Thomas County cat., 1890-10-16

Their Hands.
TOPEKA, KAN.-It was the peoples day and
the president of the United States was their
guest. To say jus. how many visitors there
were in the city was impossible. There were
no. less than 10000, and some of the esti-
mates go as high as G0.00O. Anyway, To-
peka broke It's record on big gatherings. 1t
was the largest the city has ever known, and
it might be said. too. that it was the biggest
gatherin. of Kansas people that has ever
been assent bled.
The presidents special body guard, con-
sisting of company A of the Third regiment.
Kansas National guard, kept away the crowd
until he had reached the barouche near by,
which was drawn by four beautiful sorrel
horses. The Seventh United States cavalry,
the presidents guard of honor. was placed
along Fifth street, facing south, and battery
A. Fast United States artillery, deployed on
the ground south of the Missouri Pacific
depot, fred the salute as the president made
his way from the train to to the waiting car
ria9e.
The route from the train to the reviewing
stand was seventeen blocks long. The
streets passed over were kept free from
vehicles. The streets, walks, buildings and
roofs, for the entire distance, were packed
full of people; leaving only free passage IN
the middle. Along each side were formed
the organizations comprising the grand pa
ra5e, commencing with the military, regulars
and militia, the veterans by states. the ex-
prisoners of war, the Tippecanoe voters and
the schools. Of the latter there were 5,46l,
each with a flag, and all marshailed with
banners.
Welcome was in the air as well as on the
banners, in the store windows and on the
more prominent business houses. The vet
erans in line gave cheer after cheer as the
president passed, smiling and bowing TO all.
As the head of the procession passed be-
tween the throngs the organizations fell in,
forming a line which required an hour and
twenty minutes to pass the reviewing stand,
block beyond the last school formed.
While the Indiana delegation, which num-
bered nearly 600 gray haired veterans, some
of them SCARED, some of them with one arm
each, there seemed to be a great desire to
shake the hand of the president. All dlscl-
pline was at an end, hats were thrown In the
air, and cheers we're heard for blocks. The
president did his duty. He shook as many
hands as he could reach. Some of those who
crowded upon him had followed him through
the smoke of many battles, and he called
some of them by name. FINDING that the
line WAS DSlu2 DTChtu up. q p.oVOoh "a Viz
| national guard was placed in front OF the
presidents carriage SO that he could not be
| reached.
After dinner President Harrison received
| informally the former citizens OF Indiana,
now citizens of Kansas, who have organized
themselves into the ''Indiana association"
Rev. F. S. McCabe was the one selected to
address the president.
The members present of the presidents S
| old regiment, the Seventieth Indiana volun-
teer infantry, we're also presented, and
greeted most cordially.
The Tippecanoe veterans, who voted for
| William Henry Harrison in 1S4O, of which
there were seventy-twO, won warmeSt well
come. These gentlemen are none OF them
| less than 20 years of age.
The president appeared profoundly moved
| by these receptions.
At 23O the president and party were es-
corted from the hotel to Camp Sheridan, at
| the state fair grounds.
The ladies of the g. A. R. formed near the
entrance to the grounds to receive the presi-
dent, and as his carriage drove up the LADIES
saluted in unison by waving their handker-
chefs, to which the honored guest responded
by bowling.
| There was assembled around the grand
stand, from which the president was to speak,
the largest gathering of people which has
| ever met in Kansas. Although the president
was not to deliver his address until O'Clock,
there were 10000 people there rs early as |
o'clock, and by o'clock the grand stand
was not only filed, but ten acres of ground
| in front of this large structure was covered
with people.
1t was nearly 3 o'clock when the presi-
| Dental prrty put in an appearance. The
| crowd had been growing larger. 1t was ire
mendous. The race track in front of the
grand stand, extending from the horse sta
| bles on the west to the end of the quarter
stretch on the east was thronged with people.
| The inside of the race course was almost
filled with carriages and people. There were
acres and acres of people. Such spectacle
| is seldom seen in any country.
1t was with considerable difficulty that the
officers were able to secure passage way
through this dense throng to the stand from
which the president was to address the as
sembled thousands.
The speakers stand was wrapped in Amer
lean flags and bunting. The table was Gov
cred with roses and other flowers, and there
were also several beautiful floral pieces,
among them two shields of scarlet and white
geraniums and stars of blue immortelles ano
! daisies. >,
As the president ascended the stand, the
crowd before him concluded that the tune
had come to ''holler," and the shout which
broke forth showed that there was not 6
consumptive in the crowd. The appearance
of Senator ingalls, upon the platform wa:
also the sigma! fer apotber burst of applause
The president stood for moment and gazei
upon the monstrous assemblage before him
"It is wonderful" he remarked. Il had M
idea was going to meet the whole state o
Kansas here to-day" While the whole stat
of Kansas was not present, it is true that th'
whole state of Kansas was never so we'll rep
resented at a gathering of any characte
there were over 10000 veterans, and there
were representatives from every county IL
the state.
| Young Catholics.