Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-11-02
SURGlNG THOUSANDS
Crowd the Streets Of New York to Witness the
Great Parade

Ne WORK, Nov. 1.-The appearance of
the city, the dense crowds that blocked
the streets, the eternal din of voices that
rumbled above high buildings. made it
plain Saturday that the parade of the
Business Mems Republican and Sound
Money association to do honor to the
names of Mckinley and Hobart would be
q great success
From every building, from the ferry
houses. from railroad stations leading
into the city. from the big bridge and
from every inlet to the city people
swarmed to make congested masses
Those who were to join in the parade
and swell the line that wound like an
endless squirming serpent through the
streets, and those who were to stand a
spectators for hours-the two classes
mingled and hurried on in these early
hours. The samepess of the throngs
was relieved only by the occasional gay
uniforms of the musicians
Hours before there was any chance of
the advance guard of the great parade
appearing the sidewalks on either side
OF the way of the streets named in the
line of march were scarcely passa BILE. AT
the points where the reviewing stands
mad been erected, people congregated in
ever widening circles. Street care were
stopped early, and drivers of wagons
fond that they had to make lengthy de-
tours to reach their destinations
But it was down town, along Broad
way and the streets that stretch east and
west from 1t that the press was great
est. 1t was in this section. where the
pafaderS gathered, that the first realiZa-
ton came of how gigantic the gather
ing was
Along the route of the big parade. from
the Battery to Fortieth street. there was
e lavish display of flags and bunting.
Myrlads of American flags, Of all sizes,
ana thousands of yards of bunting.
tastefully arrayed. fiuttered in the breeze
from the roofs, windows and doorways
OF the buildings on the line of march.
At short intervals huge flags, bearing
tire names of Mckinley and Hobart, hung
from wires stretched across the street.
noticeable feature of the decorations
was the absence of the pictorial politi-
cal banners and transparencies which
formed so conspicuous part of the deco
fations in former campaigns. Not one
OF these was to be seen on the route OF
the parade. The Stars and Stripes and
streamers of bunting formed almost the
sole materials displayed OCCASIONAL,
picture of one or both OF the Repub.
lican candidates was exhibited: it was
invariably framed in flags.
Some of the places which attracted
particular attention because of the GOOD
taste displayed in their adornment wer,
the American Surety building. Equitable
building. the Title Guarantee and Trus
company's offices, The Evening Pos
building, the Western Union building
Mail and Express building and the Pos
tai Telegraph building
Before the first division of the parad
moved from it's position, the crowds II,
town that waited for it became simpl,
streets of humanity: there were soil,
walls of faces. Windows were famine,
and housetops lined. Elevated station
were loaded down, parks overcrowded
wagons ana temporary stands damned
But the uptown crowd was as moth
ing compared to the downtown block
aue, which was SO great that it was wit
oiHiculty that the start of the narad
was made.
II was next to impossible to get any
sns hhe an accurate statement of tn
men IN line. The multitude was so va
tnA. even the most mathematical min
.o.io scarcely grapple with it. AGAR,
-. esumate, however, placed the nun
ger In line at between ITO. 900 and ,so no