Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-07
GOING TO WASHINGTON.
Great Crowds of Knights Pass Through
Pittsburg-A Big Harvest for Hotels and
Rnsfnurnnta.

Great Crowds of Knights Pass Through
Pittsburg-A Big Harvest for Hotels and
Restaurants.
Union depot, its corps of employees in
cluded. was enlivened to a considerable
extent yesterday as the long lines of specials
nulled in and disembarked their loads OF
paily costumed Knights Templar and their
1adyes fayre' for brief interval of refresh
ment on their way to the annual celebra-
tions at Washington.
From an early hour in the morning until
late at night the bright facings of the uni
forms of the Sir Knights, intermingling with
the many-colored wraps and extemporized
head coverings of the "dames" and "damo-
sells" lighted up the platform and ap-
proaches of the old depot in a manner that
was good to see. Stirring music from the
bands that accompanied each delegation
smoke out in pleasing phrase of the antlci-
pated pleasure of the gathering and sent the
merry echoes rebounding along the vault
overhead until they reached the old-tlme
employe, who has lived astsurprises, causing
him to don his glasses and inquire into the
unusual innovation on his unwearylng
round of duty.
Each train load as it formed up in line,
of more or less accuracy, was ushered either
into the restaurant or along Smithfield street
to Caterer Hogan's and the Duquesne, just
as the exigencies of the moment permitted,
and at each place an excellent meal was
straight away placed before the 'voyageurs.'
At times two sections of the specials would
haul in together, and while one party would
more than occupy the depot restaurant the
others were promptly taken up to the places
mentioned.
The earlier delegations that came forward
over the Fort Wayne road were from
Indiana and Iowa, followed at later stage
by contingents from various sections OF
Illinois and Ohio, the Chicago Commandery
being especially strong in numbers. During
the day more than IS trains of six coaches
each passed through over the Fort
Wavne road, supplemented by eight
others over the Panhandle and sew
eral special coaches attached to the
ordinary trains. Altogether, some
1000 people must have been accommodated
at the hotels and restaurants, in addition to
the number who had meals on the cars, pro-
vided by individual parties. One feature of
the day was the excellent playing of the
band of 81 pieces, Second Regiment, Chi
cago, and the capital rendering by quartet
of the musicians of 'Tom, Tom, the Piper's
Son." and word must be said for the fin
ished playing of the band OF the Thirteenth
Volunteer Militia, of Hamilton.
After the confinement in the cars the dig
nifed and uniformed Sir Knights were glad
of an opportunity of stretching their limbs,
and many were the antics INDUCED in. One
company of about 30 single chevaliers were
formed in fours and put through drill
that caused much merriment. One half the
company was faced toward the other hall,
and the order given to march. One pace
in advance brought them in close proximity,
and the scrimmage that followed was pro-
ductive of much fun. Every party had a
man or more who were inexpressible. One
had an Indian war club, with which he
proceeded to look for John" but John"
was always out Of the way. And so, out
for holiday, and bent on making the best
of it, the KS T. passed the time shooting
folly as it flies, and making the most Of
the feeting moments.
The. Pittsburg and Allegheny COM
manderies will start for Washington over
the Baltimore and Ohio this morning.