The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-03-07
The Most Magnificent Fire
Works Ever Witnessed.
Incidents Of the Ever Mem.
orable Day.

WASHINGTON. March 4. - Wash
ingtOn entertains to-day hundred
thousand strangers. They began tt
come before the dedication of the
monument, and they have been com
ing ever since. They have come in
family parties, in clubs and com
panies, and regiments. The hotels
were filed q week ago, and private
boarding houses and dwellings have
since done what they could to lodge
the shelterless and feed the hungry.
Nevertheless, not q few of the late
corners, who brought little besides
their patriotic memories and eXult.
ant hopes. tramped. the avenues. last
night from necessity, and breakfast.
ed this morning with coffee and
sandwiches with the vendors in the
markets and on street rners. The
morning opened foggy, but with ex-
cellent promise CT fair weather,
which was fulfilled before 8 O'Clock.
The tbrongs were abroad early, walk
ing aud riding from point to point,
to see what they could of the public
buildings, parks and monument, be-
fore the great event of the day began.
The fifeing and drumming and
marching of clubs and troops were
the enliving elements of the early
forenoon. This morning a serenade
rendered to popular politicians served
to amuse and interest crowds. What
ever it is possible to do with scant-
ling and boards, and bunting and
gilt, to bedeck the town for the 0cca-
sion, Washington has undertaken.
The harvest of decorators and car
penters began ten days ago, and the
noise Of their saving and pounding
and the click of their hammers has
been heard day and night ever since,
DOWN to the moments of starting of
the procession. At first ugly erec-
tions of rough ii mber broke out all
along The proposed line of march
from the White House to the Cap
itoI, covering the windows and doors
0; stores aud dwellings, and filling
up the little parks and openings, and
upon these were tackled an adver-
tiselnent of "seats to rent Later,
f1ags, banners, streamers and taste
full devices in snowy colors concealed
the rough woodwork and then
the buildings of private families
oegln to blossom out. The COM
pieted work is very beautiful
and the stateliest of American
avenues has been tr,nsferre in
to a moving mass Of CAV colOrs.
which is fittinglv typified by the
heartlness of the city's we'c0me to
the new administration. The build
ing at the corner of Twelfth and
Pennsylvania avenue, occupied by
the Pension Bureau, was, perhaps,
the most eiaborately decorated struc-
ture in the city and the decorations
were at once pleasing and unique.
Long lines of streamers were sus-
pended between the fiagstafs on the
roof while below on either side of the
building an immense golden eagle
clutched long lines of red, white and
blue bunting. which were artistically
woven Into network, covering the
building and at the Intersection of
the lines of bunting were stars OF
gol and framing the whole design
We're handsome shields .bearing the
names of the states Of the Union, all
linked together with gilt chains.
Long before the hour set for the
movement of the procession, the
music of hundreds of bands heading
the organizations seeking their posts.
blended in one confused roar. BY
len o'clock the entire populace OF the
city seemed to have deserted its
houses aud occupied the streets on
the line of march. The crowd was
something unprecedented even In
ths city, accustomed as it is to re-
ceive the outpourings of the nations
population.
The members Of the general in
auguralion committee met at the
Arlington Hotel before 10 o'clock
and placed their services at the dis
possl of the President.elect. Presi-
oent Arthur breakfasted with his
family at the White House. About
soclock Senator Hawley proceeded
10 Wizards Hotel, where he was
joined by Vice-PI PIesident-elect Hend-
,icks, and he two proceeded to the
White House. They occupied = hand
some open barouche, lined with GRIM
soh satin and drawn by four beautt.
'u' white horses. The Vice-President
was heartily cheered all along the
route to the White House. Just as
ie was entering the grounds Presi-
oelt Arthur's carriage, coa'ain-