Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-12
THE INFLUX OF VISITORS.

The Hotels and Boarding Houses Shell
terfnR over 10000 Guests-The Rail-
WAYS Taxed to their Utmost to Trans
mort the Visitors - The Travel to
increase To-Day--Night Scenes at the
Depots and in the Streets.
All day Yesterday and last night the
streets of Savannah were thrOnged by Pc
destrians, and in some places it was hardly
possible, and only with extreme difficulty,
to make way through the dense crowds.
The afternoon incoming trains on the
| Central Railroad were crowded to
their utmost capacity, and last
| night the roads from all directions poured
into the city delegations from the North,
South and West, and the railroad facili-
ties, though doubled for the occasion, were
taxed to their utmost limit with the en0r-
NOUS influx of visitors. Everybody, from
all over the South, seemed bound for the
Sesaui-C Centennial, and the tide of human
inty began early to flow Savannah
ward. After dark the throng in
the streets doubled in size
and the electric lights shed their glare
upon as motley throng as could be well
imagined. Travellers, with their carpet
bags firmly clutched, wandered aimlessly
around hunting boarding houses and
quoting from the Scriptures, "FOXes have
holes, the birds of the air have nests"
etc.: bands and military companies
marched through the streets,
followed by admiring youngsters;
pickpockets and swindlers stood on
the corners looking for victims; hackmen
and drivers swore till the air might be
supposed to be blue, and the scene was
one of confusion, such as always pre-
cedes the celebration of great event.
The reduced rates of fare ON all lines
leading into the city took effect Saturday,
which accounts for the extraordinary
rush. The Central Railroad, Savannah,
Florida and Western, and Charleston
and Savannah Railways ran extra
coaches on all their regular local
and through trains and emptied their liv-
ing freight into the crowded stations. AT
the hotels the rOtundaS and offices were
packed, and the arrivals exceeded in
numbers the most nOtable-of the Jasper
Centennial in 1879. The leading hotels
last night were crowded to the roof with
guests, and, adding to these returns
from the smaller hotels and board
ing houses throughout the city, the
total will exceed 10000 people. Hotels
that have heretofore made it a rule not to
crowd cots into rooms, for fear OF 1ncom-
mOding their guests, were actually COM
PEELED to do so on this occasion, owing to
the great rush and to the willingness of
patrons to receive whatever quarters
might be assigned to them. Those who
have heretofore protested against paying
three and four dollars day for the privi-
lege of occupying small cots in
crowded rooms have accepted this limited
hospitality without murmur. The fact
is, that they were obliged to accept such
accommodations as were given them or
90 shelterless. Although the festivities
point to a perfect bonanza for the hotels,
no have VViGQ
manifested a disposition to crowd
their guests unnecessarily, and
as yet in not a single known instance have
the regular rates been increased. The
great influx of strangers is by no means
mOmentary matter, and that it will con-
tinue to-day and tomorrow is assured by
the fact that the rooms in every hotel in
the city have been secured for the time.
Not only is every house taxed to
it's utmost in anticipation of the
throngs, but it was feared by
some that a difficulty would be expert
enced in the more vital matter Diminishing
them with food. Although the hotels and
restaurants yesterday were provided with
we'll stocked larders, it will require all
the economy of the chefs to-day to meet
the vOracious demand of the never-ending
streams of eaters.
The late trains last night brOughtcrOwdS
from the interior country, and the plat
forms of the cars as they pulled into the
depOts were packed with men and Wo-
men who hung on like bees to honey pot,
and rushed down the platforms in drOves
to get the first chance at the hacks and
secure a place to rest their weary heads.
To-day the festivities willIcommence, and
the crowds will increase still more, and
it is anticipated there will be 10000
visitors in the city during the celebration,
and its resources will be taxed to the
llttprmOSt limit