The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-13
CHEERED EVERYWHERE.
Tremendous Ovation to Consul Gen.
eral Lee.
HERO OF THE PRESENT CRISIS
ARRIVED In WASHINGTON.

Crowds Greeted Him Everywhere and
Everywhere the Enthusiasm Was of
the Most Stirring Llind-visited First
the State Department and Then the
White House.
Washington, April 12.-Consul General
Fitzhugh Lee arrived here from Havana
at $50 O'Clock this afternoon. A large
crowd of enthusiastic admirers had
gathered at the Pennsylvania station
IN the General stepped from the train.
He was greeted with Tremendous out
burst of applause. Women waved their
handkerchiefs and men their hats Alto.
gether the demonstration was a notable
one. Washington crowds as rule are not
demonstrative, but this action was a con-
spicuous exception. Long before the hour
set for the arrival of the train the crowd
began to gather. 1t completely filled the
station and street adjacent on the east
and extended faf ont into Pennsylvania
avenue. By the time he was ready to
alight the crowd was SO dense about the
train that even with the assistance of
|
that he reached the platform. The crowd
began to cheer and round after round of
applause greeted him as he walked
uncovered down the long platform
of the station. On reaching the street
entrance he entered state department
carriage and was rapidly driven up the
avenue to the state department.
nv.
changed in appearance since he was last
seen in Washington. His eye was as
bright and his step as elastic as every and
nothing in his manner indicated that
there had been anything unusual in his
experie nee during the past several
months. How long he will remain IN
Washington is not known, but it is as
sumed that he will make his wishes con.
form TO those of the President as to the
length Of his stay.
News that General Lee was on his way
to the state department. spread rapidly
and when the carriage drew up at the
south front of the building big crowd
was assembled on the portico. A rousing
cheer went up as General Lee stepped
| from the vehicle, and, bowling right and
| left, hurried into the building The
cheers had appraised the clerks and other
employees of the big building of his COM
| ing and there was wild rush for the
state department. corridor. Clerks loft
| their desks without leave, officers of the
army and navy joined the rush. and for
the time being the discipline of the build
| ing was relaxed. The crowd lined up in
front of the elevator shaft leaving lane
from the door to the eecretary's office.
AS the elevator came to a stop ana the
consul general stepped out a scene I'M
precedented in the great building was
witnessed. Hat in hand General Lee
passed into the corridor and some one
said
"Ncw, boys" and three rousing cheers
went echoing down the long halls. Then
there was another outburSt and people
poured forth from every room. The cheer
ing caused intense excitement and it was
some time before quiet could be restored.
General Lee bowed to the crowd and as
he reached the door to Secretary Sher-
mans office turned and bowed again.
Then the door closed on him and the
throng dispersed.
After few minutes the consul genera
emerged, accompanied by Secretary Sher-
man and Assistant Secretary Day. The
three entered carriage and were quickly |
driven to the White House, General Lee
getting another ovation on his way over.
Mrs. Lee did mot come to Washington
with the General, but left the train at
| Quantico.
| AT the White House the party was
shown at once to the library, where the
chief executive accorded a hearty recep-
ton to the consul general The only per-
sons present at the meeting were the |
| President Secretary Sherman, Assistant |
Secretary Day and General Lee Secre-
tary Sherman remained with the others
| for about half an hour and then re.
turnee to the state department.
After being with the President fully an
hour Judge Day and General Lee took
their departure. the latter going to his
hotel. An immense crowd augmented by
number of ladies who attended Mrs.
McKinley's reception was on the portico
when the two came down stairs and Gen.
eral Lee was given tremendous ovation.
AS their carriage was being driven away,
some one fastened Cuban flag to the
front of the vehicle and this was the cause
of additional enthusiasm.