The Portland daily press., 1890-10-09
THE PRESIDENT BLEW THE WHISTLE
And Secretary Tracy Rang the Bell
While Riding on the Engine.
The Chief Executive Spends a Day
With Thousands of Old Comrades.
A Round of Greetings and Speeches
With Much Shaking Hands.

PEORIA, ILL.,, October 8.-President Harri-
son arrived early this morning and at Z
o'clock was escorted by the municipal Off
GERS and military companies to the depot
where 5000 PEOPLE were assembled The
President was introduced by Mayor Starke
and expressed his gratitude for the kindness
and evidences of friendliness shown him.
Amid the cheers of the crowd, the train
pulled out for Galesburg. The Presidents
train was pulled by an engine in charge OF
Engineer Frank T.. Hilton who was men,
Der of the Presidents old brigade. Near
Galesburg, the President with Secretary
Tracy. on the invitation of Engineer Hilton,
mounted the engine and rode in the cab with
the engineer for a few miles. To the Presi-
dent the engineer gracefully yielded the re-
sponsibiity Of pulling the whistle for the
stations and crossings and the fireman con
siderately turned over the bell rope to Secre-
tary Tracy. The principal event OF the day
was the reunion at Galesburg OF the First
Brigade OF the third division OF the 10th
Army Corps, the former command Of Gen.
Harrison. The occasion was gathering not
only Of the old veterans who were formerly
associated with the President, but of Grand
Army of the Republic men from sections of
the West. Excursions from all the principal
clLl6S WlLIllu u VI IuilcS duutu W
the assemblage and it Is estimated that the
audience which greeted President Harrison
at Galesburg was not less than $4,000. At
the depot the Presidential party was met by
the mayor, the city council and an army of
veterans and escorted the hotel where, in an
hours reception, the distinguished citizens
from all parts of the state and the West
greeted the President. The decorations
throughout the city were profuse aud elab0-
rate
The stand from which the President re-
reviewed his old brigade was lofty struc-
ture designed to initiate block of stone be-
decked with flags. On the top of each of
the pillars which supported the arch over
the Goddess of Liberty. Shortly after II
O'Clock there passed in review of the Presi-
dent in front of the stand the veterans of the
2Oth Army Corps, $500 school children of
Central Illinois and thousands of citizens.
At the conclusion of the parade the party re-
paired to the speakers stand, in front of the
court house, where Mayor Stevens made an
address of welcome. The President respond
ed briefly. To the old veterans assembled,
he extended greeting Of comradeshiP. The
address. He said that on such occasions as
this, participated in by men of all shades of
opinion, he would not utter word to mar
the harmony. The President was followed
by Secretary Tracy in brief speech.
At the conclusion of the speechmaking
the column was formed and the President
proceeded to Knox College, across the street,
where the corner stone Of the new hall was
laid.
DR.. Newton Bateman, president of Knox
College. pronounced the invocation and
Prof. Milton Comstock read sketch of the
origin and growth of the college. Prof j.
Adams then introduced tie President who
made an address, after which the corner
stone was placed in position. The President
closed it and covered the seams with mortar.
The party then repaired to the hotel for din
ner. A O'Clock reunion of the first bri-
gade was held at the opera house. To this
it was found imperative to admit only the
old veterans and their immediate families
Even then the opera house was almost inad-
equate. The appearance of the President on
the stage was the occasion for an outburst Of
cheers from the assembled veterans. Gen,
Dustin called the meeting to order and Pres
ident Harrison addressed the veterans. at
the conclusion OF the Presidents remarks
the applause brought Gen. Dustin to the
front, and that gentleman spoke briefly,
after which the President announced his de-
sire to shake each member of his former
command by the hand. After adjournment
the veterans mounted the stage and grasped
the President by the hand.