Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-05-06

The greatest throng that ever filed the city
of New York added its surging pean to the roar
of belching guns and the tramp of soldiers.
And. in that throng there was no north and no
south for since the soIdier-president had said:
'sLet US have peace the gray had blended with
the blue.
Before the presidential party left the city to
take part in the dedication ceremonies the flag
decked streets were black with people who
cheered yociferously as the great men drove by.
Ali around the oval, in the center Of which
stood the gray monument to Grant. were what
seemed to be black hillocks- This somber
background was formed by the thousands of
spectators who filed the stands, built up from
the ground on both sides of the tomb to the
level Of the steps that lead to the massive
doors
To the south, where the loop around the oval
met the Riverside drive, there were two solid
lines of humanity. On all four sides of the
monument oval the stands were packed to over
flowing while facing these crowds were the
great mass OF eager sightseerS who had not
been oficially provided for.
AT THE TOMB
BY eight O'Clock vast crowds had arrived at
the tomb, and those who were fortunate enough
TO possess tickets emitting them to seats on
stands took their places in the gaily-decked
structures and prepared for the long wait that
was to enSue before the arrival of the notahles
and military pageant. The less fortunate ones
selected standing places from which they could
see what occurred. The police were early on
q
stand and the monument and along the road
way that was to be traversed by the troops The
elaborate preparations which had been made
for handling the crowd bore good fruit There
was comparatively little confusion, and those
who desired to reach their places on the official
stands had no difficulty in doing
A feeling Of reverence for the great warrior
whose renoWn was to be perpetuated was fire.
Quently manifested by persons in the
surgfng crowd surrounding his sepul-
cher Gray-haired men were frequent
ly to be seen lifting their hats as they
were borne past the tomb in the stream of
humanity. and one touching incident occurred
early in the morning. An aged darkey with
snow white locks and stopped figure stopped near
the foot OF of the flights of steps leading to
the monument He carried in his trembling
hand small bunch of violets which he tim
idly asked policeman to place at the en-
trance of the tomb.
He helped to make me free man, boss" ex-
planned the old negro
The policeman heSitated an instant, and then
mounting the steps, laid the paltry token of
gratitude at the foot Of one Of the columns of
the tomb.
As the carriages containing the distinguished
party passed between the wall OF people on the
president acknowledged the ovation by smiling
and bowling. The party assembled the stage on
the west side Of the tomb, and the band sta
toned near by played patriotic airs
At 11:04 o'clock President Mckinley entered
the speakers stand, and was followed by others
who were to participate in the ceremonies. The
president, with barred head. was the first to en-
ter the stand He leaned on the arm of Mayor
Strong, who kept his hat The president
Cleveland, who appeared with ex-Secretary
Tracy,