Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-23
FL0RIDA'S WELCOME.
A HEARTY. AND ENTHUSIASTIC ONE
TO THE PRESIDENT,

And an Ovation to His Charming Wife
Their Pathway strswn with Flowers
and Lined with Shouting Thousands
An Hours Drive Through Savannah En-
Route-The Mothers of waycross.
SAVANNAH, Ga, Feb. -. The presidential
party arrived at Savannah at S,:l5 Wednesday
morning, and left at 0;35 for Jacksonville,
after an hours drive through the city In the
rain. The president rode in an open carriage,
aud was greeted with cheers wherever he APP
peared. The streets were throngei with peo-
Pile The president responded to the recep-
ton 10y lifting his hat aud bowling. He was
met at the station by the mayor and recep-
ton committee of citizens. who extended the
hospitality of the city. The reception was
wholly informal, and there was no speech
making or Misunderstanding during the entire
visit
AT l2:i5 the party reached Waycro5s, Ga,
where there was a brief halt, the entire pop
ulation being out to welcome the party. The
president and wife stood on the rear platform
and good deal of hand shaking was in
dulged in, while the cheers were continuous
Many mothers in the crowd had their babes
with them and held them up for Mrs. Glove
land to kiss, but she declined, Temarking that
she dared not begin
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Feb. 23-The well
come rendered to President aud Mrs. Cleve-
land and this party in the city OF
Jacksonville Wednesday was genuine aud
cordial. The entire population Of the city
mingled with the 50, 900 visitors on the streets,
and greeted the distinguished visitors in a
manner known only to southern people, The
enthusiasm manifested was unanimous and
the lusty cheers and shouts which greeted
the president and his wife rs they passed
through the streets came from The hearts Of
the assembled multitude along the line of
march. The day undoubtedly was the great
est in the history of this city, and will long
be remembered.
At 2 o'clock p IN. the special train rolled
into the yards, and stopping with the rear
platform opposite the carpetel way, the
chief ruler of the land stepped to the plat
form followed by Mrs Cleveland, Secretary
and Mrs Whitney, and Secretary and Mrs.
Lamont They were met by Capt William
NJ. Davidson a brother of Congressman
Davidson, who conducted them to the recep-
ton room, where the members Of the recep-
ton committee were introduced. They then
passed through the station to II handsome
carriage covered with flowers aud drawn ty |
six beautiful black horses A carpet was
stretched from the train through the waiting |
strewn with flowers As the president |
emerged from the ladies waiting room a cheer |
went up from the assembled thousands that |
shook the buildings. 1t was equal almost to |
an earthquake. A salute of twenty zone guns |
was then fired.
The procession was formed and there was |
no delay in escorting the party to the St |
James hotel As the carriage containg the |
president and Mrs Cleveland rolled through |
the streets the crowds on the sidewalks on |
and in windows greeted them with |
cheers and waving of handkerchiefA Very
little time was spent by Mr. and Mrs Cleve-
land in the st James The procession was
again formed and the march resumed
through the principal streets to the
sub-tropical exposition. Shouting, cheer
ing, and the waving of hats
and handkerchiefs was kept up on every
side. At the exposition fully 5000 people
were in waiting. Col. j. j. Daniel intro
duced the president, who was greeted with
round upon round of cheers. He babe the
president welcome, and eulogi i highly the
of the chief magistrate. His
remarks were greeted with applause, es-
pecialy his references to Mr.. C!oveaud's
work, but when he had finished aud turned
and introduced the IRE 'ident the applause
was indeed deafeniug.
|
a distinct voice that could be heard all over
the vast building. He thanked them for their
kind words, and expressed his hearty appre-
citation of the manifest greeting given him.
He knew of Floridas resources but never
till now had he realized their full immensely.
He was frequently interrupted by rounds of
applause, and at the close of his speech cheer
upon cheer rent the air, while the band
played "Dixie," "star Spanglei Banner" and
'Hpil tn the Chief"
Mrs. Cleveland was then INTRODUCED 10 the
audience and she received a real ovation At
1880 the party were driven to the st. james.
and at 80 held an immense reception, fully
200 people attending. The jam was ter
'ific. The reception was the browning fec.
ture of the day. The crowds that gathered
In the neighborhood of the park, ebowing
zach other to get near the entrance, num-
bered fully 80, 900 people, and many were I'M
able to get a sight of the visitors,
They Deny Everything.