The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-11
Z MILES LONG.
$4,000 Knights Templar Pa
rade in Pittsburg.
Procession Witnessed by a Mil
lion People.
SEATS FOR 100000
Had Been Arranged Along the
Line of March
And All We're Filled Long Be-
fore the Parade Started.

Pittsburg, Oct. 11.-What Jerusalem
was to the crusaders almost thousand
years that was this city today to the
knights Templar. All night and all this
morning every railroad leading into the
city, every street car line entering from
the surrounding suburbs came in with
loaded cars, holding thouSahoS anu
thousands of people. The railroads an
ticipating the rush had made every
preparation to convey all comers TO the
mecca of modern pilgrims and from a
radius of several hundred miles the
towns, hamlets and villages nterally
poured their population into PlttspurS.
There could not have Deen more Desu-
tiful day for a parade of knights rem
plar from the first cOnclave held IN 1916
at New York city. The parade was set
for 10 O'Clock and from early dawn eV-
erybody and everything was astlr at
the various headquarters of the differ
ent Communicates preparing for the
In the yards of the railroad depots
and the hotels all was life and hustle
and soon the first troupe OF plumed
knights dressed in the full regalia of
their various positions in the order ap-
peared on the street Here the band was
was waiting upon them and now the
march to the rendezvous began. At 3
o'clock all down town streets were filled
with different detachments of the par
aders and as each had its own band,
the martial airs that now began to rend
the air with medley OF marcheS ana
patriotic songs, was well calculated to
inspire the greatest enthusiasm.
In the meantime the points Of van
tage along the route of the parade were
rapidly being filed up Seats had been
erected all along the line of march to
accommodate 100000 people and the
anxiety that was displayed by the sight
seers to get possession of these coveted
points of observation led to indescrib-
able scenes of enjoyable and some
times amusing controversies between
the wOuld-be purchasers and the Vend-
ers of these seats. Long before the pa
rade began to move however. all these
seats were occupied and in fact every
available foot of space along the line of
march was filled with men, women and
children, while windows and even roofs
SWarmed with anxious sight seerS. 1t
is estimated that the parade proper
was made up of $4,000 uniformed
knights, moving along in carriages, on
horseback. or on foot. and there was al
least a million spectators lined along
the route of the parade which was seven
miles long.
The head of the parade formed at the
corner of Cedar and North avenues. AL
legheny City, and at $50 O'Clock Brig
Gen J. P. s. Goblin, the grand marshal
of the parade with his staff of mounted
ueutenants and aides left his head
quarters at the MOnOngahela and ac-
cOmpanied by the strains of SOusa S
march THE Stars and Stripes Forever"
made his way down Fifth avenue. Pitts
burg, across the suspension bridge into
Allegheny City.
Promptly at 10 o'clock Gen Goblin
gave the command and the great parade
started.
Considering the wonderful success
which signalized every feature of to-
days parade, the absence of President
Mckinley, Gen. Wheeler, Theodore
Roosevelt and Gov. Hastings was very
much regretted, because the presence Of
these nOtables would have put the
crown of idealism upon an event of un-
alloyed perfection that was probably
never surpassed in Templarism.
And Then 1t Rained.
The parade passed off very success
fully except that at the time half the
1t began to rain in short, but sharp
showers. However, not even the down.
pour appeared to have any visible effect
upon the enthusiasm of the paraders.
nor did it drive the spectators from the
Sidewalks In fact if anything the lat
ter became more emphatic in their ap-
pIauSe, as if they intended to convey
their sympathy with the Knights over
the disappointing elements
Ihere were no serious accidents or
mishaps of any kind during the entire
march which lasted fully three hours
Ihe only case was that of a prostra-
tiOn of one of the Knights.
There cannot be too much said of the
arrangements of the parade proper. IT
started at the appointed hour and con
tlnued uninterruptedly. The BODY of
marcherS was as fine a set of men as
could probably be gotten together any-
where
Sir Knight Edwin Du Laurens. char
ter member of Columbian cOmnand derry
No. I, of New York, who has been .
Knight Templar for Sc years and en-
Joys the distinction of being the oldest
hnght IN point of service in this conn
Try, participated in the parade and