The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-21
The Western City Crowded by Thousands Of
knights and Visitors, in Whose Honor the
Streets Are Brilliantly Decorated.
Prospect that TO-Day's Parade Will Be
the Greatest in the Orders History.
The Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows at
BOston-Figures from the RepOrts-Pro-
gramme for the Rest of the Week.
THE TEMPLARS.

Contest Over the Encampment's Powers.
ST. Louis, Sept 20.-It was after midnight
when the last special train discharged its load
of visitors to the triennial conclave last might,
and the day had not broken this morning when
the procession of arriving Communicates was
renewed At an early hour bands were playing
and Communicates were marching. and the
history of the forenoon has been but repeti-
ton of that of the night, on much more ex-
tensive scale At the Union Depot the tracks
are crowded with extra trains, and no sooner
is one emptied than another lakes its place.
Along the wharves on the river front similar
scene of activity is witnessed, many comman-
deries from along the rivers having chartered
steamers. which will be used as combined
hotel and headquarters during the week.
The weather seems as if special
ly designed for the occasion, and,
in consequence. the streets are thronged
with sight-seers, while everywhere may be seen
marching commanderies, making fraternal calls
on local and visiting HEADQUARTERS The work
of decorating buildings for the occasion was only
fairly begun this morning, and thousands Of
workmen are engaged in the task The prepara-
tons for the illumination, which begins tonight.
are complete. and the apparatus has been tested
and found in perfect working order. assuring a
display far in advance of anything ever previous
ly attempted in this city Other arrangements
for the work Of the encampment are perfected,
and nothing remains but to receive the knights
and get them established in their temporary
quarters In this latter respect the triennial
committee is entitled to great praise for the ex-
cellent manner in which arrangements
have been made for housing and
feeding the multitude But very few attempts
at extorton by boarding house keepers have been
reported; in every such instance the perpetra
tors have been blacklisted, and as the committee
have the tender of vastly greater accommoda-
tions than are needed, visitors are being placed,
practically. at their own terms. 1t is an utter
impossibility, at the present time, to give an ac-
curate estimate of the number of Knights al
ready on the grounds as individuals, and in
many instances Communicates, are slow in regis
tering at hotels and reporting at headquarters,
while hundreds are quartered with friends or in
sleepingcars and steamers. Fully fifty martial
and cornet bands are already in attendance, and
arc heard on every hand Representatives. of
every State and Territory have reported, and
three are present from Honolulu
At noon the rush of visitors was still una
bated. and if anything increasing. Fully ten
thousand Knights had arrived by IL o'clock. An
trains are more or less delayed by the immense
traffic, aud a Wabash train from Kansas City i'd
many hours late, owing to freight wreck
An incident of the morning, causing much
amusement and some temporary annoyance, was
a strike by the walters in several hotels and
restaurants They demanded $25 per week dur
ing the conclaye, and in nearly every instance
carried their point and returned.to work.
The crowds on the Streets at the various head
quarters, and at the Union Depot, this morning,
were but insignificant when brought into COM
parison with those of the afternoon. At the de-
pot not a quarter of an hour elapsed without the
arrival of delegation of Knights, and this even
ing the throng was so great that movement was
difficult and marching by Communicates was
next 10 impossible. Scores of bands were play
ing in various parts of the yards aud frequently
squads of Knights and their ladies regaled the
crowds with popular ballads Escorts were fur
nished to Communicates who came in bodies but
thousands of detached Knights arrived
who could not receive the honors with which
they would have met had they come in bodies.
Nearly all trains were far behind the time sched-
ued for their arrival and this occasioned weari-
some waits on the part of the local organizations
appointed to receive them, but the best of good
nature prevailed, and no complaints wero heard
Of too arduous duties the part of home
Knights or of lack of attention by visitors.
The chief event of the evening at the depot was
the arrival OK St Bernard Commandery, of Chi
cago which came in a special train of eight
coaches on the Chicago q Alton, said to be the
finest train ever made up on that road. Montjoies
Chicago No. 2, DeMolay, of Bloomington; Cheva.
lier of Chicago, and other communicates along
the route arrived with st. Bernard, or shortly
afterward and marched to their headquarters.
At the'headquarters of the triennial and sub
sidiary committees all was hustle and confusion.
But little effort was made 10 keep record of
the arrivals of communicates, and, in fact, such
an effort would have been crowned with only a
small measure of success, as the registration OF
arrivals was purely voluntary and hut few COM
manderies registered as snch. Guests were
speedily located in hotels and boarding houses,
and there was notable lack of delay and annoy
ance in securing accommodations.
At State and commandery headquarters the
day was given up to the work of decoration and
to friendly calls between the various comman-
deries. Bands from the several States were en-
gagged in serenadng visitors from other States,
and the socials were the chief features of the
day. An incident OF note was the serenade by
Georgia band of the Kansas headquarters, at
which Dixie" was rendered with much spirit
and received with loud applause, followed by
laughter and applause when the medley changed
to Marching through Georgia"
The hotels presented picture OF wonderful.
activity, and, while all who applied were fur
nished with some sort Of sleeping accommeda-
tions, the crowding something remarkable.
Grand Master Winters, who arrived yesterday
with the California delegation, is quite ILL., When
he left China, six weeks ago, he was in bad
health, and nothing could be done on shipboard
to relieve him. He has been almost constantly
travelling for six weeks. and is very much ex
hausted. He was refused to all visitors to.d0y.
His meals were served to him in bed. and he did
for to.morrow's parade, in which he Is very aux
ious to take part. Deputy Grand Master Rooma
of New York, arrived this morning, accompanied