Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-10-13
KNIGHTS ON PARADE
THIRTY THOUSAND TEMPLARS IN
LINE AT PlTTsBURG.

LINE AT PiTTSBURG.
Each Commandery Headed by Band
apd the Air of the Smoky City Echoes
With the Sound of Patriotic Melodies.
Growing Glory of the Conclave.
P1TTsBuRG, Oct 12.-The parade of
the 9th triennial conclave of the
knights Templar is now an event Of
history Whatever had been antici
pated in the way of gorgeousness, splen-
dor and general all around success was
amply realized, that is, all but the rain,
which was not expected. But even at
that, it was the grandest parade ever
held in this city, from whichever view
one may take it. In point of numbers
there We're $4,000 marchers in iine-it
easily doubled similar occurrences of. the
past, and as far as the appearance of
the men, their uniforms, the trappings
of their horses, as we'll as the perfection
of their movements We're concerned,
Pittsburg has never seen anything to
equal it.
i The day started without a cloud in
the sky, a SOFT gentle breeze blowing,
just to keep the atmosphere pleasant
and cool, it was morning tempting
enough to bring out even the most
sluggishly inclined The result was
that long before the booming cannon
announced the start of the marchers
there was multitude of people packed
together in an impenetrable throng
oil %l,o Of
the heart of Allegheny City over into
Pittsburg out Fifth avenue to Schenley
park, distance Of seven miles. Not
only the paraders, but also the specta-
tors made a sight, the impression of
which will never be forgotten. The
number of onloolzers on the streets, in
the windows, on roofs and in the re-
viewing stands have been yariously es.
timated at from 100000 to 1000 coo
people.
March For Three Hours.
At 10 o'clock the wonderful calva-
cade had completed its formation and
the march began, and three hours later
the last detachment passed the same
point. The rain commenced at 1880
and for while it looked as if the pa
rade might be broken up But no. the
knights walked along with the same
spirit and displayed the same martial,
dignifed bearing in the rain as they
had done under the shining sun The
crowd soon began to organize and the
volleys of cheers and applause that had
been thunderous before, now burst forth
ment could not be misunderstood and
the line remained until the end came
The arrangements were all perfect.
Streets were roped in and guards COM
posed of the members of the Eighteenth
regiment, P. N. G., and Battery B,
which has been recently mustered out
were stationed all along the line. Hos.
pital corps had been organized and ac-
companied the parade within easy ac-
cess, but fortunately their services were
not in great demand, no serious mishaps
of any kind having taken place.
The splendid uniforms of the Califor-
MIA communicates, their golden swords
and their melted chargers attracted a
great deal of attention all along the
line
The Detroit commandery, the win
ner Of many trophies at the different
prize drills, went through various
marching evoluticns at some Of the
prominent places along the route, for
which the members We're always heart
lily cheered.
Cheer kentuckians
Owing to the heroic work the Ken
lucky knights have already done since
their arrival here to have the next con-
clave held III Louisville, the knights
from the Blue Grass state have gained
particular prominence among the peo.
pie here, and wherever the Kentucky
banners were recognized the cheering
became more animated than ever. But
it would take too much space to chroni
Gle the applauding remarks and admir-.
ing enconiums with which each AND
every commandery was greeted. The
crowd realized thay it was getting the
hest IL had aver seem and was NOT Slow