The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-04
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
A Pen-Picture of His Inauguration as Pres
ident, Forty Three Years Ago.


Ben: Perley Poore in Boston Budget.
Thursday March i, 184l. The city had filled up
during the preceding night, and the roar of the
morning salutes echoed by the bands of the
military, as they marched to take their places III
the line of the procession The sun was OBJ
scured but the weather was mild and soft, suf-
6ciently so as not to require an overcoat Inc
streets were perfectly dry-the frost being en-
tirely out of the ground. From till IL O'Clock
the concourse of people directing their course to
and up Pennsylvania avenue was CONTINUOUS
and immense. never saw greater number OF
human beings travelling one road. Every ave-
nue. and aisle was crowded aud all were we'll
dressed and orderly. The doors OF the
capitol were kept closed till 10, when the
assemblage of ladies and gentlemen was i'm
mense; but by iudicious arrangement of the
marshals, all the ladies were admitted and the
gentlemen excluded. From the steps OF the
building, it was an interesting sight to witness
the immense crowd that were winding their
course up through every avenue to the great
height on which the capitol is placed. The la
dies assembled in the rotunda as the reception
room; they were soon ushered into the gallery
of the Senate chamber, where they We're pro-
vided with comfortable seats The east door,
leading to the Senate gallery, was soon opened,
where at least five thousand persons rushed to
that point Less than one thousand were ena-
bled to reach the seats provided above. The
galleries presented an array Of beauty seldom
seen in this country. Soon after the galleries
were filled, the foreign ambassadors, wearing
Inc court dresses anu llSlSuldy were lHbIONuOSd
on the floor The members of the Senate soon
took their seats, after which the Senate was.
called to order by the clerk, and
Senator King was NJ appointed p orfs5
senator's were sworn. Vice -presdent Tyler, of
Virginia, entered with ex-Viee president john
son. and was attended to his seat by Mr., Pres
ton. When the oath of Office was delivered he
took his seat and called the senators to order
The new senator, Mr. Moorehead, from Ken
lucky, arrived late with his credentials, and took
his seat. 1t quite amusing to see the groups
of senator's particularly Messrs Wright Buch-
anan and Benton, the fotner of whom was heard
to say in an undertone: 'Well, gentlemen, we
are at last in the majority" The crowd which
filed the aises were soon cleared, when the
President William Henry Harrison, was ushered
into the room by the committee, of which Mr..
Preston was chairman. The judges OF the SUI
preme Court, wearing their black silk robes, had
taken their seats in front, below the speakers
chair The President-elect shook hands
cordially with number of the senators and
judges, and appeared much younger than
many who were his junior in years The pro
gramme of the procession was carried out to the
letter. The military particularly that from
Philadelphia with the fine band, made most
splendid appearance. The military from the
District and from Baltimore made fine appear
ance, The Tippecanoe clubs were out In full
force a platform drawn by four horses, on
which was placed machine with spindles for
cotton spinning, in full operation But the great
point of attraction the President, who rode
white horse. On his right was Major Hurst,
on another white horse, who was his aid at the
battle of Tippecanoe-a fnelooking man from
the West. And on his left Colonel Todd, his aid
at the battle of the Thames. There were few
men in the procession that looked better than
the General; he wore plain suit of
black, and had the appearance of
man not over fifty years OF age. AS
he passed down Pennsylvania avenue, which
was crowded on both sides, the President bowed
gracefully as he was cheered, and as the ladies
waved their white handkerchiefs. In the pro
cession was gentleman dressed in a Western
hunting shirt, marching at the head of about
twenty of his comrades 1t was the brave Gen
eral Combs, of Kentucky, who served IN all the
Western campaigns of 1872 and 1878, and who
conducted the vanguard of Dudleys defeat when
marching to relieve Fort Meigs. The shirt worn
was similar to that worn by General Harrison in
his Western campaigns. OF the eighteen sol
ders that this day, chose General Combs as
their commander, there was not one who had
not two wounds to attest his bravery. At 1870
P. NJ. the signal was given, and the president of
the Senate senator's judges of the Supreme
Court, ambassadors ETC., formed in procession,
and proceeded to the eastern front of
the capitol, where a platform some fifteen
feet high and large enough to accommo-
dase an immense crowd, was erected. 1t
was filled with the dignitaries of the land and
ladies' The Presidentelect took his seat in front,
Chief Justice fancy and his associates by his
side the senators and ambassadors on the left,
and the ladies on the wings and sides. The large
space below was flied with the immense multi
tude not less than from 40 900 to 80, 900 persons
When quiet was secured the President took off
his hat, rose, and, advancing to the front of the
platform, commenced reading his inaugural
All were perfectly astonished at the power and
compass of his voice. He spoke until P. M
one and half hours-with clearness that was
truly surprising. So distinctly were his words
heard that he was eheered at the closing of every
sentiment, particularly where he said that he
would carry out the pledge he had previously
made, that, under no circumstances, would he run
1.1cz H. Al.
inaugural he turned to Chief ustice fancy, who
held the Bible, and in most clear and distinct
voice repeated the oath required. 1t was sing
ular fact that when tbs President took the oath
this multitude of spectators before him involun-
tarily uncovered their heads, while pealing can
non announced TO the country that it had a new
chief magistrate. As soon as the ceremony was
over the immense concourse turned their faces
from the capitol. The crowd of well-dressed
persons filed down the various walks to Penn
sylvania avenue. The procession formed anew,
and marched in order to the White House,
cheered as 1T passed along by the crowds on the
sidewalks. At this point the immense multitude
congregated. The President took his station in
the reception-room, and the concourse entered
the front portals through the large columns, and
passed through the vestibule into the reception
room, where they had an opportunity to shake
hands with the President and retired down the
rear steps, and passed out through the garden.
There was the greatest satisfaction expressed by
all, and it was admitted by all that were wit
posses of similar scenes, that there were at least
three times the number at this Inauguration
than ever attended on any previous occasion of
similar character.
The scenes at the White House on the day of
the Inauguration are too numerous to describe
The Wings, who had not been for twelve years
admitted into the royal precincts, had great Gu
riosity to see the habitation. The east room
was not opened. The ladies filled the chambers
and bedrooms, but the gentlemen could not pass.
through one room, so vast was the Generals
"great Republican party" on that day. The
ladies were to be admitted on Thursday. AS
Mrs. Van Buren, kept possession of the
White House till the last moment, General
Harrison had opportunity to make any
previous arrangements for the reception of his
COMPANY Thu carriages and eouipapes of the