Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-10
THE Great PARADE.
Twenty TbOusand Knights i'm Line
Make tue Finest CIVIC Display

ub BEeht phrhu6 OF tnd hnlBpt6 Iem-
plar in Washington, Tuesday, with
20 900 uniformed Sir Knights from all
over the country In line, is conceded to
have been the handsomest and most i'm
posing civic demonstration ever seen in
this country. The procession was on
scale as magnificent as the grand pro-
portions of the national capital itself.
The thousand of knights in the ranks OF
communicates, representing all parts of
the continent, from Canada to the gult,
and from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, fitted
the scene admirably, filled the highest
expectations, and rose to the dignity of o
great national event. In SO large de-
mcnstration there were, of course, mani
fold incidents and details, but to
enumergte them all would occupy more
space than could possibly be Afforded
them under any circumstances. There
were some features of the procession,
however, which command attention.
First, the highest praise is due 10 the
Washington Communicates for the part
they sustained as hosts and escort. Lead
ing the van of the procession they formed
division by themselves, and included
mounted knights as we'll as knights on
foot. Their communicates turned out
with full ranks; their uniforms were all
neat; their banners handsome, and the
knights all, as rule, from first to last,
were fine looking specimens of manhood.
They had the advantage of the music of
the Marine Band, upwards of 75 per-
formers, which is alone worth visit
ing Washington to hear. The band
was on its mettle, and met the
requirements of the occasion ad.
mirably. another feature of the District
knights was the mounted De MolRy Com
mandery, numbering yearly hundred
hofBemen. There was one platoon of
coal black steeds, another of iron grays,
with the peculisrities of the Percheron,
another OF fine bays and 80 on, classified
to secure effect. A very fat boy, who
seemed to be page, following the De
Molay Commandery, was mounted on
beautiful little blacs Shetland pony, and
was greeted with merry applause wher-
ever he went. There were two other
pages, who came with the tenplars from
Louisville, Ky, dressed in full uniform.
Both the boys were presented to Presi-
dent Harrison, who received them very
kindly.
By far the sensation of the parade was
the san Francisco ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Gate. Not man in the command, il il
stated, but owns thousands upon thous.
ands OF dollars, and thsy spent many OF
them on their appearances. Every man
rode magnificent block horae, gorgs-
ously Oaparisoned. They brought their
horses with them in special trains all the
way from San Francisco, and every horse
has enc groom. Perfect riders on perfect
horses, they looked, with their long,
flowing, black plumes, and richly EN-.
bEcidered black NANTES, like so many
knights riding to some modern Field Of
the Cloth OF Gold. A Rhode Island
commandery, Calvary, Of Providence,
made a very striking appearance in white
mantles, with red crosses on the shoulder.
II is stated that the demonstration
brought 70 Washington nearly, IL not
quite, 200 bands of music and drum
corps. The music which they played was
as rule for common time marching, but
here and there, where brisk work was
beng done by spirited Communicates, the
airs were quick and lively. Boston,
Providence and Connecticut supplied
some first rate music; so did New York
city, Philadelphia, Chicago, the Pacific
| coast and the southern states. Brooklyn
| contributed lively set Of drummers and
tifers who played The Golden Slippers y
| Connecticut cent q drum-and- fife corpt
numbering IL men, dressed in continen.
tai costumes, armed with kettle.drums as
Dig as flour barrels, which ought to be
called ealdrons. These - drummers anG
titers made greater hubbub than oil the
other rum-and-ffe corps combined. Il
was notable that nearly all the Pennsyl
vania bands of music wore white clott
frock coats and blus pants. The band.
from this state and from New York wert
very numerous and good. There wer,
| several fine musical bodies from Balti
more also, and they did not forget t.
play My Maryland" for the President.
When the head of the marching column
reached Fifteenth street the ayenu,
showed a mile and n third of mRssed men
superbly uniformed moving with
cadenced step to marching music, ant
the thousands seemed as one. Tn
solid, smooth asphalt and the Sigh
variations OF level in the street made III
uniformity Of movement more complete
and seldom hos great mass OF mel
seemed more blended. The procession
on arriving at the treasury building
turned into Fifteenth street and pennsyl
yania avenue to Washington Circle
passed around the circle and went cas-
by way of X street to Mount Verno
Square, passing u reviewing stand erecte
near the corner OF Tenth street Tn
line dispersed at Mount Vernon Square
all except the first division or immsaia,
escort OF the Grand Encampment wkic
marched with that body down Tenth /
+, and thence to Masonic Temple, Whel
the Grand Encampment holds its sel
sions. The line was about seven milf
! long and occupied three hours and /
minutes in passing given point.
. The Grand Encampment began its se'
] sion Immediately upon arriving at NJ
I sonic Temple Of the close of the parad
a Mr.. Nyron NJ. Parker delivered an q,
4 dress Of welcome on the part Of tue loo
a committee and introduced Oommi5sionv
b Douglass, who welcomed the knights
i behalf OF the city. To both address,
i this grand master responded and th
G closed the public exercises The e
|. csmpment then began its business
1t secret cuDclave.
i A lantern bicycle parade a. night
q about 40 or olJ vsaslmen clos0l the o
v ter,aiuments OF the day. II WAS intend,
IS to nuke this novel and charming d
play, but the eject was sadly uarre1
% the crowd. Ths procession m0yid /
IS the avenue and INFO tho White Hon
ct grounds, whore it was reviewed by 1
N President f.on the portioo.
70 In tbs afternoon the Golden Ga
Commandery Of ban Francisco tender
10 MIS- John A, Logan nu elegant reoeoti,
IL ut their GlGEksrg ~ tlA hqrnaulis
lN
a. the ENiGHTS Ar DRILL.
nj -