Huntsville gazette., 1886-09-25
THE CONCLAvE.

=
plar on the Continent-St. Louis Vast
Camp of Uniformed Men-A Brilliant
Spectacle by Day and the Realization of q
Dream of FairyIand by Night--The Com
petitive Drill and Grand Parade.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 20.-The scene at the
Union depot this morning was one of ex-
citement and hustle, as commandery
after commandery arrived, formed into
line and marched TO their headquarters.
There was little confusion, although
three and four Communicates arrived
simultaneously The local Knights were
out in full force to do escort duty, and as
the visitors arrived squad of men was.
detailed to accompany them down town
and return for fresh arrivals. Two lines
of the st. Louis Knights formed in the
center archway of the depot and through
them the visitors and escorts marched,
headed by brass bands and pompous-
looking um-maiors.
This city this morning is ablaZe with
brght-coored bunting, flags and every
conceivable decoration. From the river
front back to the suburbs nearly every
business house and private residence
seems to vie with its neighbor in spread
ing the most decorated canvas to the
breeze. Masonic emblems meet you
everywhere. Uniforms glitter on every
street. Bands are marching in al direc-
tions footing all kinds of music.
All the streets were lined with the Wis
itors this morning, and they went
hurrying and scurrying to every place OF
interest. The ladies seemed the most
anxious to 60 to the Exposition, while
oil ha nj
Gus State headquarters. r.-..
BY noon to-day OLIVE street was so
crowded that pedestrians were walking
in the middle Of the street in order to get
passage.
The whole scene was dreadfully order
ly for the reporter in search of incidents,
as the Knights were all terribly sober,
and the bar-room at the depot was de-
serted.
The six best drilled communicates in
in the United States will take part in the
exhibition drill at the fair grounds on
Wednesday morning. This is by no
means a prize drill, but will be none the
less interesting. The Detroit Com
mandery leads the list as having won the
prize banner twice; at Baltimore in 1871
and Cleveland, O., in 1877, since which
petition, although it gave an exhibition
drill, said to be the finest display of mill
tary tactics ever seen, at the Chicago
conclaye. Raper Commandery, Indian
apoliS, comes next, having carried
first honors once and second
honors three times. De Molay
Commandery, of Louisville, and st.
Bernard Commandery, of Chicago, have
each held the banner once, it now being
in the possession of the DeMolays. The
other two Communicates which will take
part will be Louisville No. L. and Zion,
of Minneapolis, which have made such
progress that they fully expect to out
tactic their skilled competitors. 1t will
undoubtedly be the most beautiful eX-
hibiiion OF military maneuvers ever wit
messed in st. Louis. The drill com
mences promptly at 4 m, and the net
proceeds go 10 the erection of the Ma
sons Widows and Orphans home.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2l.-The big event
this forenoon will be the parade of the
Knights Templar. ThelIne will be form
ed in twenty divisions in columns of
double sections at half distance, with
thirty-fye feet between Communicates
having bands, twenty-five feet between
communicates without bands and forty
feet between divisions. The different d-
visions of the parade will occupy posi-
tions near each other in the vicinity of
Fourth and Clark avenue.
One sir knight, resident of st. Louis,
will be attached to the staff of each divi-
sion commander and carry a guidon
bearing the number Of the division to
which he is attached. This provision is
made so that the ST. Louis man can fur
nish information as TO streets, etc. The
column will contain between twenty
thousand and thirty thousand men, and
will be the finest body of Knights TEN
plar ever assembled at any place at any
time.
All divisions are required to be in posi-
tior and in readiness for marching by
$3.50 a. m. At eight O'Clock nine guns
will be fired as the signal for general and
staff officers to report at headquarters;
for communicates to 'fall inn pre-
paratory to taking their places in column |
and for carriages to be placed in position. |
At quarter to nine six guns will be fired, |
which will signal the moving Of the |
grand encampment and call the entire |
column to s'attention."
At nine O'Clock three guns viii be fired, |
the last shot meaning ''forward, march.''
to the first division, succeeding divisions |
taking up the march Immediately upon
being discovered. Arrangements for ice /
water for the procession have been made,
and surgeon or physician will accom-
pany each division with an ambulance at
easy call in case it is required. The pa
rade will be "dismissed" as the different |
divisions arrive at the foot OF Lucas |
place, west Of the Exposition building.
The first grand illumination OF the /
present festival occasion took place last |
night, when the whole eleven miles OF
closely -massed and many colored lamps /
were lighted-the long vistas of dazzling |
brilliancy unbroken except by magnif |
cent arches and beautiful designs /
on house fronts-and at the |
courthouse BY grand display of pyro-
technIcs-the whole lighting up an aui-
mated and constantly shifting mass of |
humanity numbering many ten thou
sands, which thronged everywhere in |
search of new glories. Ever and |
anon new interest was lent to the scene |
by the marching and countermarching of /
ne wly-arrived Communicates going to |
their quarters, each preceded by music, |
gsLo