Omaha daily bee., 1897-08-25
Grand Army Men Capture the City in a
Peaceful Attack.
VETERANS TAKE COMPLETE POSSESSION
Feature of the Day is the Arrival OF
President Mckinley and the
Grand banquet Given In
His Honor.

loads OF veterans and sightseers. This morn
ing all was hustle and confusion at the rail-
road stations, thousands were gathered around
the different stations as early as 6 o'clock
and the principal streets were a jcstling
crowd Of humanity. The features of the day
were the arrival of President Mckinley at
o'clock this afternoon, the banquet rendered
him by Columbia post of Chicago and the
parade of naval veterans and ex-prisoners of
war this evening.
The president was met by a reception
committee and escorted by mounted police,
200 soldie:s Of the regular army and local
and visiting posts of the Grand Army of the
Republic, to the Niagara hotel, where he
will remain during his stay here.
The program for the day also included a
parade of the naval veterans and ex-prisoners
OF war: meeting of army nurses; reunions of
the First, Second, Third, Fifth, Tenth and
Twenty-fourth corps reunion OF Loyal Home
Workers; convention and campfire of national
veterans; Grand Army of the Republic bi-
cycle road race; an Illuminated bicycle
parade campfire of eX-prisoners of war, and
numerous receptions rendered them by the
women OF the various auxiliary bodies Dur
Ing the day many organizations will hold re-
unions.
The different railroads centering here haze
given estimates of the number of passengers
hours ended at midnight. The total focts up
10000. AS all the railroads report expected
arrivals for today at least equalng these CT
yesterday and quite few more special trains
ea'ly tomorrow morning, 1t is estimated there
Will be at least $50 600 more arrivals before
the big parade tomorrow, which will bring
the grand total of encampment visitors up to
the number mat has been expected right
along-350 00O
The feature Of this morning was the second
parade of the celebration and the first in
which Grand Army men took part The
Naval Veterans association and the ex-Pris-
oners of War association, together with the
survivors of regiments and other organizations
composed the Grand Army contingent of the
parade. The naval veterans wore the uni
form Of the United States naval service and
made splendid appearance, as they rolled
through the streets in the rolling gait OF
men-of-wars men. The crowds cheered them
to the echoes, The eX-prlson6Ts of war, from
the rank and file of the Grand Army of the
Republic wore the unifo. ms OF their respective
posts and on each coat fastened a badge
bearing the name of the prison in which the
wearer had been confined AS the names Of
Andersonville, Libby, Salisbury, Belle Isle
Florence Castle Thunder and other places of
historic horror were read the cheers became
deafening.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY ARRIVES.
The special train bearing the president
tinguished visitor was greeted by an i'm
mense throng at the depot. There was one
glorious and spontaneous demonstration from
the depot to the Niagara hotel a dStsnce of
two miles. The streets were lined with peo-
pie, and at the hotel, in front of which there
Is great square. the police and soldiers
from the nearby barracks had difficult work
to keep the multitude in position. Eyea
when, with Mrs. Mckinley and Governor
Black, the president had entered the hotel
and vanished from sight, there followed
after him the cheers of the people until he
was obliged to come to the balcony whore
after order had been restored, he said:
l come to greet you and to thank you
at the same Time for your generous we;-
come, The; Grand Army of the Republic
rying arms. Those were long since laid
aside and the Grand Army of the Republic
is today dedicated to peace-(applausel- ,
IN the city Of Buffalo with my comrades
OF 6l and 10 and my comrades now.
noon
Shortly after o'clock Columbia post.
dressed in fatigue coats and white duck
trousers, arrived at the hotel and acted as
escort the president to the Elicot build
ing, where the post entertained the prrs lent
at bfnquet When the president passed
from the hotel to the banquet hall the police
had to literally drive way through for the
carriages, and at the Ellicot club tn donrs
were so jammed that the president had to
be lifted through by stalwart policemen. In
the reception room of the club Re met promi-
nent citizens of Buffalo, and little later he
entered the banquet hall as he guest of
honor of Columbia post of Chi ago with 500
other distinguished guests aad soldiers.
THE GUESTS.
At the guest table sat Commander C. II.
Mcconnell of Columbia post, toastmaster OF
the occasion; President Mckinley, Com
nde--in-Chief Clarkson Archbishop Ire
land. Mayor Jewett, General Russell A. Alger
Governor Frank s. Black, James e. Curt'Gs
Chaolain-in-Chief Mark b. Taylor Wlron
S, B sell, Hazen S. Plngree of Michigan,
Former Commander-in-C n-Chef T. w. Lawler,
Representative r. B. Mahaney, Representa-
tive ID. S. Alexander. C. p Porter Johuson
of Chicago, Colonel Blackman of Chicago
Colonel Sage, General Walker, General Ko-
mits. Colonel John d. Weber, Colonel ]. II.
Horton, Colonel Atkinson, Alderman Finch of
Chicago, Henry ID, Estabrook OF Chicago,
Ferd W. Peck of Chicago, General John S,
Wise and Augustus f.. Schuse.
When an elaborate menu had been dis
cussed the POSTMASTER called for Governor
Frank s. Black, who extended a welcome
for Columbia post to President Mckinley
At $40 Senator Mark Hanna, who had just
arrived in the city, came into the banquet
hall. His entry was noted by applause at
the further end of the hall, and President
Mckinley rose from his seat and moved
along the hall to meet him. There were
shouts of applause as the two men clssped
hands and the presidents left hand went up
to Mr.. Hannas shoulder. Both took their
seats amid applause. Mr.. Hanna had to
hold levee. Closely following Mr.. Hanna's
entrance II was announced that the presi-
dent, desiring to hear Archbishop ireland
and other speakers had decided to make
visit to some of the camp fires and then
return He left, accompanied by Com
mander- n-Chief Clarkson.
The POSTMASTER then announced the next
toast THE City OF Buffalo Welcomes the
Grand Army" Mayor Jewett responded.
While Mr.. Jewett was speaking the pre- ident
returned. and for few moments pande-
monum regned supreme. somebody yelling
wheat s1.0S silver 40," cry that was taken
up and repeated again and again.
MKINLEY SPEAKS.
When Mr.. Jewett had finished his address
President Mckinley was introduced, and for
fully five minutes II seemed as though the
roof would have TO fall or the side walls
bulge with the roars OF applause and greek
ing. Then the president said, very slowly
and distinctly
MIR. Toastmaster and Comrades and My
Fellow Citizens: i wish i might frame
fitting words to make fitting response to the
more than gracious welcome which you have
set form of speech l come with no studied
phrases to present to you, but | come in the
spirit OF comradeship (applause) TO talk TO
you. as we have often talked In the past,
around the campfres In war we'll as at
campfires in peace. tApplause) To me-.