The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-03-05
SWORN as PRESIDENT
Interesting Incidents Attend the Reading
of the inaugural.


in the presence Of a great multitude. A
dazzling and inspiring scene spread out
before hin, as he appeared on the steps
OF the senate wing TO take the oath and
deliver his inaugural. A glorious. gold
en-, southern spring sun blazed from a
blue sky. an suspicious augury for his
administration. Except for Mr. Cleve-
lands first Inauguration in 1855 there
has been no such an ideal day for this
monentous ceremony. Immediately in
front, acres Of upturned faces were
wedged IN SO close together that the
broad plaza and radiating avenues
seemed a vast pavement Of human
heads. Through the naked limbs OF the
trees appeared patches OF brilliant color.
fragments of the pageant, gay plumes OF
horsemen, gorgeous and respondent mil
itary bands, streaming pennons, futter-
ing banners. Thousands Of cleaning
gun barrels and glistening bayonets
which marked the marching troops and
escorting legions awaiting the moving
of the procession. Glimpses OF the SOL
diery illuminated five radiating avenues
as far as the eye could reach. The win
dows OF the houses overlooking the
scene were packed with people. Every
available perch Of the capitol building
| was occupied. The terraces in front
were precipitious hillocks of humanity.
THE INAUGURAL PLATFORM.
| The broad platform. smothered with
national flags, on which The ceremony
occurred was built out into the crowd in
the form of right angle. 1t ran par
allel with the capitol front from the SEN
ate wing TO a point directly opposite the
north line OF the main entrance. where II
ran back sharply 10 the main building.
Mr.. Mckinley faced the park full OF
people from a small raised and carpeted
platform decorated with blood-red bunt-
ing at the apex OF the angle. The
| square space at The juncture OF the angle
was filled with about thousand chairs.
| reserved for the cabinet officers. sena-
tors. representatives, members OF the
diplomatic corps, the supreme court and
bother dignitaries who were entitled 10
| admission to the floor Of the senate. and
| the benches which ran back tier on tier
in both directions were occupied by
those VINO filled the senate galleries.
THE WIFE AND THE MOTHER.
Preceded by two military aides Mrs
Mckinley and her party emerged first
from the senate wing and were escorted
10 their seats on the platform in advance
of the procession. The future mistress
If the White House, heavily wrapped,
rested on the arm of John Addison Por-
ter. She walked somewhat feeoiy ana
was given large leather chair imme-
diately behind the platform from which
| ner husband was to deliver the inaugur-
al. Mother Mckinney and the other
| members OF the party were shown seats
lust in the rear A parasol was raised
| to protect her eyes from the glare OF the
| sun.
| THE INAUGURAL PROCESSION.
The crowd waited fifteen minutes
more before the procession proper ap-
peared at the door OF the senate wing
| and the closely packed multitude moved
persis:ently forward as if thrilled by an
| electric shock. First came Mr.. Wilson.
marshal OF the District Of Columbia, and
| Mir. McKenna, marshal OF the supreme
| Court. The former does not look unlike
/ MIR. Cleveland and the latter is about
| the stature OF Mr. Mckinley. so that for
an instant the crowd mistook them Tor
| the chief actors In the drama OF the day
and a great shout went up. But when
| the mistake was apparent the cheering
subsidized. Following them came Chief
Justice Fuller and the justices OF the SUI
| prerne court Immediately In their rear
| followed Colonel Bright, the sergeant
| alarms Of the senate, and the senate
committee on arrangements. Then came
Mr.. Mckinley and Mr.. Cleveland, arm
| in-arm.
MAIN ACTORS APPEAR.
| Almost instantly they were recognized
by the multitude that had been strain
/ ing for the first glimpse OF them. The
universal shout with which their ap-
pearance was greeted began with rip
pie that ran down the platform. swell
| ing as il went, until II fell upon the sea
of faces on the plaza and broke into
thunderous roar that recoiled from the
dome and rolled away through the ave-
nues. Mr.. Cleveland now faced an in
augu-ation audience for the fourth time,
| once more than any other presNent OF the
republic. Although he appeared twenty
wears older than ne did when he was
| first inaugurated twelve years ago, as
| evidenced by his almost bald head and
| the lines which official cares have chisied
| IN his rugged face. yet he never looked
better in his life and his face displayed
in no way the fatigue Of the oppressive
| work Of the past few days. As they
walked down the platform the yells and
shout became deafening and as ne stop
ped upon the raised Platform Mr.. Nc
! Kinley felt compelled 20 acknowledge
| the reception by bowling rigat and left.
He then took seat IN the big leather
chair. The press against the stand was
sn terrific that women screamed with
pain and several faisted
AMONG THOSE PRESENT.
Meantime the procession from the sen
ate continued. The ssnstcrs. followed
nv the members Of the house. passed IN
n their seats. Then came the dgni1ed
and pompous diplomatic corps. headed
nv the British ambasss5oT- The gov
erno-s OF the states. the general Of the
army and the admiral OF the navy. win
the officers who had received the thanks
Of congress made Up the rear and were
closely followed by the distinguished as
semblage Of men and women who had /
crowded the senate galleries
All this time 1000 pesple were strain /
,az 10 keep Up the constant and ire I
mendouz applause. while Ar. Mckinley I
surveyed the crowd J-coFlonally look (
ing alott az the boys On the dome Ne /
smiled and bowed
president. n LAST.
Then M Mckinley arose and unc3v-
cred. while CHEZ justice Fuller - his 4
flowing robes administered the cath IN ne 4
presence Of th@ tremendous multitude. 4