The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-18
ODD ST. PATRICK'S A
LOTS OF THE SPRING SUNSHINE AND
NOT A DROp OF RAIN.
Most ~Pretenffous Parade of It's Kind
Ever Given Here-Tomiinson
Hall Exercises.

Never has the anniversary of st. Patrick
been remembered in this city in a better
manner than it was yesterday. The day
was clear and pleasant, except for a strong
wind which blew and caused the green to
nutter on thousands of breasts, in which
there lives a reverence for the great Irish
missionary. The p-leasantness of the weather
contrasted with what it has been on ami.
versaries OF past years. st. Patrick day
celebration and inclement weather, after
many years of observation, have
come TO be regarded by most people as in
separable. After a week of clowdy weather
the sun came forth yesterday and this con-
dition was sufficient to bring thousands of
people on the streets, had there been no
parade with brass bands and uniformed men,
all followed by patriotic speaking at Tonlin-
son Hall. The flag on the courthouse tower
hung at half-mast during the day, but no
one could tell just why. Those who revere
st. Patrick the most. thought it would be
better for the flag to fly free, as the day
was ONE Of thanksgiving and rejoicing and
not of mourning. Flags were also displayed
on Iomlinson Hall and many public build
lngs. Green ribbon and the shamrock were
observed everywhere and although green
predominated it was noticeable that first
prominence in the parade and in the hall
was given to the stars and stripes.
TIL parade which preceded the speaking
started from the corner of Washington
street and Capitol avenue shortly after 2
O'Clock. Never has there been a more gorg-
eous st. Patrick days parade seen in this
city. The procession was admirably handled
and from beginning to end it moved with
out a break. There were uniformed police.
two brass bands. a half dozen uniformed
companies. at least a thOuSand irish cifi-
zens, each wearing a green sash or a green
ribbon, in line. Previous to the starting of
the parade, an immense crowd Of people
waited along the proposed line of march and
watched for the approach of the procession.
Ninety-nine per cent. of those who lined the
curDs wore green of some description.
Women wore green bonnets tied with
green strings and men wore green
ties with green bands about their
hats. Baby carriages, for like in
all big crowds they We're present, were
covered with green and one jealous mother
had a small son with her who was dressed
In a green kilt suit. Those in whose veins
Celtic blood flows in a lesser quantity, were
content with a small green ribbon or a
small shamrock. The street car traffic was
crippled from 1 until 5 o'clock. The crowds
at the corners were so large that the cars
proceeded very slowly and while the process
sion was moving they were stopped alto
sether. People sat in many of the office
windows along the way and all places of
prominence were occupied. The courthouse
fence was black with people, a majority of
whom were children, but women too were
there.
Captain Thomas Colbert was marshal of
the day. He sat on a black horse which
pranced to the Irish tunes played by the
and with his hat pulled well down over his
ears to keep it from blowing off, he pre-
scented the appearance of a brigadier. 1t
St. Patrick day celebrations, that six years
ago yesterday, ON much the same kind OF a
sunday, Captain Colbert led another st.
Patrick's day parade. AT that time Indian
apolis had two forces and Captain Colbert
was superintendent of the Democratic force.
Among those who acted as aids to the
marshal was missed the face OF Captain Ma
honey, who has had an active part in st.
century past. Captain Mahoney was not in
line yesterday and by the admirers of the
parades he was missed. Officers Brady and
Macassey marched ahead of the procession
and made the small boys stand aside and
saw that all vehicles were out of the way.
Captain Quigley and a platoon of police led
the procession. There were some in the
platoon who cannot lay claim 10 Irish blood,
but they all marched according to orders
Acheer went up from the crowd when the
mod or the procession moved from the start
ing corner. The line of march was from
washington and Capitol to Illinois, thence
south to Maryland, thence east to Meridian.
and then north to Washington, east on
washington 10 Noble and cOuntermarch to
Alabama, thence north to Market and west
to Tomlinson Hall. Many persons, after
viewing the parade once ran to some other
place where it was to pass, and took an
other look at it. There was not a yard of
space all along the line of march, that was
not occupied and in many places the people
stood five and six lines deep. Mavor denny
and Father Bessonies rode in the first car
riage together. In the other carriages there
was the Catholic clergy. The uniformed
Catholic societies presented a good appear
ance. The Ancient Order of Hibernians
caused more comment from the crowd than
any other feature of the parade. The mem
had friends in the crowd, who could not
resist making some remarks. But the HI
ber1ans marched with dignity and paid no
attention to the good natured remarks of
their friends Some led bows with them
and the little fellows seemed to catch the
keep the pace set by their fathers.
Hello Jim. Howdy Pat. Keep step there
Jack. Look out for that sash, Mike" and
Kindred remarks were made, but the march,
ing men were not paying attention to the
idle remarks Of the crowd. No one at
no insulting language was aimed at the
marchers. Some of the Irish Catholics heard
before the parade started that q crowd of
A. +. As were going to have some fun,
put 1t seemed that the report was false.
Near the corner Of Washington and Ala
a yellow ribbon, the color of the Orange
men, but his friends persuaded him to take
1t on. He wore it unnoticed for q time, as
no one seemed to mind. AS the parade drew
TO a. close. the crowd began to break for
Iomlinson Hall and nearly every seat in
the mouse was taken before the procession
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