The San Francisco call., 1896-10-10
CHICAGO PARADES
ITS PROSPERITY
Twenty-Five Years After
the Big Fire a Day of
Celebration.
Nearly One Hundred Thousand
Persons Participate in
the Procession.
ALL TRADES FOR SOUND MONEY
With Flaming Torch and Stirring
Music Bryan Supporters Hold an
Evening Demonstration.

can city. To-day, in commemoration Of
that day of dreadful havoc and suffering,
a magnificent metropolis, so far exceeding
the old city in wealth, beauty and popula-
ton that comparisons are useless, if not
utterly impossible, celebrated the rebuild
ing and progress OF what is now the second
city in America.
The anniversary was taken advantage of
by local managers of the Presidential
campaign to make a demonstration in
advocacy of the present financial system,
Republicans and gold Democrats joining
forces under the direction of the Business
Mems Club in parade, the equal Of which
has never been seen in this city.
AS q counter demonstration the free
silver forces tonight had torchlight
parade. Probably IN the history of Chi
cago there never has been such number
of people congregated on its streets. The
sidewalks along the entire route OF the
parade were a congested mass OF humanity,
which was with great difficulty kept from
blocking the streets by the constant &C
tivity of an immense detail of police. Not
a streetcar was allowed to cross the river
from the North or West sides, nor were
any Southside cars permitted TO evade
the district set apart for the paraders.
Every bridge was closed to vehicles and
all traffic on downtown streets suspended.
Banners and flags we're swung at fire.
quent intervals across the streets and from
every balcony others hoated. Many of
the show windows also were elaborately
decorated in honor of the occasion.
Above the masses of people. above even
: H,,5I \ n
mighty roar-cheers, yells, music OF in
Vulnerable bands, the footing of horns,
little and big, the penetrating believing of
immense megaphones and the thousand
and one other noises that mark the pass
ing OF great political parade.
at two or three points along the line of
march immense open-mouthed telephone
receivers were attached to wires leading
directly to the homes of William Mckinley
and Garret A. Hobart and to various
Eastern cities, into which were announced
the names of each organization as the
great column passed, and then mighty
shout would go up that could be heard
miles away.
Observation stands had been erected at
frequent intervals, and not only were these
filed to their utmost capacity, but every
building had its throngs of spectators.
filling its windows, some tenants even
renting seats in desirable windows for a
half dollar apiece.
Many distinguished people from outside
the city witnessed the parade, among
them being Hon. Mark Hanna, who
reached the city yesterday and who, in
company with the mem bers of the Repub-
Hcan campaign committee, viewed the
sights from the Union League Club, where
the party took lunch, and Generals Palmer
and Buckner, the anti-silver candidates.
who watched the parade from d stand in
front OF the Palmer House Hon. Chaun-
cey NJ. Depew and Secretary of Agricul-
ture Morton were also interested specta-
tors, as were from differnt point of view)
Senators Teller, Pettigrew and Dubois and
Congressman Iowne
Promptly at 10 o'clock cannon at the
Lake Front Park gave the signal for the
parade to move. Immediately General
Joseph Stockton, who had charge of the
vast army Of volunteers representing
almost every branch OF industry in the
city, gave the order to march, and Mayor
Swift, Chief of Police Badenoch, Assistant
Chief Ross, Inspectors Bonfield and Shea,
at the head OF platoon of police led the
great host of industrial workers and poIiti-
cal clubs on their triumphal tour of the
business portion of the city.
One trade alone had 10000 representa-
tives in line. These were the men who
have in a few years crowded Chicago's
packing industries to the front until thew
are among the foremost in the world.
Employees of Armour &5 Co., Nelson. Morris
& Co., Swift d Co. and other houses of
worldwide reputation made a mighty
regiment, separated into companies by
the many floats they had prepared.
Mounted on their wiry and supple mus
tangs and wearing white sombrero hats
the cattle buyers, droyers and other en-
ployes of the Union Stockyards created
wild enthusiasm wherever they rode
There was something like a Thousand of
these mounted cattlemen, and they were
all bronZed and sturdy looking men whose
easy riding was a contrast TO that of some
of the men WOO headed the downtown
divisions.
For the most part the parade was CON-
posed of marchers, for the number of peo-
pie participating made this a necessity,
otherwise the line of march would have
been so long that it would have been i'm
possible to handle it. There was one no.
table exception to this rule, and that was
in the case OF the older veterans of the
Civil War; who had been especially solicited
to join the parade, and they were all pro-
yided with carriages.
They rode through the ranks of people,
and more than once a comrade on the
sidewalk recognized familiar face in the
carriages, and would set up a cheer that
was taken up by the crowd and swelled to
a mighty roar of tribute to the grizzled
defenders OF the Nation.
AS the procession, with its platoon of
blue coats and brass buttons at the head,
moved slowly along the streets it was pre-
ceded bv a welcoming roar from the
blocks of spectators that lined the road
way. The floats, and they were legion,
reused enthusiasm and were greeted bv
cheers OF admiration all along the line
One of the NEST generally admired of
these creations was that of the iron and
steel trades, which was gotten up in bar
baric style, with figure representing Vul.
can sitting on an anvil.
The rear guard of the parade reached
the dispensing point at o'clock, the spec
Iacle lasting SIX hours. Between 5000
and 100, 900 people participated in the line
of march.
Before the echo of the applause of the
multitudes that witnessed the demonstra-
tion for sound money and protection had
died out the organized followers of Bryan
from every quarter of the city, and almost
in as great numbers, marched, with fam
ing torch, to stirring music poured forth
hE score of bands. over very nearly the