Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-08-13
A GREAT PAGEANT,
Fine Parade of the Boys in Blue
at Boston.
A.sPLENDID SUCCESS EVERY WAY.

A Host That Took Five and Half Hours
and Other Notables Enthusiastically
Cheered-Some Interesting Features in
the Line-One Little Soldier of Tender
Age Goes Over the Long Trainp-Inci-
dents of the Day.
Boston, Aug. 13.-The Hub was in a
blaze of glory yesterday and vocal with
the music of innumerable bands and the
cheers of thousands of people, while the
steady tramp of the Grand Army hosts
was heard from early morning to late in
the evening. The day was cloudy, and
stiff breeze kept the miles of bunting with
which the city was decorated in fiutter,
and caused the flags to stream out from
the stats and tug at the hallards. The
influx of people continued all morning up
to noon, and it was estimated that 5000
strangers were landed in the city. One of
the first sounds that greeted the waking
city was the boom of cannon in the bay,
announcing the arrival of the Dispatch
with Secretary Tracy, Vice President Nor
ton, and Gen. Sherman on board, and half
her arrival in the harbor The distin-
guished gentlemen were escorted to the
Vendome
Early Morning Incidents,
President Harrison received Governor
Bracket and a state delegation shortly
after breakfast and few minutes there
after was seated in carriage which took
N Inn hn tto Of ha 80,
view the decorations, which were elabor-
ate and beautiful While this part of the
programme was going on the veterans
were assembling at different points and
marching to their positions preparatory
to taking their places in the parade, which
was to be the event of the day. The
formation was on Commonwealth avenue,
the different departments forming on the
side streets Everywhere through this
part of the city the scene was an animated
one. The varied uniforms of the tramp
ing vets, the tattered battle flags, the
gorgeously caparisoned bands, and the
aides dashing hither and thither on horse
back, went to make up a spirited pana-
rama of military preparation
The Sea of Spectators.
While these preparations were going on
the spectators were assembling by tens of
thousands. Windows and balconies along
the line of march were occupied by ladies
and gentlemen, the bright costumes of the
former adding to the brilliance of the
decorations. Along the sidewalks the
people were gradually packed until they
were almost impossible; at different
points great stands had been erected, and
these rapidly filed with sight-seers, while
favored several thousand were occom-
modated on grand stands at Franklin and
Copley squares; the latter being the re-
viewing stand where President Harrison
and other officials were given positions
The Parade Begins to Move.
At 1880 all was ready Commander-in-
Chief Alger, with his staff of 600 mounted
men, escorted by the One Hundred and
Thirteenth Massachusetts, cavalry, and
head by corps of mounted police, rode to
the head of the Illinois department, the
band struck up God Bless the Soldiers"
and at the command OF the leader the
greatest military street pageant ever wit
messed In Boston began its onward march.
"Old Tecump" Steals "A March.
As early as a. m. the space in the vi
yinity of Copley square was densely
crowded, and the fortunate possessors of
tickets of admission to the grand stand at
that point were early in their seats The
seats reserved for the presidential party
were to the left, and built on a curve, Civ
ing fine view of the line of march At
10 g. m. a carriage drove up, and couple
of gentlemen quickly alighted and quickly
assembled the steps, taking seats in the
front row. The taller of the two was Gen.
Sherman, the pride of the volunteer SOL
diers, who for the first time probably in
his life, upon an occasion similar to this,
had found his way through a crowd I'M
heralded by the hearty cheers which al
ways greet his appearance