Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-13
Madison, June Z.

Madison, June Z.
There were 976,S29 people in the city
yesterday. according to the figures OF
the reporter who counted from the
time the first deiega ton arrived until
late in the evening. He didn't count
them all, and he may have counted
some tWice-they moved around so
much. A more conservative estimate,
based upon what the loaded special
trains carried into the city places the
crowd at from 1862 to 27,691; with
an allowance of one Or two either way.
About half the visiting Woodmen we're
In the parade, and that was about
two hours in forming and passing the
south corner of the park. And large
number of the visitors were not Wood
men at all, nor women either, OF which
there were several thousand. There
were 50 many people here that they
couldn't all stand on the grass in the
capitol park at once, though most OF
them awaited themselves of that eX-
traordinaly privilege at zines during
the Jay. On an average every man IN
ten or twelve had a band, some OF
which were better than others that
were all good. The bands played otter
and the Washington Post march, anC
the members ate in relays, so thai
there was music all the time. Some OF
but Why ist der use of spring
ing dot oft cheschnuts?
A dense, moving throng filled the cap
ftol all day, and tried to get into the
dome all at once. The governor helC
q continuous reception and didn't have
time to go home to eat his dinner
Some of the visitors went into the sec
rotary of states office and saw The
busy clerks at their work, while Others
enjoyed a quiet half hour III the land of
fee, which they miStOok for genera
1ounging room, and discussed the VI
gent need of deep waterways commits
Sfoner. The war relics in the historical
society's rooms and in the quarterml Is
ter generals office were inspected by
many an old veteran. While "Old Abe
had his share of attention. Ever!
nook and corner of the building was
explored
But things within doors had little
attraction for many, much of the time
The perfect day, with perfect breeze
blowing in cooling and refreshing
gusts from off the waters Of Mendoza
and MonOna, were the delights which
most Of the people sought, and found
ithout seeking. A picnic away off n
Il grove somewhere isn't in it, wher
you can have the grove brought right
into the city, and made the most of al
that Everybody didn't see everything
but they saw enough to want to come
again, and they walked up and down
the business streets, and some went
Into the residence portions, even unto
the univerSity-or else they rode, by
carriage or boat, which is not so long
drawn-out a pleasure but more compre-
hensive,-and by train-time in the
evening they We're tired and happy and
glad they came, withal.
1t was great day for Woodmen,
and a great day for Madison-and
there were others, for all of which it
was great day. Never before has
this city seen SO vast crowd; a crowd
so well-mannered, too, and a crowd
that made it so easy and yet so pleas
ant a task to try to entertain. The
Banyan camp did all it could in ar
ranging for the occasion, and It was
done on a large scale, but none too
large. The delegates who had been
here several days turned in to help
out" and the utmost good-feeling pre-
vailed, showing that fine spirit of
brotherhood which is a wonderment
ana a delight in an organization so
far-reaching and yet SO compact as
to be able to impart SO thorough EEL
ing of "neighborness.'
From an early hour until nearly
noon people piled into town. Some
came on trains, some on bicycles and
others on hay-rackS or other garden
truck
There We're all manner Of people, too
old men who were new to the bust
uess and boys who had been there be-
Tor many a time. Every train or wagon
had its quota of the fair Sex, and the
walking was fair, too, from all about
the town. One or two Of the visitors
wore smoke glasses, but otherwise the
crowd was distinctively different from
anything seen at the worlds fair. A
little man from Ringwood, Illinois,
wore a loud suit, similar to that worn
by Mayor Swift of Chicago. at
Greshams funeral, and that man Lad
his pockets picked-before he started
from home.
Although there were thirty or forty
extra police sworn in, the city'S addi-
tional population gave but little
trouble. To be sure there were some
obstreperous gents in the crowd, a
few pick-pockets and a very rels IN
able number of plain DRINKS. No acct
dents were reported outside of an &C.
caslonal refractory horse trying to
dance to the music of the paper-lang-
ers' hand but none of these happen
.nes were Of a serious nature
The Big parade.
The big parade started from the
northeast gate of capitol park at about
half past eleven. The line Of march