The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-26
People Watch $4,000 Old Sol
diers March Six Hours
In the Parade of the Grand
Army at Buffalo.
STREWN In FLOWERS.
One Hundred Girls in Red ,
White and Blue
Scatter Flowers Along the Line
of March.

Buffalo, Aug. 2s.-Forty-five thou
sand men marched through streets
glorious in flags and bunting. receiving
! the ovations of a half million people
yesterday. The president of the Union
they fought to save, himself their COM
rade, was at their head.
The procession moved for five hours
and forty-two minutes. Along the
route of march 100 girls, dressed in the
colors of the flag, scattered flowers In
the path of the soldiers.
President Mckinley rode in a car
riage at the head of the procession and
waved his hat at the cheering crowd.
At the reviewing stand he took his po-
sition with Commander-in-Chief Clark
son and Gov. Black, and the headquar-
terS staff passed in review.
OF all the throng viewing the pro-
cesSion, no one person was more en-
thuSiaStic or more affected by the sight
than President Mckinley, with his hand
on his hat, continually uncovering to
the national colors or to the SaluteS of
the veterans. The president watched
the array of the procession of veterans
march by. 1t was certainly column
to inspire admiration. Such men as
Secretary of War Alger.' General Lew
Wallace and General John Palmer
walked side by side with the negro or
the decrepit pensioner whom they had
to assist.
The closing event of the evening was
reception to the president at Music
hall.
Other events were a reception by Mrs.
Catherine F. Hurst, president of the
Ladies of the G. A. r., at the Iroquois
hotel; a reception by Mrs. w. @. Wood
ley, national president of the Army
Nurses, and numerous receptions by
minor organizations.
During the parade the president paid
a gracious tribute to some cOlored vet
ms IN O. n nd
to them.~ Some men from a post at
Bradford, Pa, hit upon a novel meth
cd of obtaining recognition from the
president. The man nearest the preSi-
dent had been directed to get near the
president and to shake his hand. The
others formed a chain by grasping
hands: The president laughed very
heartily at the scheme. When the
Canton, O., post came along there was
great shout, and the president, step
ping to the front of the platform, clap
ped his hands vigorously, while the
members of the post waved their hats
and shouted.
At 1:30 the president and Gov. Black
left the reviewing stand, just as the
department of Connecticut arrived at
the place of review. Lunch was serv-
ed at a private residence near by The
stay at lunch was brief, however, and
the president and Gov. Black were soon
back in their places, and the president
was again bowling and smiling and lift
ing his hat to the veterans. At five
minutes aIrer two, the Washington, D.
e., division passed and were accorded
a special welcome by the president, the
colored veterans especially being rec
ognized.
With Lafayette of Indiana walked
Gen. Lew Wallace, and he received a
welcome. At the head of the Minneso-
ia division, a drum corps of the oldest
veterans attracted the attention of the
president, and he gave them a special
recognition. Not one of the interesting
features of the parade escaped the
presidents attention, and he laughed
heartily at the corn and wheat displays
of the west and the complimentary
references to prosperity. 1t was ten
minutes after three when New York
state department commander, Shaw,
and his staff, saluted the president and
the New York state veterans began to
nile by. They comprised two divisions
and formed the largest department in
line.
On and on went the column. and for
over an hour it was nothing but New
Workers.
General Alger Joined the reviewing
party while New York's delegation was
passing. 1t was nearly o'clock when
the last of New York state division
passed the stand, and after nearly six
hours OF constant attention, the presi-
dent and Gov. Black were driven to
their hotel amid the hurrahs of the old
crowd.
The president admitted that he was
urea with the days work, but pleased.
ARE -A~