The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-31
TWAS A GLORIOUS DAY
IMPOSING CEREMONIES IN HONOR OF
THE DEAD HEROES.
Parade of Veterans That Was Enspir-
ing-Judge Howe's Address
Monument Decorated.

Memorial day exercises in this city yester-
day were participated in bya greater num-
Der of people, perhaps than any similar oc-
casion in years. Thousands of people came
down town in the afternoon to view the pa
rade, which was one of the largest ever
seen here, and during the morning the GEM
eteries were visited by the committees de-
tailed to decorate the graves of the soldiers.
The weather was all that could be desired
for an ideal Decoration day. During the
morning the sun was partly obscured,- but
there was no sign of showers. In the after
noon the sun came out bright and warm,
and there was cool breeze from the west
which made it very pleasant for those who
stood in the streets and watched the march
ing column of veterans and civic societies,
who turned out in great numbers to do
honor to the day
In the afternoon shops, stores and facto-
ries closed up and a half holiday was grant
ed the employees. Directly after dinner peo-
pie began coming down town, and by 2
o'clock there was a throng in the streets.
Monument place attracted great crowds,
and by the time the parade reached the Cir
Gle all the available standing room around
the great shaft was occupied. The monu-
ment was appropriately decorated with flags
of various sizes. During. the morning the
rarochial school children of the city visited
the monument, and the grass plats were
strewn with roses, and hundreds of tiny
flags were stuck in the ground. Above the
south entrance to the monument great
starry banner was gracefully draped, and
the smaller statues around the monument
were covered with the national colors. The
blue waters of the fountains sparkled in
the bright sunshine. and troops of children
ran here and there and were very happy
and contented while the grown people
waited expectantly for the cannon shot from
the courthouse yard which was to be the
signal for the procession TO move.
The column started at o. clock from the
corner of Alabama and Washington streets.
The start was made promptly, the process
sion moving west on Washington street to
Meridian, north on the east side of Meridian
around Monument place, south on the west
side of Meridian to Georgia street, west on
Georgia street to Illinois, where the street
cars were waiting to convey the people to
Crown Hill Cemetery. Along the line of
march the sidewalks were crowded with the
people. Police Superintendent Quigley drove
through the streets ahead of the procession,
and was followed by Police Captain Daw-
son son ana ssrgeant Corrigan. in charge of a
oughfares open for the approaching column
of marchers. Gen. Fred Knefier was the
grand marshal of the day and n. r. Ruckle
was chief of staff. The procession was di-
vided into four divisions, General Knefler
and aids leading the first. After the grand
marshal came Captain Writ, bearing the
banner of the naval veterans. The When
Band was next. Immediately preceding a
carriage in which was seated Gen. r. S.
Foster and Admiral Brown. The Union Vet
eran Legion came next followed by the Ger
man veterans and all of the G.. A. r.. organi-
cations of the city. The knights of Pythias
organizations, together with the Knights of
st. John and the Patriotic Order of Sons
of America had prominent positions in the
parade Captain Bieler's, German battery
also had place in the column
A striking feature of the parade was the
different Juvenile organizations, led by the
Boys Brigade band Hundreds of youths in
uniforms, and many of them carrying min
iature rifles, marched with soldierly step.
The rear of the procession was brought up
by Mayor Taggart, the different municipal
boards and City Council in carriages, and
vehicles containing members of the Women S
Relief Corps and,n ehi4dreeE The familiar
uniform of the old Indiana National Guard
was missed in the parade but the civic or
CARNATIONS turned out in sufficient numbers
to fill the places of the men who have gone
to the front. f[t1