Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-29
THE president HERE
HE AND SEVERAL FRIENDS PASS
THROUGH THE CITY RETURN
ING HOME.
They Are Met by the Mayor and Citizens
but Have Not Time To Accept
Our Hospitality.

Hon. Benjamin Harrison, President of
the United States. was in Richmond for a
short while yesterday afternoon.
He did not remain IN the city quite an
hour. and very few people knew of his
presence until he was on the tram being
rapidly borne 20 the national capital.
He was accompanied by United States
Senators Joseph r. Hawley, Of Connecti-
cut. and George +. Edmunds, Of Vermont;
Justice GRAY, Of the | nlted States Su-
prcrne Court; j. ". THOMPSON. Esq. p
/ Washington broker, and Mr.. \. +. Bate
man, wealthy New York broker, more
commonly known and spoken of ~ Com
mOdorc Bateman.
The President and his friends. availing
themselves Of the opportunity afforded
them during the holidays. were out on u
brief cruise and duck-shooting expedition
and were travelling in Commodore Bate
mans elegant yacht Meteor"
TO MEET THEN.
Late Friday night Mr.. John p. Branch
received q. telegram from Nlr. Bateman,
dated at Claremont. saying that the Prcs-
dents party would reach here nj : O'Clock
Yesterday afternoon and requesting that
carriages be sent down 10 meet them.
T..
the hosptable thing and show that our
people love 10 do honor 10 the Chief Nagis-
trate of the country. notwithstanding tho
fact tnat his political opinions and a,iila-
irons are very fore gn 10 what We consider
the proper thing. He determined not
only 10 engage empty carr aces 70 accom-
modatc tho distinguish ned visitors. hut also
TO carry down several others hllcd with
leading citiZcus OF Richmond 10 welcome
4 frlf
the city.
The Mayor was waited on and very
promptly consented 10 drive down 20 meet
General Harrison. a. did quite number on
our leading bus nees-men. Ar. Branch
went further. lIr made preparations 20
have the visitors driven through the city
and shown some of the beauties Of our
parks and suburbs, prepared 10 ent r
tain them at tea at his residence,
and waited on the Governor and
asked that he would either meet
the President or prepare 10 receive
him and his friends az the Executive Nan
sion. Governor Lee replied that DE had IN
engagement rendering 10 involvement Tor
him 30 20 70 the boat IN he afternoon, but
that he would beat the Mansion and would
receive General Harrison with pleasure.
IL further remarked ilat the coming of
the President not having been officially
announced. it was the proper thlns t.at ZEE
should remain no home aud Icy the Presi-
dent call OH him.
OTgF WHARF.
The gentlemen WHO werc going down 20
the wharf met ut the Office Of Ihomls
branch II Co.. ira rear oil the Merchants
and Planters Notionai Bank, and about
half-pa-t3 O'Clock took carriages and drove
10 the Old Dominion steamship Cowpanv's
wharf whore 10 Was expected that the
yacht would land.
About half dozen carriages drove mp 20
the sheds about tnn minutes before 4
o'clock and the occupants allchted. They
were Alavor J. Taylor El1son, Major
Frederick r. Scott. Nh. John =. Brlnch,
Ncssr.. Blythe and john X. Branch. Dr.
). p. McCaw. Colonel 4. :. Huiord. Major
jaime. H. Doolev. Sir. +. u. Christian. AID
Philip 4. Bruce, Esq, editor OF the Day
inns.
These gentlemen waited patiently for
halt hour or moro. butthc yacN came not,
ant all OF the vessels comingu p the stream
reported that they he'd not seen or nearl
ANYTHING of H. Still they waited and chat
ted, but the eXpe ted came not.
WHIT TO MET urL
Finally the happy idea Of going down
the river I'D "a tur TO meet The company
was conceived, hut here an obstacle was
encountered. Botn Of the city tU-- were
near 1T hand. lut the Heur Christian had
q loaded barge Of sand 60 carry DOWN the
stream and lump. and the CraieAill. which
had bee. retired for tie day and rnu I'D bee
loA the drl dock On The south side % the
stream, was not steamed up. Nayor Ely
son Was determined net tO ho oul#i'tcd ny
such triNt- as these: SD h" boarded tne
Christian. was carried over 10 The Crtighll,
and asked hat II bee COTTON ready for seq
vice a- speedily ds possible.
CAPTAIN Thomas Cunningham put his
men % work. and I'm tow miluei thr aug
came -tcamiug across the ItMr-. Ire
members of the party who had some down
several hundred tfri- below Che s. firVr-.
climbed d0uua I--foOt ldder over another
.ue anchored there end iuio the ClsisA u.
aud were soon being borne down the
stream 10 quito good rate of speed.
Hrre SHE co,ws.
When nearing the monitors. which aro
safely nestled mo tine still water ~ bend
about two and half miles below the city
on the south side Of the river. and behind
rows Of piles which have been sunk 80 keep
them from being injured by drift. and while
discussing the adv.-dbility of giylrg Conn
mandpr McgurlrN q Culstwga -, rming.
Captain Cunningham. who had his rlasses 20
hi, eyes. -pied o. red lieht approaching 40
the distance. and cxclo med. " II ne cones
the Yacht" Mauy who had concluded
that the party bad abandoned Che IMP up
the James wanted tO argue that tins was
the Ariers light. but the Captain insisted
that n was the yacht. and he proved 20 he
correct for the Weli-uannad lttir cigar-
ST. lod craft soon hove ip fail view.
The Cral.hill turned around and her pas
scngor- were Transferred 10 the Meteor"
a> soon AS ,hc two vessels could hc gotten
close enough together 10 walk from one %
the other by means OF The gang-wey.
TO TIL PRESIDENT.
Commander Baieman. who was running
the Yacht himself came down and received
the RIchmoud"Is. several OF whom he
knew personally, and presented them 10
the President individually. They were also
presented to Senators Haw.ev and La
munds, who were on tho deck near tie
President. Justice GRAY and MIR. Ihomp-
son were n the cabin, and neither % them
came on deck until few minutes before
the vessel landed.
General Harrison received ma callers
courtcuusly and it might be- said cordially
for a man Of his natural reserve lie
seemed a little surprised at being met by
the delegation, and expressed his gratiii-
cation that the people of Richmond should
have seen TT TO show HIM tins mark OF re-
spcct.
MAY CONF AGAIN.
Almost as soon as the TUG party had
gotten on board the Yacht Mr.. Bateman
gave them 10 understand that the pfcsi-
dental party would not stop IN the city at
all. but that they would have TO hurry IN
order 10 make connection with the north
bound tram. which he thought left at $40.
When he WAS informed that there wa, an
other tram. leaving at 7.l3 the Commodore
SAID they would not have to be III 80 much
of a hurry. but that they would have 10
catch tine train, as the President was COM
PEELED to return TO Washington, and his
(Bateman's) private car had been ordered
here 10 carry them.
hir. Branch Mayor Ellvson, and Colonel
BuiOrd, who were engaged IN conversation
with General Harrison and Mr.. Bateman,
all expressed regret that so hurried trip
would have TO be made.
Mr.. Branch said 10 the President that 1t
was desired that he should call on the
Governor who had been told Of h.s coming
and who with members OF his stan were at
the Executive Mansion awaiting his arrival.
" ] shall have TO ask You to excuse me-
replied the President. " We VIII hardly
have time 10 DO more than drive rom the
wharf 10 the depot. Besides, | wanted tins
10 he a private trip and must ask that YOU
Will excuse me from any Formally and
70. 1t.4fly