Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-29
DAVIS ROYAL WELCOME.
MONTGOMERY A SCENE OF WILD
ENTHUSIASM.

City-The Ex-President's Beautiful
speech of Acknowledg ment-tTen COR
dOn's Mastery ElOquence ard Or"t"ry'
MONTGOMERY, Ala, April 2S.-TO-day
will ever be memorable in the history OF
Alabama, Every locality was repre-
sented and many adjacent towns ana
villages poured their entire population
into the streets or Montgomery.
At AN early hour the sidewalks were so
denselv packed that locomOtion was dlfil-
cult. 1t had rained all night and poured
down until 10 O'Clock. The hour for the
delivery Of addresses by Mr.. Davis and
Gen. Gordon was changed to O'Clock.
Instead of going to the park, it was de-
cided to 20 to the capitol grounds, and
that the speeches should be made from
the very spot where Mr.. Davis took the
oath of office as President of the Conted-
crate States. This change was made be-
cause of the muddy condition of the park.
GAY WITH DECORATIONS.
The entire city is gaily decorated, and
the city hall has United States flags fut-
tering out of every window. Pictures of
Confederate Generals are fastened to the
OUbSiuC WILLS Wull6 JnC nGnlCS vi AeOOCAb
Z. Lee, Stonewall jackson, Albert Sydney
Johnston, Robert e. Rodes, and many
other Confederate Generals fluttered to
the breeze on streamers. The capitol was
beautifully decorated. From the top
most point on the nigh dome, towering far
above anything in the city, foated the
stars ard stripes. The entire front was
covered with streamers and devices,
81 1ad oil fbn
front columns immense Federal flags,
reaching down almost to the heads Of the
speakers. More Federal flags float in
Montgomery to-day than at any time
since 1860. Private houses and business
houses all have a liberal supply of decora-
tons and devices and words of welcome
to Mr.. Davis.
PRESSING AROUND THE HERO.
The scenes around Mr.. Davis this morn
ing and the great desire to see and shake
him by the hand are indescribabe. PeO-
pie were packed in the Exchange hotel
like sardines, and it was with difficulty
that there was entrance and exit. They
wanted to see their old President, and
nothing would satisfy them until they
had done so. Being feeble, it was more
than he could stand, and he had to retire.
The military escort formed in front of the
hotel, and extended far up the avenue
leading to the capitol. 1t was necessary
to form a square in order that the process
sion might move. Companies were
formed and stretched out on each side.
No one was allowed inside the lines. His
carriage, with four white horses, was
drawn up to the door and promptly at
o'clock Mr.. Davis, escorted by Mayor
Reese, Gov. O'Neal and ex-GOv. W ats, for
merly of his Cabinet, stepped from the
hotel and entered the carriage. The
shouts OF the multitude as he was seen TO
emerge from the hotel were lOude. than
were ever before heard in this
city. They had the peculiar nery-
Gus jerk which characterized what
became famous as the ''Y ell of the South
9rners" the world over. The next carriage
contained Gen. John b. Gordon and Capt.
w. l.. Bragg, Miss Winnie Davis, the
youngest daughter of Mr.. Davis, and Miss
Reese, the Mayors daughter. The next
carriage contained W. w. Screws, Mrs.
Gordon, Miss Gordon, and Miss Waller,
the latter the niece OF Mr.. Davis. Other
carriages followed with the trustees of
the monument association and the Gov
srnOr's staff.
wI[D ENTHUSIASM.
Amid the waving Of hats and handker-
chiefs, booming OF cannon, playing OF
0ands Of music ami shouts louder than
ever before heard, a scene was presented
rarely witnessed in any country, the dem
OnstratiOn being in honor Of a man pro-
scribed by the United States government,
and as tribute to the dead soldiers of
The cause that was lost. The route of the
procession was about half mile long.
The avenue is very wide, but the crowd,
when it began to move, was packed from
one side TO the other. When the process
sion arrived at the capitol gate way was
cleared for Mr.. Davis, the military being
formed so as to prevent oyerrunnlng the
buildings aud grounds before he had
reached his place.
TAKES HIS OLD SEAT.
He was seated upon the historic spot
ne occupied February Is, 1861. Arranged in
'front.' was place for the press, and on
the sides and in the rear Of
various organizations interested in the
buildngof the monument which il is pro-
posed to erect on the hill and immediate
~ north OF the capitol. People-men,
women aud chiIdren--were packed from
me steps TO the front gate, and while it
was impossible for a great part of
| them 10 hear they stood in their
| places out for respect to MIR. Davis and a
7sslre TO see him.
THE VISITOR INTRODUCED.
When order had been secured. and for
"A such vast thrOng IL was the most ORDER
H ever seen here, Mayor Reese advanced
70 the front and said
MY COUNTRYMEN: Il is with profound
smouons that present TO you the foremost
VTpe OF southern manhood, Hon. Jefferson
Da!ls' eN- President Of the Confederate States
N America.
me scenes heretofore enacted were
zone over as Mr.. Davis advanced. and IL
Was some minutes before be could pro-
seed. 1t was the first time thousands in
n.y. crowd had seen him since his arrival,
being impossible for all TO personally
e"cn MIN at the hotel. The shouts
nally dying away, Mr.. Davis leaning on
cane with a Federal flag over him
no confederate veterans before him. who
au come hundreds of miles to hear and
nm, in clear, ringing voice, show
lhe deep intensity Of mis- feelings, but
lnout tremor or pause, except when
Urrupted by the shouts Of his hearers,
ehFered his speech.
Mr., DAVIS SPEECH.
He said.
ll tkWSDs-lt would be vain IL ! should
Vmpt 20 express 10 You the deep gratfca-
Nhlca feel at this demonstration. But
low 10 q not personal, and th 'refOre / EEL
ueepy grat lul because 10 is sentiment
u,hrcr ,O me than myself. You have
49, through the terrible ordeal of war
l.h Alabama uld not seek. When She felt
WronEs too grieyous for further liberation
sought peaceable solution. That being
y her. The thunicrs of war came ringing
ihe land Then her people rose IN their
lcsty gray haired sres and bc0rdlesa boys