The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-16
HERE IN FORCE.

The CITY Alive with Veterans-Posts OF the
g. A. r. Marching in the Procession-A
Splendid Demonstration.
IT. would have been well near impossible for
drop of rain to have fallen anywhere within
sbe corporate limits of Indianapolis yesterday
without striking a human being. The simple
abatement that the city was crowded gives
very small idea of the real proportions Of the
mass of humanity which surged through the
streets throughout the day. Thousands of
people arrived in the city over the
railroads during the morning, and the
Union Depot, it seemed, was the mouth through
which the whole universe was emerging into
indianapolis. The excursion trains over all the
roads comprised twelve and fifteen passenger
cars, which were crammed with people. and on
some of the trains even the locomotive tender
was covered. Extra trains were sent out over
all the lines, and yet there were hundreds Of
people, it is reported, who were unable to get to
the city.
The conditions of the day were propitious to
the occasion. The temperature was we'll regu-
lated, and during the afternoon the sunshine
was Obstructed by canopy of vaporish clouds,
from which occasionally oozed misty suhst ance
foreboding rain. But, thanks to the considera-
ton Of the weather engineer, there was no
rain. The city never appeared more beautiful
1t was ruffled, and furbelowed and festooned in
gay oolors. It was in wild flutter OF red white
and blue, and the patriotic feeling at high
tide. 1t was gay-lorious day for the American
dag. By noon there were fully 10000 people in
the city, and Circle Park was the nucleus about
which all this mass of humanity thronged.
'oLD SOLDIERS DAY"
Itwas sold soldiers day." and a grand day it
was. At no time since the close of the war has
there been as many soldiers in the city as yes
terday. 1t is estimated by the commanders that
there were no less than 1000 members of the
Grand Army of the Republic in the procession
that marched to the grounds at noon, besides the
hundreds of soldiers in the city who do
not belong to the organization. The gathering
of veterans surpassed all expectations. The
Grand Army posts began arriving in bodies from
all directions on the first trains reaching the
city in the morning, and before the hour for the
procession to start the streets interesting Circle
Park where the headquarters had been estab-
lished, were packed with veterans. 1t was a
throng which could not be readily welded, and
there was a delay of an hour in getting the pro-
cession started, General George F. McGinnis, the
officer in command, headed the procession, with
Stanton ]. Peee in command of the first di-
vision; Gen. NJ ID. Manson of the second d.
vision and j. L. Bieler the third division. The
procession extended from Circle Park to the Ex-
position grounds, the men marching in double
ranks and the line was over mile and half in
length. The line of march north Meri-
dian street from the Circle to North street,
thence east to Delaware; north to Home ave-
nue.; east to Alabama and north to the camp.
The streets along the line Of march were crowded
with spectators, and the veterans were enthusi-
astIcally cheered.