Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-11
Pennsylvania Avenue a Wealth Of Bril-
liant Color Under a Bright Sky.
STAND SEATS BRING.FANCY PRICES
A Long and Imposing Process
sion to the Capitol.

of this great republic, native born
citizen Of Ohio, In tho presence of
untold thousands of his countrymen,
took the solemn oath which bound him
for four long years to watch over and
guard the welfare of the American
people. 1t was an impressive yet
beautifully simple ceremony that
marked the accession of William
Mckinley of Ohio to the high Office
of President of the United States of
America. With an expression OF
humility mingled with realization of
the heavy burdens he was about to
assume, he bent his head and repeated
in clear voice the words:
81 do solemnly swear that ! will
faithfully execute the Office Of Presi.
dent of the United States and will. to
the best of my ability, preserve, pro-
tect, and defend the Constitution of
the United States -
Thus did William Mckinley gather
from the hand Of Grover Cleveland the
reins of power and become President of
the United States.
AHEAD OF ALL OTHERS.
There have been many inaugurations
in Washington, but in many respects
that of to-day will go down 10 history
as excelling all that have gone before.
The citizens of the Capitol City worked
to that end with degree of energy I'M
known even in this public-spirited com.
murity. In beauty, in taste, in novelty,
the decorations of the city are incom.
parably superior to anything ever seen
in Washington.
Along Pennsylvania avenue, on every
open space, were erected grand stands,
that, instead of being disfgurements
to the scene, as has been the case in
days gone hy-mere scaffolds Of rough
boards-were not only comfortably
covered and of pretty architectural
design, but were most appropriately
aud substantially decorated.
The line OF march OF the parade was
longer than usual-full four miles. in
fact-made SO to ease the pressure of
spectators upon the line in the central
maintenance of the line unbroken.
Rarely has the morning OF inaugura.
tion day opened 80 promisingly SO far
as the weather conditions were con-
cernea. Everybody agreed that it was
an ideal day for spectators as well gs
for those who expected to march ia the
parade.
Seats were in great demand. The
brilliant day sent the stock of the
grandstauds up several points and by
10 O'Clock there was scarcely seat to
be had on any OF the big stands.
Nearly every building along the line
OF march that had window command
ing view of the avenue was in the
market. The prices asked had been
rhenomer !, $50 beng the lowest for
which s.ngle window could be had.
and ranging from that figure to $500
for ttttn fN,,l., -, Z
Brice paid 81, 600 for an avenue room
for the day at Wizards with luncheon
added, for email party. A typewriter
girl in the Corcoran Building who had
small room looking out on Fifteenth
street disposed of it for $3.50 for the day.
The regular troops, which form the
escort of the Presidential party TO the
capitol, began to form in front of the
White House by O'Clock. Tho
Seventeenth Infantry was the first On
the ground ard was soon followed by
800 marines In storm coats, who swung
up between the White House and the
Treasury at quickstep and filed along
the avenue west OF Fourteenth street,
whore they were halted to make way for
the artillery. which came in at trot.
At 10 O'Clock squad OF policemen
passed along the avenue from Fifteenth
slack ON the wire cable that had been
dropped at the street crossings 1t
was drawn taut and the avenue was
thenceforth cut of from all but the
police and the military.
M'KINLEY IN GOOD SHAPE.
A sound nights rest put tho Presi.
dent-eleut in perfect condition for the
exhausting functions of the day. lie
is an early riser and f,w of the hotel
guests were awake when he opened
% his door at G.30 O'Clock and called a
greeting to Messrs. Daugherty aud
Gardner, the faithful New York dc.
tectiyes, who have watched his every
movement since the train rolled in
from Canton. Both Mr.. and Mrs.
Mckinley had good appetites for their
breakfast.
The advance guard of the great
American army of cranks mads its
appearance at an carly hour at the
hotel this morning. Fortunately, il
took the very harmless form of a we'll
dressed parsonage of clerical aspect,
who in milo voice besought the
Presidents permission to sell on thu
streets an extraordinary card bearing
scriptural tree. lie was easily turned
away by the guard at the door without
creating any disturbance.
After breakfast the President. elect
came out into the corridor of the
hotel for few minutes. He greeted
pleasantly the few persons who stood
in waiting. At o. 80 O'Clock Senators
Sherman of Ohio and Mitchell Of Wis,
consin, tine Sonata committee appointed
to conduct the Inauguration, appeared
and announced that they had come tc
escort the President-elect to the Capitol.
THE sTAET FOR THE CAPITOL.
At 10. 10 o'clock the start was made
for the White House, amid great
cheering by the crowd Troop A Of
the Ohio National Guard, Cleveland's
crack cavalry troop, comprising about
hundred men splendidly mounted or
black chargers, opened tho way through
tho mass of people. with line stretch
ing almost across the street. The coach
man gave the word to his horses. the
carriage fell in behind and the way