The Forrest City times., 1897-03-12

Hocha" It seemed as if washington.s nor ui"i populatlon of 10000 had been swelled hV uiVte than an equal number of yisitins strangers and, that all were out ,o .ee the slght Every building on the line of ~.nsrcn ~ was draped in bunting of the national oolors and every window and point of vantase nas occupied. The beautiful Stars and Stripes were everywhere seen with other annronria,a tanners and emblems. In addition to these lestlVe demonstrations, 5000 miniature Tinted states hags had been gratuitously distributed Dy the committee of arrangements. These were exhibited at all available points. and were va, wa,eo with enthusiasm as the two presidents ana other known public men rode bv At least one hundred thousand throats voiced continuous welcome from the time the procession started until the capitol was reached ana these vociferations were still more euthusI- ashcaily echoed on the return trip
 Grand Marshal Gen. Horace Porter,
 The grand marshal intrusted with the direc- sion or the days pageant was Gen. Horace Por- ter formerly of the staff of Gen. Grant. Ills organizing skill had been tested in peace as well as in war-notably in the conduct of the great sound-money procession through the narrow anu tortuouS streets of New York city last Octo- Der during the presidential campaign With the broad and smooth asphalted streets of Washing ton Gen Porter had full opportunities to dis
 
 or large bodies of men, and he availed himself of them. From the nature of the day "a pro ceedings there were practically two processions. though at the close they merged into one mass ive and impressive body, part military, partly civic, and each most effective. The escort, largely military but also consisting of govern ors Of different states, and other distinguished guests Of honor which acoompanied the president-elect to the capitol. naturally formed in the immediate vicinity of the White House. the executive mansion The civic organizations which followed the president and ex-president on their return journey from the capitol to the White House, were formed on streets adjacent Do the capitol grounds. All was so arranged that each division fell into line at the appointed time without delay or confusion.
 The Inaugural Parade.
 The military division, preceded by a platoon of mounted police, and followed by the Gov- ernor's Island (N. Y.) band. was headed, of course, by the grand marshall his stafYs and aides, 300 in number selected from the states in the Union, all well mounted, some wearing crimson sashes and others white. The grand marshal himself wore sash blending the national colors. By 8 happy thought invitations had been extended to all the living sons of those who had served as the nations chief executive, and Ulysses S. Grant (third), Webb c. Hayes. Harry A. Gar utiu, CneSter A. ArJnur, ana Russell Harrison, served as special aids on the occasion.
 The first division of the military parade commanded by the gallant cavalry leader Gen. Wesley Merritt, included battalion of United States engineers, the Seventeenth United States infantry, four batteries of United States artil- lery. regiment of United States marines 800 sailors of the North Atlantic squadron, made up from the crews of the New York, Columbia and Indiana, now anchored at Hampton Roads, and commanded by Capt. Sands of the Columbia (whose appearance, as is always the case when the blue jackets are ashore, was welcomed with hearty cheers), followed battalion of light artillery and regiment of United States cav airy.
 President and President-EIect.
 President-elect Mckinley, who had left his handsomely -htted-up suite of rooms at the Eb- pitt house sufficiently early to pay his call o, ceremony on the retiring president, was driven to the White House, escorted by the senate committee appointed for that purpose, where, in one of tue handsome state apartments he was received and welcomed by President Cleveland and his cabinet Then the two presidents descended the White House steps and together entered four-horse carriage Mir Cleveland sitting to the right. and amid the booming of cannon, the chatter of cavalry, the deep hoarse rumble of artillery, the measured tramp of many columns of infantry. and the blare of innumerable bands, the march to the
  riage, following the president rode vice-President Hobart and the senators deputed to escort him to the scene of his future duties Then in a long stream of carriages came the distinguished guests. The presidents personal escort was troop A, of Cleveland, O., 80 cavalrymen mounted on coal-black chargers, and still more interesting a detachment of griz- zled veterans from the Twenty-third Ohio volunteers, Maj. McKinley's old regiment.
 Commanders of the Army and Navy.
 Gen. Nelson Miles. commanding the United States army. and Rear-Admiral George Brown, ranking officer of the navy. in full uniform, rode immediately after the presidential party. A
 The second brigade of the first division con sisted of the superbly-drilled and handsomely equipped national guard of the District of Columbia. A more brilliant and inspiring scene than this part of the pageant presented could hardly be pictured. The yellow plumes scarlet lined scloaks and bright blue tunics of the cavalry; the huge black bearskin shakos and snow-white trousers of the national guard; the gaily y-caparisoned and gold-bedecked white plumed officers of the stan; the vivid crimson and gold-laced coats of the famed Marine band, contrasting with the blue uniforms of the ma rine corps and the picturesquesailor costumes Of the Jack tars, formed a oonstantly-changlng kaleidoscopic picture of flashing light and color extremely beautiful to witness.
 The second division of the parade. which by change Tn the arrangements, dld not Tall into line until the return from the capitol, was not secondary to the first in public interest except that itlacked presdent-to-be and president that had been. In lieu thereof it presented to the admiring plaudits of the crowd the governors of ten states, each es. corted by gorgeously- uniformed ustan and detachments from the national guards of their states At the head of the division, fitting honor to the state from which the presi- dent was chosen, rode Gov. Asa s. Bushnell of Ohio, as marshal. Then followed Gov. Lowndes of Maryland, Gov. Black of New York. Gov. Grout of Vermont, Gov. Tanner of Illinois, Gov. Drake of Iowa and Gov. Schofield of Wiscon- sin. Each of these dignitaries was accompanied by numerous aides, and most of them by regi- ments or companies of their state national guard. In this latter manner the states of Con- necticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Care lima, Rhode Island, Texas, and Minnesota were also well represented.
 Grizzled Veterans of the Grand Army.
 At the head of the third and last division of the mil itary parade rode one-armed Gen. o. Howard and after him marched the grizzled