10 witness the grand
parade. On an arch over the main en-
trance were the words: The working
people welcome General Grant" Be
tween !, 500 and 1000 persons occupied
the stand. From the corner OF Thir-
teenth street across Market Wanamaker
erected another triumphal arch,
which was covered with muslin
and wreathed with eyergreens. One side
was inscribed, The women OF the Cen
tennial City Join in welcoming General
and Mrs. Grant" and on the opposite
side. "All honor To the hero of the Nine
teenth Century" At independence
Hall an arch erected by the city span
ned Chestnut street. Ii contained on
either side the inscription, "Philadel-
phia's Welcome TO the Representative
Citizen OF the Nation Ii was beauti-
fully decorated. In fact, taking the city
as a whole, the decoratiOnsand displays
were extensive and elaborate, but TO our
optics, they were not OF such magnitude
as 10 exceed in proiuSiOn and brillianCy
the displays OF the Centennial. All day
Monday strangers commenced coming in
the city, and on Tuesday it was estlma-
tel that 100000 strangers were on our
strse's 10 witness the grand demOnstra-
ton.
Tuesday morning "Old Sol" rose in
an uneloude,s sky, and disclosed the
citv i'm holiday ,1ress, with her banners
ON the outer walls, her flags innumera-
bic floating in the ge'utie wind, and the
buildings gay with bunting AMI ever,
green's. Philadelphis's thousands oil
miles Of streets were fairly alive at an
early hour, with civic, military ana
other organizations getting IN readl-
ness for the grand parade, Whlie
the thOrOughiares in almost every dl-
rection were thronged by the populaee
en- route 20 the streets which the parade
passed along. All business was strictly
suspended, and manufactures OF all
kinds gave their employees holiday,
The grand parade formed on Broad
street, where the REGISTER commission
er viewed il. We had a splendid posi-
tion 10 see the grandest pageant tMs
country ever witnessed. Miles of NOV
ing military, with brilliant uniforms
and guns with bayOnets attached, gleam-
ing i'm the sunshine, representatives Of
the manufacturing industries, with their
machinery in motion, and the almost
unlimited number of other Organlza-
tons, together with 300 bands OF music,
including the famous Gilmore band,
of New York, and the Marine band OF
Washington city, made scene OF such
grandeur and immensity that battles de-
scriptiOn.
As the columns moved on, we heard
afar down the line, cheering ike the
rumbling OF waves, getting nearer and
nearer, till il breaks out in grand swell
and the "silent man. Gen. L. ;. Grant,
is passing before us. In response TO the
plaudits of the multitude he raises a
well worn beaver, and bows to the right
aud left. With him, in stately dignity,
sat Mayor StOkely. The City Troop, an
uppeE ten organization, mounted, acted
as escort, while Immediately following
in carriages came the cormorants, the
city councils.
HOusetOps. windows, awnings and
every available space, along the
route Of the parade was occupied, even
worse, it was jammed. As high as $50
were paid for a window on Chestnut
street from which to view the parade.
Five hours in passing given point was
the lowest estimate placed On the length
of the parade, and owing to the bracing
atmosphere the columns moved briskly.
Had they moved with Chicago slOwneSs
il would have taken a week 70 pass a
given point.
The man to whom this great and un-
exampled ovation was extended Is Ordl-
nary looking in appearance and resem-
bled a Well-tO-dO farmer. His thick,
close cut whiskers have a tinge Of gray,
and his hair is silvered.
But he seems hearty and robust, aud
might be able to endure the cares OF the
Presidency OF the United States for
many wears to come. But his "best
friend" q. Washington Childs, says he
would spurn the nomination for the
Presidency, and has a dislike Tor politics