The Portland daily press., 1880-08-17
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
The Triennial Conclave at Chicago.
A MAGNIFICENT DEMONSTRATION IN
PROSPECT.

CHICAGO, Aug. 16'-A steady stream of
strangers poured in during the N light and were
arriviving by thousands this morning. Already
this city is more crowded than duri51g the Ma
tional Republican Convention, the great diff
ference in the crowd being the large percent
age OF ladies, many of the Knights having not
only brought their wives but whole families.
Today was devoted to the reception of the vis-
iting Knights
The influx of thieves, pickpockets and bur
glars is very large. They began operations
last night by capturing some regalias from the
tents of the California delegation. The mill
tia will aid the police in suppressng them.
1t is said 36S Communicates will be in the
city by tomorrow morning.
tour OF the streets through which the
grand prossesson passes tomorrow shows that
the decoration has been very general and in
some instances unique, elaborate and expen-
slve In the central portion of the city, on
randolph, Washington, Madison, Dearborn
and Clark streets and Wabash avenue, the
display OF bunting, evergreen and Masonic
devices is almost bewildering in extent and
variety. All the theatres are handsomely dec
Grated The principal hotels are almost hid
den with flags and banners. All the news
paper offices are tastefully decorated. On
Wabash avenue, at every crossing, symbolic
arches have been erected Along the avenue
on which it is considered the procession can be
seen to the best advantage, more attention has
been paid to the erection of seats, from which
to view the pageant, than to decoration.
From Adams street south to Twelfth street,
every space not occupied by building has
been utilized for the erection of grand stands
by enterprising spectators, who expect to
realize handsomely from the sale of seats.
Some of these have frontage of 400 feet and
rise at an abrupt angle to height of 40 or 80
feet. In the Easements of many of these grand
stands are beer and refreshment saloons. 1t
is calculated that between Van Buren, and
two blocks south of Harrison seats have been
provided for upward of $4,000 people. In ad'
dition to the stands in vacant lots, stagings
have been erected in front of many houses,
and the spirit of thrift has been carried SO far
that in the windows of several houses appears
The sign "Seats in this window 81 The ap-
pearance of $4,000 tents on the lake front is a
sight of ITSELF To the pedestrian on Michigan
avenue there appears little more than white
wall between him and the lake, but from the
roof of Beaurivage block the stretch of white
tents, seven-eighths of a mile lolg and dozen
rows deep, arranged in circles and ovals, on
the dark flats, bears a very beautiful effect.
1t is estimated that by morning over 200, 600
strangers will be in the city. Hotels are taxed
to the utmost and nearly every private resi-
dence has its guests.
After the procession of tomorrow the ball
in the evening will probably exceed any
similar event in the history of the country
Tonight there are entertainments at the
three largest halls and receptions at each ol
them at Central Music Hall. Hans Balatka's
band furnished the music.