The Portland daily press., 1897-08-26

G. Woodley, national president OF the
Army Nurses at the Women's Union.
Buffalo, N. Y, August 25.-When the
morning gun on the ramparts of Fort
Porter doomed its salute for the--new day,
the sun was obscured by banks of heecy
clouds at the east. which rose and dark
ened into ominous blackness at the kwest.
A heavy mist rose from Lake Erie and
hovered over Camp Jewett and was car
ried back cityward by a frseh breeze from
the west when the reveille brought the
comrades from their tents.
Soon, however, a rift came and the sun
red and glorious, flashed on the spires
and domes of the city, and found kin
dred coloring in myriad flags.
The awakening city saw the omen,
and, knew that the day was to be fair.
By O'Clock Main street was filed with
people and the hum Of, preparation rose
from all sides. g6 ss 7
In all of the Grand Army camps, Fete-
ransswere getting hurried breakfast, and
some of the Illinois posts werelgettingsin
line lOr Uuo ndiCA w tAO Ea1Ooz VI Aof11fA-
ton. . -Tes a at
Aides de- Camp, In the gold lace of the
National Guard of New York, were dash
ing about the streets on rearing horses.
Men, women and children began to post
themselves against the long wire cordons
that had been spun out along the line OF
march during the night. Every moment
the space along the front of the sidewalk
grew less and by $50 O'Clock those who
had secured first place against the wires,
began to feel the pressure OF the crowd
from behind.
In the corridors of the flroquo1s Hotel
spurs were iingling and sabres clanking
as the officers of General Clarkson' s staff
hurried to the headquarters of the COM
mander- in chief to report to the chief of
staff From east and north there came
at nte walls the rattle of drums and the
clear notes of the bugle. Posts of the
department. of Illinois and some from the
department of Wisconsin were on the
march by O'Clock. The music and
THE TRAMP OF THE MARCHING
FEET
brought cheering crowds to the little
detachments as they passed, and the hum
Of expectancy grew IA roar of excite
ment as the time fol, the moving of the
procession drew nearer.
Excursion trains on every one of the
many lines leading into Buffalo began to
pour thousands of recruits into the al
ready congested thoroughfares. and the
railroad stations svarmed like beehives.
The street cars as they pushed slowly
d down to the center of the city by impro.
yised side street routes were filled to the
point of distress, and excursion boats
were screeching their whistles in the har.
Dor in an endeavor to get to the dock
with their quota of spectators.
a General Clarkson and his staff rode
from the Iroquois Hotel to the Hote
Niagara as soon as the staff had assem-
bled on Eagle street. In front Of the
Niagara, the staff drew up in line anl
General Clarkson waited upon President
Mckinley to escort him to the head O.
the column.
At 10 o'clock the President left tn.
Niagara, accompanied by the escort
Along the way to the point o.. formation
the President was cheered to the echo
Arriving at the corner of Main and the
Upper Terrace, his carriage took the posi-.
tion at the head of the column, directly
| behind the citizens committee, the mem
| bers of which were mounted.
At 1890 O'Clock the command to maroE
| was given and the procession moved. IL
the roll of innumerable drums, the blart
| of trumpets, the clash OF cymbals and the
screeching of flies, the Grand Army OF
the Republic, headed by the President oi
the nation, took its triumphai way