The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09
NO COMPETITIVE DRILLS.
knights Templars Will Give Exhibi-
tions-CaIifornians at Pittsburg.

PITTSBURG, Pa, Oct. s. - Gorgeously
plumed Sir knights, the first of the great
body of the Knights Templars, which will
virtually own PittsbuIg for the next six or
eight days, arrived in Pittsburg to-day.
They were the Sir knights of the Golden
State of California. The party was made up
of the grand commandery, it's honorary es-
cort, California Commandery, No. l. of San
Francisco, and a score of members of an
other commandery Of that State. They ar
rived about 10 o'clock this morning, and
their arrival marked the opening of the
great round of festivities that are sched-
uled for the coming week.
This famous contingent of Tmeplars from
the far West was met at the Union Station
and escorted to the headquarters of Cali
fornia Commandery, No. 1, on the first floor
Of the Carnegie Office building, by Pittsburg
Commandery, No. l. and attachments of the
four other local communicates. The visi-
tors were given most royal welcome and
greeting. The party numbers nearly 900
Sir Knights and number of ladies. They
left San Francisco last Monday morning,
and have made the long pilgrimage over
land in special Pullman palace train. They
were the first to leave their homes and are
the first to be welcomed by the triennial
guest of the CalifornianS was the Very
Eminent Sir Reuben H. Lloyd, VINO will
the highest post within the gift of the as
Sembled knights-grand master of the Grand
Encampment of the United States.
Capt. William r. Heckert who has charge
of the commandery drills at Schenley Park
next Wednesday, announces that there will
be no competitive exhibition, the late war
the volunteer service. This fact comes as a
gerat disappointment to the knights, as the
competitive drills have generally been a
feature of the cOnclave. The programme
for the Schenley Park exhibition next
Wednesday, starting at $3.50 a. M, will be
as Ssw 81 4 R by bf Beeo sorp No swf S.
Bernard, No. IS, Chicago; Louisville, No. /;
Hanselman, No. Il, Cincinnati; Damascus,
take part. Three drill instructors from
West Point will act as judges. To each
commandery will be presented handsome
banners. The corps entered for the drill are
the most expert of the country St. Ber-
nard, Of Chicago, has captured prize after
prize in drills all over the country, and has
the reputation of being the most perfectly
handled body Of knights in the United
States.
Boomers for Louisville as the meeting
place for the twenty-eighth conclave are
perfecting plans for vigorous Pittsburg
campaign. Two large rooms in City Hall
will be devoted to the use of the Bourbon
State knights as ''boom headquarters' The
Grand Commandery Of Kentucky will have
the support of De Molay and Louisville
other representatives from all parts Of the
State.
The principal event in knightly circles
this evening was the arrival and reception
to Grand Master Warren Larue Thomas
and staff. who arrived at $3.50 o'clock from
Baltimore.
Baltimore Commandery. No. 2. which ar
rived earlier in the evening, had their jour-
ney saddened by the sudden death of Geo.
w. Starr. While their train was passing
through Glenwood Mr.. Starr was among
the gayest of the gay and was having a fine
time when suddenly he dropped to the floor
a corpse from the effects of heart disease.
Pittsburg had a taste of coming events
tonight when the streets down town were
simply damned by people viewing the many
electrical decorations. At times street-car
travel was blocked and foot travel was next
to impossible The electrical displays are
not all completed. but the many beautiful
designs which were Illuminated tonight are
highly commended and admired. One of
the most novel spectaofes to strangers in
town was the flaming cross on Mount
Washington. 1t is a huge cross on the side
of the mountain, composed of innumerabie
natural gas jets. With the black hill for a
background, the emblem gives the impress
sion that the fiery cross is actually hung in
the heavens. making a most beautiful and
awe-inspiring sight.