Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-13
LEE AT WASHINGTON
A VERY REMARKABLE DEMON
sTRATION ON HIS ARRIVAL.
RUSH TO SEE THE GENERAL
Ovation I'm State Department Build
ing-Cicrks Crowd the Corridors
md Give Three Housing Cheers
Another Ovation mt White House.

WASHINGTON, d. c., April l2-Con-
sul-General Fitzhugh Lee arrived here
from Habana at 2s90 O'Clock this after
noon.
A large crowd of enthusiastic admirers
had gathered at the Pennsylvania sta
ton, and when the General stepped from
the train he was greeted witt a tremen-
dous outburst of applause.
Women waved their handkerchief and
men their hats. and altogether the dem
onstration was a notable one. Washing
ton crowds. as a rule, are not demon
strative, but this occasion was a con-
spicuous exception. Long before the
hour set for the arrival of the train the
crowd began to gather. 1t completely
filed the station, and Sixth street adJa-
cent on the east, and extended far out
into Pennsylvania avenue.
The General occupied the last car In
his train, and when it was known that
it had reached the station there was a
tremendous rush to get a look at him.
BY the time he was ready TO alight the
crowd was so dense about the train that
even with the assistance of a platoon or
- l.
police it was with difficulty that he
reached the platform.
Several personal friends of the Gene
RAILS, among them a number of ladies',
pressed forward, and finally succeeded in
grasping him by the hands.
a CONFEDERATE FLAG.
One Of the ladies presented him with
a bouquet of roses tied together with RID
bons of the national colors and bearing
a tiny Confederate battle-fiag. Immedi-
| ately the crowd began TO cheer, and round
after round of applause greeted him as
he walked slowly and uncovered down
the long platform of the station. On
reaching the B-street entrance. General
Lee entered a State Department carriage
and was driven rapidly up the avenue To
the State Department.
The General had not percepttbly
changed in appearance since he was last
in Washington. His eye was as bright
and his step as elastic as ever, and no
thing in his manner indicated that there
had been anything unusual in his expert
ence during the last several months. How
long he will remain in Washington is not
known, but it is assumed that he Will
make his wishes conform 10 those Of the
President as TO the length Of his stay.
The 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 a big
crowd was assembled on the portico. y
rousing cheer went up as General Lee
stepped from the vehicle, and bowling
right and left. buried into the building.
The cheers had apprised the clerks and
other employees of the big building Of HIS
coming, and there was a wild rush for
IL CT. n--.wt.,,,F ,nwVF1nru r1nVlru
left their desks without leave, officers Of
the army and navy joined the rush, and
for the time being the discipline Of the
building was relaxed. The crowd lined
up in front of the elevator shaft. leaving
a lane from the door 10 the Secretary's
office.
A SCENE UNPRECEDENTED.
As the elevator came TO a stop and the
Consul-G General stepped out, a scene oc-
Cured unprecedented in the history of
the great building. Hat in hand, General
Lee passed into the corridor, and some
one said, "Now, boys" and three rousing
cheers went echoing down the long halls.
Then there was another outburst. and
people poured forth from every room. The
cheering caused intense excitement, and
il was some moments before quiet could
be restored. General Lee bowed to the
crowd, and as he reached the door TO
Secretary Sherman's office, he turned and
bowed again. Then the door closed on
him. and the throng dispersed.
After a few minutes the Consul-Gene-
raj emerged. accompanied by Secretary
Sherman and notwithstanding Day.
and the three entered a carriage and
were driven TO the White House, General
Lee getting another ovation on his way
over.
Mrs. Lee did not come to Washington
with the General, leaving the train at
Quantico.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
At the White House the party was
shown at once 10 the library. where the
Chief Executive accorded a hearty re-
to the Consul-General The only
persons present at the meeting were the
President, Secretary Sherman. Assistant
Secretary Day, and General Lee. Secre-
Sherman remained with the others
for about half an hour, and then re-
to the State Department. After
being with the President fully an hour,
Judge Day and General Lee took 1heir
departure, the latter going 10 his hotel.
An immense crowd. augmented by a
of ladies who had attended Mrs.
McKinley's reception. was on the porticO
the two came downstairs, and
General Lee was given a tremendous
As the carriage was being driven away
one fastened a Cuban flag to the
front of the vehicle. and this was the
cause Of additional enthusiasm.