Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
WASHINGTON, March 9.

Presldent.elect Cnere was no MILITARY
or other display on his arrival. He
walked through the crowd at the
railroad station and entering the carri-
age waiting him, was driven to the
Ebbitt House. That was the entire
programme attending his appearance
in the Capital city as the future Presi.
dent of the United States. 1t was just
eleven o'clock when the Mckinley
special rolled into the Pennsylvania
alton. Outside the station building
an immense crowd had gathered,
icnsest around the ladies' entrance
where number of carriages indicated
taat the President-elect and his party
would appear there. Only those who
could satisfactorily explain that their
business required them in attendance
to be there were permitted to enter the
station. The big iron gates guarding
the tracks from the waiting rooms were
closed against all except the compare
lively few who were concerned IN the
personal reception of the President
elect and those accompanying him.
The members of the local reception
committee gathered early at the sta
ton. They were Charles ]. Bell, chair
man; Col. James G. Berrett, ex Mayor
of Washington; &C. Glover, NJ. M. Park
or, national committeeman for the Dis.
trict of Columbia, and ex-Commissoner
of the District James L. Norris and J.
G. Lowell. Just before the arrival OF
the Mckinley train Governor Bush
nell, of Ohio, with the members of his
staff arrived at the station and were
permitted to pass through the gates
leading to the track platform. The
staff officers were in all the brilliancy
of full dress uniform and presented an
imposing appearance as they lined up
to salute the President-elect when he
stepped from the train. Meanwhile
the crowd outside the station had in
creased. 1t blocked up Sixth street for
the few yards of that thoroughfare be-
tween the station and Pennsylvania
avenue. When the well-known figure
of Major Mckinley appeared on the
platform the people who peered
through the high iron fence set up q
cheer that reverberated through the big
train shed. Major Mckinley doffed
his silk hat in response and then step
ped to the platform to receive the
greetings of the reception committee.
Half dozen policemen marched
ahead and on the TANKS of the Presi
dent-elect's large party as it proceeded
down the platform towards the ladies
entrance. Major and Mrs. Mckinley
were Immediately preceded by Col
Berrett and Mr.. Parker of the recep
ton committee. Mrs. Mckinley lean
ed on the arms of her husband and
Chairman Bell, while Secretary Porter
walked on the disengaged side of the
President-elect. Col. A. T. Britton, o.
Washington, escorted Mrs. Nancy A
Mckinley, the President elects mother
The procession proceeded very slow
ly. Major Mckinley had one hanc
thrust in to the bosom of his long
frock coat, while in the other he carried
large bunch of white carnations. Mrs
Mckinley, looking somewhat tired and
careworn, also carried carnations. Doll
ing his silk hat pleasantly to everybody
who saluted him, Major Mckinley
walked along toward the crowd outside
the iron gates, eagerly waiting him
He bowed to the train crew, the dining
car servants, the porters and the Others
who were on the platform and at the
windows of the train. When the en-
CINE was reached the procession halted
moment while the Presidentelect
handed the engineer the carnations he
had been carrying. This made every
body in the vicinity look happy, but
none SO happy as the begrimed throttle
handler, who fairly blushed through
the SCOT on his face.
Another cheer from those within told
the greater crowd outside that their pa
thence was to be rewarded at last. They
too yelled when the well-known face
and figure of the new President appear
ed at the door leading from the ladies
waiting room. The task of getting the
President elects carriage started from
the station was the work of moment
only and before the crowd knew it he
was rapidly disappearing up Pennsyl
vania avenue. With Major and Mrs
Mckinley in their carriage were Chair
man Bell and Secretary Porter, while
in the following vehicle sat "Mother''
Mckinley, Col. Brtton, Mrs. J. Add
son Porter, and Mr.. G. G. Glover, of this
city. The other members of the large
party that accompanied Major McKin.
ley to Washington took the other car
riages. The ride up Pennsylvania
avenue, past many reviewing stands
and other evidences Of the approaching
inauguration was of an interesting ma
ture. No mounted escort was there to
tell that the Presidential had ar.
rived, but the crowds along the side
walks recognized Major Mckinley as
his carriage proceeded, unattended, at
a leisurely pace, and several times knots
of spectators sent up cheer. AT Four
teenth street where the carriage turned
from Pennsylvania avenue toward the
Ebbitt House large crowd shouted en-
Enthusiastically when the carriage APP
peared.
The block along Fourteenth street
between Pennsylvania avenue and the
Ebbitt is the situation of Newspaper
Row. A large number of newspaper
correspondents were gathered there in
front of their offices. Major Mckinley
recognized number of them whom he
had known during his Congressional
residence here, and saluted them pleas
antly.
The gathering about the Ebbitt was
larger than at the station. Fourteenth
street and F street at the Ebbitt House
corner were thronged, with the greatest
asSemblapa about the ladies, door ON