The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-22
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR
PARADE ABANDONED ON AC-
COUNT OF A SEVERE STORM.
Elaborate Decorations and Prepare
tiOns-Dlsappointed Knights
and People.


Templsr of America. The city, its
business men and private citizens,
have We'd with each in decorating
their buildings and residences, and the
result is most pleasing. Along the limo
OF march of the parade the fronts Of
the bu;iness and municipal buildings
are hidden with their decorations OF
flags bearing appropriate inscriptions,
emblems and notices, and various
colored bu ting, drsped in a graceful
and fantastic manner. The most
snowy decorations are those about
and upon the courthouse. This build
ing occupies an entire square, all
around which have been placed, at
equi distant points, poles twenty five
feet high, trimmed snd connected
with each other by gailands OF woven
evergreens. Each pole bears shield,
upon which is painted the grand seal
OF some State or Territory. Behind
the shields, and falling from the top OF
the poles to the ground, are long,
graceful tri-colored pennants. teach
enhance to the building stand two
immense pyramidal pillars of ever
green's, crowned with Masonic en-
blems. Directly over each entrance
are semi.Circular sunbursts con-
structed OF evergreene, flags and bunt-
ing. The building presents bril-
liant appearance.
All OF the business houses are taste
fnlly trimmed. Washington avenue
and Olive street are gay with fluIter-
ing bunting. Pine, Chestnut and
Market streets have their share OF
flags, while the less popular thorough
fares have figs in every window, Civ
ing the streets gala day appearance.
The flags and pennantJ are 80 thick on
some streets that, viewing them in
perspective, every breeze seems TO set
the walls in motion.
Immediately In front of the main
entrance to the Exposition Building
the reviewing stand has been erected,
and it, too, is deliberately decorated.
The stand is about fifty feet square
and is covered with a canopy OF can.
vas, from the center Of which floats
large United S ates flag. Entirely
around II have been placed national
flags and Knights Templar emblems,
mlilO llOhA 40 OOluOib dODbuu hLItAIll-
ers OF many colored bunting
When the Knights Templar awoke
this morning the clear sky OF last even
ing had become overcast with dark
clouds and damp Northeast wind
was blowing with considerable veloci-
ty. Light overcoats we're not at all I'M
comfortable, and the cooling drinks
provided for the anticipated thirst OF
the marchers were entirely super
fluoue.
At s o'clock q cold, steady rain set
in, and the parade would have been a
march through mud had not the streets
along through which the parade
passed been thoroughly swept and
cleaned early this morning.
As early as $50 o'clock am, equads,
companies and Communicates, many
OF them accompanied by bands of .mu-
sic, could have been seen hurriedly
crossing to their rendezvous. Those
who started thither early in the morn
ing were more fortunate than their
tardy brethren, who, at $3.50 o'clock
were proceeding to their appointed
places with dropping plumes and
dripping uniforms.
The early morning trains were all
on time and deposited many COM
manderies who have come to the con-
clave from points near st. Louis, and
they proceeded Immediately to their
positions. At $3.50 O'Clock the first
gun directing the COMMANDMENTS TO
form was fired, and the side streets
leading into the main thoroughfares
were alive with the 10000 Knights
who participated In the parade, hur-
rying to their positions, and soon
afterwards were all ready to join
their divisions.
As time passed on tho rain fell
heavier and heavier NATL the streets
became sopping wet. At o.
O'Clock the prospects for a clear
ING up we're not at all bright, and n
few minutes later, j, II. Parsons, Com
mander.in-Chief OF the commander
les, Issued an order abandoning the
parade. The order was communi.
Gated to the faithful knights who had
been standing in the rain ready to
march aud they broke ranks, greatly
disappointed at not being able to
parade, but very willing to get in out
OF the rain. A meeting OF the Grand
Encampment will be held at noon in
the entertainment hall in the EXPOSE.
ton Building.
The disappointment at the aban-
donment OF the parade was immeasur-
able in every quarter. A mere post
ponement would not suffice, as the
rules Of the order permit a parade only
as an escort TO the Grand Encamp-
ment, and as that body must meet at
the appointed time the rain absolutely
prevented parade at this conclave.
Said Commander in Chief Pareons
'The disappointment is greater than l
can express. The arrangements were
perfect to the minutest detail. We
had impressed into our service for the
occasion the very best military talent
in this section, and were assured OF
something over 10000 men being in
line at the stroke OF the appointed
hour, and bad the state of the weather
permitted, the parade would have
been the finest ever known. As II |
was, however, nothing was left but to |
abandon it, and thus cut out one Of |
the most prominent public features OF |
the conclave."
The local Communicates only were |
held at their headquarters to form the
escort to the Grand Encampment in |
case the weather should allow even
that small display. To the tens Of
thousands OF spectators who had be-
gun to crowd the streets along the
pTosped route OF the procession the
disappointment was almost as great ss
to the Knights themselves. The dec
orations were drabbled and torn,
while the heavy wind which accom-
panied the rain tore many from their
bearings, and by 10 o'clock the specta-
Gle was anything but beautiful and
enlivening.
Inevery quarter stores, doorways and
every place offering the slightest shell
ter from the driving wind and rain
were crowded with wet, bedTaggled
and thoroughly disguised men, women
and children, knights and civilians.
The hotel Hobbies aud the various
Headquarters were thronged with ,
knights and their friends, bitterly