The record-union., 1896-10-10
Magnificent Spectacle on the Anniversary
Of the Big Fire at the Lake City.
Republicans Hold the Fort In the Day
and Democrats at Night.
Never BEFORE in the History of Chicago
Were SO Many People on the
Streets to Witness and Cheer the
Marching Columns, the IhrOng
Reiny Estimated at Six Hundred
Thousand.
Thousand.

Thousand.
CHICAGO. Oct. 9.-Twenty-five years
400 to-day the city of Chicago was lalo
waste bv the most destructive ire tlat
has ever wrought destruction IN an
American CITY. To-day, in commemora-
tion of that day of dreadful havoc ana
suffering, a magnificent metropolis SO
far exceeding the old city in wealth.
tea1,tv and population that comparl-
sons are useless, if not utterly impos-
ible. celebrated the rebuilding ana
nrooress of what is now the second city
in America
Tho anniversary was taken advant-
age of bv local managers of the Presl-
DENTAL campaign to make a demonstra-
ton in advocacy of the continuance Oh
the present national financial system,
by Republicans and gold Democrats
1oining forces under the direction OF the
Business Mems Sound Money Associa-
ton in organizing a parade, the equal
of which has never been seen in this
citv or probably any other American
CITY. AS a counter demonstra ton, the
combined free silver forces to-nlght
had torchlight parade.
there has never been such number
congregated on its streets The slde-
walks along the entire route of the pa
rade were a congested mass OF human
ity which was with great difficulty
kept from blocking the streets by the
constant activity of an immense detail
of police. Not a street car was al
lowed to cross the river from the north
or west sides, nor were any south side
cars permitted to invade the district
set apart for the paraders. Every
bridge was closed to vehicles and all
traffic on down town streets suspended.
Banners and flags were swung at fire.
quent intervals across the streets, and
from every tall building others fioated,
While the front of buildings presented
a mass of red white and blue. Many
of the show windows We're also elabo-
1ately decorated in honor of the occa-
sion.
Above the masses Of people, above
even the sky-scraping office buildings,
arose the cheers and yells, the footing
ot horns, little and big, the believing
Of immense megaphones, the music of
numberless bands and the thousand
and one other noises that mark the
passing Oh a great pOlltlCdl peidLc-
At two or three points along the line
OF march immense openmouthcd tele-
phone. receivers were attached to wires
leading directly 10 the homes of Will
lam Mckinley and Garret A. Hobart
and to various Eastern cities, into
which were announced the names Of
each organization as the column passed,
and then a mighty shout would go up
Slr.e<
Observation stands had been erected
at frequent intervals, and not only
were these filed to their utmost capac-
ity, but every building had it's throngs
Of spectators filing its windows. some
Of the tenants even renting seats in
windows for half a dollar apiece.
Many distinguished people from out
side the city witnessed the parade
among them being Hon. Mark Hanna
who reached the city yesterday and
who. in company with the members OF
the Republican National Campaign
Committee, viewed the sights from the
Union League Club, where the party
took lunch, and Generals Palmer and
Puckner, the anti-silver candidates fol
the Presidency, who watched the parade
from a stand in front of the Palmer
House Headquarters of that Organiza-
ton. Hon. Chauncey NJ. Depew of New
York and Secretary of Agriculture
Morton were also present as spectators
as were also Senators Teller and Dubois
and Congressman Towne, Dubois anQ
Lind.
Promptly at 10 o'clock a cannon at
Lake Front Park gave the signal for
the parade to move. Immediately Cen
eral Joseph Stockton. who had charge
of the vast army of voters, 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 Bon
field and Shea, at the head Of platoon
of police. led the great host of industrial
workers and political clubs on their
tr-iurnphaI tour of the business portion
OF the city.
one trade alone had 10000 represent
atives in line. These were the men who
have in a few years crowded Chicago
hacking industries to the front until
tbav are among the foremost in the
world. Employees of Armour & Co
Nelson. Morris & Co. Swift & Co, and
other houses of worldwide reputation
made a. mighty regiment. separated in
10 conpanies by the many floats they
had prepared
Mounted on their wiry and supple
mustangs, and wearing white somorert
hats. the cattle buyers, drovers anc
other employees of the Union Stocf
Yards Company created wild enthusi
asm wherever they rode. There was
something like a thousand OF these
mounted cattlemen, and they were al
bronzed and sturdy looking men
whose easy riding was a contrast tt
that of some of the men who headed
down town divisions.
For the most part the paraoe was
composed Of marchers, for the number
of people participating made TINS ne
cessity otherwise the line or marcf
would have been so long that II wouie
have been impossible to handle IL
There was one notable eXception'to TN:
rule, and that was in the case Oh th'
older veterans of the civil war, VINO mac
been especially solicited to JOIN I'M
parade, and they were all provided VIII
carriages AS these old warriors rou'
through the ranks of pepole more tnai
once a comrade on the sidewalk, re
cognizing a familiar face among thos'
in the carriages, would set up Ieepi'
cheer, which was no sooner hearo tnai