The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-24

ing display of flags. Under the alched
sign depended bunch of oranges with
SPRAYS of orange blossoms and ever
greens. The Carleton displayed pref
ty new flag in front which fioated
in graceful folds over st. George street.
Sabin and Abbott's store, on north
side of Plaza, was tastefully decorated,
and there were many decorations of
stores on ST. George and other streets OF
| which time and space forbid special
mention.
Only the Old Fort remained its same
grim self amid all the fiutter of bunting
and the gaiety surrounding.
THE ARRIVAL.
The preparations for the reception at
the railroad depot were simple, and in
| cluded nothing in the way of speech
| making or ostentatious parade of a2y
kind. The arrangements for transport
| ing the party to the Ponce de Leon were
made, very properly, by Capt. Arm
| strong, ON behalf of Mr.. Flagler, the
| Presidents host.
As the train approached the depot the
| station ward was cleared and the Recep-
ton Committee, reinforced by party of
| four young ladies-Misses Ballard,
Lewis, Ruggles and Burbridge, took
| their stations along the margin of the
platform extending along the north side
of the building. The people had massed
| themselves in crowds along the streets
| known to be included in the line of
march, and comparatively few clustered
about the depot.
| The whistle blew, loud and long, and
the engine Nv. l.. Crawford rolled
| into the yard gaily and profusely dec
| Grated with flags and streamers, and
having large portrait of the President
on the pilot. Behind it came a baggage
| car attached to that was the parlor car
"Alcazar," containing the distinguished
| guests. under the care of Superintendent
| w. L. Crawford, of the jacksonville, st.
| Augustine and Halifax River Railway
| Company and Conductor Frank Stevens,
and escorted by Mr.. Flagler who bad
gone over to Jacksonville to meet them.
The large gate was opened, and one by
one the party appeared, descended the
steps of the coach. and, conducted by
Mr.. Flagler and Capt. Armstrong, went
| directly to their carriages, without
demonstration of any kind, or any COM
munication with any one, save as each
member of the party bowed their
acknowledgements of the courteous at
tentions of the Reception Committee.
When all were seated, the
carriages drew into line between two
files of police in full uniform, in the fol
lowing order: The President and Mrs.
Cleveland and Mr.. Flagler in the first
carriage, beautifully appointed landau
drawn by four handsome gray horses
the Second carriage contained Secretary
Whitney and Mrs. Whitney; the third
Colonel Lamont and Mrs. Lamont; the
fourth, the young ladies already men
toned, acting as maids of honor to Mrs
Cleveland; then came the Reception
Committee in several carriages, and fol
lowing them number of visitors and
citizens in carriages.
Drawn up in line along Orange street
was force of forty or fifty mounted
men as a special escort, who wheeled
into line in front of the Presidents car
riage and headed the procession.
At the City Gates, the st. Augustine
Guards, the Ancient City Hook and Lad
der Company, and the Ponce de Leor
Steam Fire Engine Company, in all
numbering about two hundred men
formed for review, and fell into line a:
the procession passed, except the Guards
who marched by quick step to the Ponc,
de Leon, where they had been invited tc
act as special guard of honor insid,
the building.
THE PROCESSION.
The procession marched dowr
Orange street, past the Ole
Fort to the sea wall
thence down the bay front to st. Franci
street, thence up st. Francis street {,
st. George street, and thence along st
, George street to the corner of the Plaza
4 x
they turned into King street, past tn
Casa Monica to the main south en-
!, | trance of the Ponce de Leon. Their
they dismounted and entered Fairy
, Land.
e A typical Florida mid-winter day
e cloudless and beautiful, favored st. Au
V gustine and its distinguished visitor
v alike. If anything less than perfection
e it was a trifle too warm. The broa
e pavement in front of the large gateway
e kept clear of the crowd by a Gordon c
f grey-coated guards, reflected the rays {
h the sun, and increased the effect of til
h almost tropical heat to the point of pos
S tive discomfort. just at the momen
as it were, when the warmth became di
n tinctly noticeable, the party reached til
&C grateful shade of the spacious gatewa,
! f1anked on either side by cool, open ga
leries, literally crowded with lady CUES
7 of the house, dressed in all manner
airy summer garments; and here IL
:. first scene of the Fairy Land they wel
about to enter burst upon the delighte
gaze of the little party of way-woi
II travellers, weary from their overdose {
} reception ceremonies at Jacksonville al
>, anxious to reach the seclusion of the
D apartments.
:, Ranged along on either edge of Il
broad concrete walks within the cou
stood hundreds of school childrt
: mostly dressed in white, bedecked wi
gay sashes in the national colors
Spain and the United States, and ea'
!, bearing flowers. Around the court
- evarr ANGLE a Guard was stationed ar