The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-03

Washington, March William Nc.
kinley entered Washington to. day as !,
private citizen, and as quietly and unos-
tentatiously as any private citizen could
under similar circu instances.
At the request of the President-elect
there was no military or other display on
his arrival He walked through the
crowd at the railroad station, and enter
ing the carriage awaiting him. was driven
to the Ebbitt House, the hotel ut which
he made his home in Washington while IA
member of Congress. That was the entire
programme attending his appearance i'll
the Capital City as the future President
of the United States
1t was IL o'clock when the Mckinley
special rolled into the PENNSYLVANIA sta
ton, exactly on time. Outside the sta.
ton building was an immense crowd that
had gathered densest around the ladies'
entrance, where number of carriages in
dictated that the Presdent.elect and his
party would appear there. Only those
who could satisfactorily explain that
their business required them in attend
ance to lie there were permitted TO enter
the station The big gates guarding the
tracks from the waiting rooms were
closed to all except comparatively few
who were concerned in the personal re-
ception of the President elect and those
accompanying him.
AS the heavy train came to standstill
the members of the reception committee
took II position at the rear platform of
the rear car, in which the President elect
iliade the journey. When the we'll known
figure of Major Mckinley appeared on
the platform the people who peered
through the high board fence set up II
cheer that reverherated through the big
train shed. Major Mckinley dotted his
silk hat in response and then stepped to
the pietformt to receive the greetings OF
the reception committee.
Half Il dozen policemen marched ahead
and on the Hanks of the President elects
large party as it proceeded down the
platform towards the ladies' entrance.
The procession proceeded very slowly and
with dignity.
Major Mckinley had one hand thrust
into the bosom of his long frock coat,
while in the other he carried IL large
bunch OF white CARNATIONS. Doiling his
silk hat pleasantly to everybody who
salutcd him, Major Mckinley walked
along toward the crowd outside the iron
gates eagerly awaiting him. He bowed
to the train crew, the dining car servant,
the porters and others who were on the
platforms and ut the windows of the
train.
When the engine was reached the pro.
cession halted II moment while the presi-
dent elect handed the engineer the carna.
tions he had been carrying. This made
everybody i'll the vicinity look happy, but
none so happy ms 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 Mt last They.
fns vol I'll sl,..rN -, l..
figure of the new President appeared at
the door leading from the ladies' waiting
room. The task OF getting the Presi-
dent elects carriage started from the sta
ton was the work of II moment only, and
before the crowd knew it he was rapidly
disappearing up Pennsylvania avenue.
AT Fourteenth street where the carriage
turned from Pennsylvania avenue to the
Ebhltt House, IL large crowd shouted en-
Enthusiastically as the carriage appeared
y large number of newspaper CORE
Sronde lts were gathered on Newspaper
Row, on Fourteenth street. in front of
their offices. Major Mckinley recognized
Il number of them whom he had known
during his Congressional residence here.
and saiuted them pleasantly.
The gathering about the Ebbitt was
larger than that Mt the station. Cheer
after cheer went up from the crowd from
the time the President.eect was sighted
until he disappeared inside the hotel
Brooks Marine Band, Academy to night.