The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-10
AT GERMANIA PARK.


Mucn Enthusiasm-Speech by DIR.
Jaeger and A. j. Beveridge.
Within the Enclosure of the train shed a
train of forty coaches was drawn up for the
accommodation Of the big crowd which
journeyed TO Germania Park to witness the
most impressive part of the celebration. So
long was the train that in order to facilitate
the loading it was split up into five sections
Two engines were required to move it, and
even then it moved to North Indianapolis
at a snail's pace Railroad authorities unite
in the assertion that it was the longest
train ever hauled out of the INDIANAPOLIS
station. Within the memory of the oldest
official here there has been but one train
which In any respect could compare with it.
that one being an excursion train conducted
for the policemen's excursion to Columbus.
o.. in 1873, which comprised thirty-eight
passenger coaches All the cars were packed
to the aisles with a crowd estimated at
from 4500 to 5000 people. Probably about
one-third of the crowd was made I'D of
women.
Arriving at the park, the people found
that the train was so long that when the
head engine was abreast of the entrance
the rear end was hardly clear of the switch
at the North Indianapolis Depot There was
nothing to be done by most of the passen-
gers under the circumstances but to get
out and walk TO the park, which they cheer
fully did, tearing down the cattle guards
to facilitate the progress of the women
None of the men seemed to object to climb
ing the guards, but the women found them
to be awkward obstacles. BY the time the
throng had passed into the grounds the
railroad right OF way looked as though a
cyclone had swept it from end to end The
rank grass was trampled to the smoothness
OF a cycle path. while the broken barbed-
wire fences and the wrecked cattle guards
added to the look of calamity.
Within the gates of the park however
everything looked fresh and comfortable
The indianapolis Military Band was quar-
tered in the pavilion. about one hundred feet
from tho speakers stand, and from time tn
time played martial and patriotic music to
great applause. In the dancing pavilion
Company III, of the Observation-Disclosures
eighth Regiment formed and executed mill
tary maneuverS before fully one thousa nd
people In the speakers stand were Fred
Francke, master of ceremonies; Dr. WIZ
liam Jaeger. former professor of languages
at the Cutler Military Institute, at Mar
mont. near Lake Maxinkuckee, and Albert
]. Beveridge. Grouped before the stand
were members of the united singing socie-
ties, under the leadership of Prof. Carl v.
Barus. On all sides We're the flags of Amer
ica Cuba. Germany and the banners of the
different societies taking part in the cele-
around the speakers stand. which, IN addi-
ton, was decorated with an immense golden
eagle holding in his talons the colors with
which the stand was drRped.
At the conclusion of the rendition OF the
stars and Stripes Fotever" BY the band
Master OF Ceremonies Francke stepped to
the front OF the stand and announced the
planting Of German oak tree by the Gar
said It was the symbol of the patriotic de-
votion felt by the German foreign-born