Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-17
cnivALRic KNIGHTS.

cf1ivALRic KNIGHTS.
A Great Parade Of Knights Templar ~
Washington Citv-Commencsment Of the
Triennlal Conclave.
WASHINGTON, Oct 9-The Knight
Templar tho were astir early yesterday
morning glanced mournfulIy at sullen,
threatening sky, indicative OF rain, and
the chilliness of the air almost foreboded
snow. But as the hours wore away the
sun broke tarcugh, and its cheerful rays
were reflected from bright uniforms.
sparkling insignia and Haunting banners.
The city wore holiday garh
The days of chivalry. with all their
pomp and display, seemed revived. The
long columns of soldiery, with their
gorgeous plumes and uniforms, the gal.
looping mounted equerries. the futtering
banners. the martial music, the shrill and
commanding trumpet calls, the throngs
of admiring spectators, were here. Only
the fields of picturesque tents, mounted
battlements and MANNED warriors of the
Middle Ages were wanting to make the
picture complete.
Everywhere was hustle. animation and
brilliant coloriug. The streets were
thronged with people. and bright banners
an d mystic insignia decorated the build
Along Pennsylvania avenue the deco
rators had been lavish in the use of bunt-
ing, and from each window and house
front flags, banners and the cross of the
Templars Haunted in the crisp October
air. From the treasury building, along
both sides of the magnificent promenade
leading to the capitol, there was an unin-
terrupted display of the National colors
and insignia of the Templars The use Of
the devices of the visiting orders per-
mitted the adoption of some novel deoora-
tons.
The dingy columns of the east front of
the treasury building were warmed into
temporary splendor by heavy drapings of
the National colors, iuterspersed with
shields bearing the heraldic devices of the
visiting Communicates. Long streamers
of red, white and blue hung from the
pediments of the north, south and west
porticos and almost the entire cornice Of
the building was hidden by huge Ameri-
can flags draped in graceful folds. A
National flag flying from the mastpole
with futtering pennons streaming from
guy ropes on each side crowned the deco
rations.
The streets were thronged early to wit
ness the pageant The Templars formed
early at their various headquarters, and,
with bands playing. marched through the
crowded streets to the place of starting.
Along the line of march stands had been
erected and before nine O'Clock the choice
places had been occupied by spectators.
Windows commanding a view of the pro.
cession were at q premium. The avenue
had been roped in to keep off the crowd
and give full room to the Knights for the
display of their maneuvers.
1t was predicted that the crowd would
in har h0f yUh TN cd
the inauguration of President Harrison,
but this prediction was very far from be-
ing realized. The streets were we'll filed
with people and progress was slow along
the main thoroughfares, but by no means
we'll nigh impossible, as was the case on
the 4th of March. A moderate estimate
would place the number of visitors
in town at about $4,000, and these
are nearly all friends of the various COM
manderies taking part in the parade. The
number of knights in the city has been
estimated at from ID. 600 to 20, 600, COM
prising over 200 communicates from all
sections of the country. 1t was thought
that of the number here there would prob
ably be about 16, 600 in line. or 4, 900 more
than participated in the parade at the
triennial conclave in St Louis.
The twelve divisions Of the procession
formed in the streets adjacent to the cap
at the signal of command filed into line
and began the long march up Pennsylvania
avenue, whose broad surface was perfect
ly level and smooth, having been newly
laid with asphalt short time ago.
The parade moved over a line of march
three and q half miles long, beginning at
First and B streets, east of the capitol,
thence 20 street, down F street to Penn
sylvania avenue at the foot of Capitol Hill
and along Pennsylvania avenue past the
Treasury building and White House tc
Washington circle, where the parade
moved into z street and down that street
to Mount Vernon square, where the COM
manderies were dismissed.
In front of the White House a stand had
been erected on the same site from which
the President in March last reviewed the
inaugural procession. From this stand
the President reviewed the Knights. An
other stand had been erected on K street.
near the end of the line of march for thf
accommodation of the Most Eminent
Grand Master General Charles Roome, of
New York.
Eleven o'clock was fixed upon as the
time for the procession to start. but it was
nealy noon before the processi On started
The line was headed by Eminent Sir
Knight Myron M. Parker, of this city,
chief marshal and his staff. of which Sir
Knight Harrison Dingman was chief.
At 1880 O'Clock President Harrison en-
tered the reviewing stand, leaning on the
arm of SecretaryWindom.H He was followed
by Secretaries Tracy, Noble and Rusk.
Attorney General Miller, General Scho-
field and General Vincent, Assistant Adj
jutant General. They were accompanied
by Mrs. Harrison, DIR. Scott Mrs. Scott
Lord, Mrs. Halford, Miss Sanger and sew
eral Indiana friends. The entrance of the
Presidential party was the signal for loud
applause.
IN CONFERENCE.
WASHINGTON, Oct 9-The grand en-.
campment of Knights Templar began its
session Immediately upon arriving at
Masonic Temple at the close of the parade
yesterday. Myron NJ. Parker delivered