The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-05
ABOUT THE CAPITOL.
A Tremendous Crush of ofPeople-Arrival of the
Procession.


Tremendous Crush of ofPeople-Arrival of the
Procession.
WASHINGTON, March 4-Before o'clock full
three thousand people had congregated on the
broad plaza to the east of the Capitol and on the
terrace to the west. The approaches to the
building, both for carriages and pedestrians,
were black with strangers going to and from the
great structure. On the streets north of the
building military companies and societies were
forming and preparing to march to the center of
the city. Hundreds of people who had passed
the night in Baltimore, and who had arrived on
the early morning trains, lined the thorough
fares Members of political organizations who
had found quarters for the previous night in the
smaller hotels in the vicinity of the Capitol,
stood gossiping on the subject of the day. Their
conspicuous high hats and overcoats of light
or dark material and gaudy badges of red, blue
or purple silk, were objects Of curiosity for the
stranger. An occasional rooster design orna-
mented the head covering. The people on the
east plaza stood in groups or promenaded the
length of the Capitol with resident friends Oc-
cassionally member of Congress, whose weari-
ness from continued sitting was conspicuous,
pointed out objects of interest. Many of the
strangers had been unable to find resting place
during the night, and their faces and clothes
were covered with dust and dirt Many Of them
carried carpet-sacks or valises in hand, while a
few have their visiting clothes in good-sized band
boxes Talkative individuals related their ex
periences of past inaugurations. An old, white
haired man, with beard as long as Rip Van Win
kle's, entertained many with his account Of
the burning of the Capitol, by the British in
1914 He said he was ninety-tw years old, and
was from one of the first families of Virginia.
Little did l think" he remarked. when I
saw that building burning, that would live to
see Grover Cleveland inaugurated in 1886"
On the east steps, at the House side Of the
Capitol, three or four hundred people had seated
themselves. few of the early birds had re-
served choice positions at O'clock and had held
them with chairs, which they had brought from
their own homes The western terrace was
crowded with spectators looking upon Pennsyl-
vania avenue, along which the procession was to
move That thoroughfare was filled almost
from curb to cub with moving humanity The
policemen who stood at the entrances through
which persons were to be admitted to the Cap
itol were vigorously engaged in removing from
| the doorways the hundreds who had congregated
, about them. At the basement entrance to the
east front of the Senate wing, both men and
= y
| to influence the officers, but without success.
| Through this entrance the senators gained ad-
mission. 'Let the senator in," shouted a large
sized officer, as he gave dozen or more men and
women vigorous shove. Senator Cameron, of
10y lSconsln, was the party to enter. He was
wedged through and succeeded in aiding half
| dozen ladies who accompanied him In gaining
admlttance Let the senator in" again
shouted the officer, and Senator Conger's slight
| form was squeezed between two men, almost as
| closely united as Siamese twins. The few ladies
who accompanied the distinguished gentlemen
were the recipients of no greater favor than
and lifted from their feet, until, after they had
got beyond tho Threshold, their hats and bon
nets were fit subjects for general repairs.
| BY 10 o'clock the procession began to form on
the streets and avenues east of the Capitol. On
all sides were to be heard strains of national mu
| Sic The tattoo of the drum corps coming up on
one side of the Capitol mingled with the sound of
| the buges and brass bands of the troops advanc-
| ing on the opposite side. The Tammany Society,"
| from New York. was one of the first organiza-
| tions on the grounds. AS the Tammany
sachem. attired in aboriginal costume,
entered the plaza, he was accosted
| by ugh" ugh" and other characteristic
| expressions Civic and military organizations
preceded by single drummer boy or u band of
| one hundred pieces, as the case might be, fol-
| lowed and took the positions assigned them.
The sun shone brilliantly on the uniforms of the
! troops, and their bayonets cleaned in the sun
| shine like sea of FURNISHED steel.
| At II o'clock the crowd had increased to 5000
| or 7.OOO and crowded the plaza General Han
| cock and Lieutenant general Sheridan arrived,
and as they assembled the steps to the east front
| of the Senate wing, deafening cheer arose from
| the crowd Twenty minutes later the Presi-
dents carriage, with the four horses fairly pranc
ing, entered the west end of the plaza. Prior to
| its arrival the people stood en- masse near the
| east front. Policemen on horses went among
| them, and with shouts and clubs cleared a
passage way. The carriage began to move
| through, preceded by the military. The people
cheered, at first family, but the vehicle pro-
ceeded the hurrahs increased, hats were lifted
aud thrown into the air. handkerchefs were
waved above heads by both ladies and gentle
men, and tiny flags, held by patriotic children and
elders, were waved, the bands seemed to
play with greater vigor and the drums were
beaten with greater vehemence; the ffes snrill
sound was more piercing, and the bugle's blast
louder and louder. The carriage was driven in
front of the east steps and around to the pas
sage way beneath them. 1t had been expected
the distinguished occupants would ascend the
steps and enter the building on the main floor.
When however, it was discovered that they
would enter through the basement passage way,
there was rush in that drection but in mo-
ment the President and President-elect, the SEN
ators who had accompanied them in their car
riage, and the Vice president and his COM
panion, were within the building and the doors
were closed.
Mr.. Cleveland, the arm of Senator Sher-
man, went to the private entrance to the Senate
chamber, and proceeded Immediately to the Vice
presidents room President Arthur went to the
Presidents room, where his Cabinet was assem-
bled, and where he engaged himself in signing
measures which Congress was rushing through.
Mr.. Hendricks, on the arm of Senator Hawley
entered the apartment where Mr.. Cleveland had
previously gone