The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-24
DOWN MERIDIAN STREET.
Hospital STAFF at st. Clair Park Had
Little to Do.

DOWN MERIDIAN STREET.
Hospital stafR at st. Clair Park Had
Little to Do.
The crowds began gathering on North Me-
ridian street before noon, and waited with
patience for the parade. There were girls in
lawn and dimty, and the mothers in cool
garments-while the men folks were ad-
dioted to shirt sleeves and palm leaf fans.
Iney sat on the curbstones and on the
grass of the well-kept lawns of that aristo-
cratic thoroughfare and passed the time
with wondering why they don't come and
why can't that woman keep her umbrella
DOWN. Occasionally the tedium of the
wait was broken by the sight of mounted
assistant marshal, who capered by on gaily
caparisoned steed, his august person being
bedecked with flowing yellow badges. Then
there were the special policemen, who COM
ported themselves with all the dignity that
becomes a bright tin star and a swinging
club. About an hour before the parade came
along, Governor Mount, on a handsome
black horse. rode up the street and was
greeted with salutes and compelled to keep
his hat off most of the time in response to
the applause which hailed his progress.
From Tenth street down to North, the col
ored population was in evidence. The peo-
pie of color were far outnumbered by the
whites, still there were hundreds of them.
Small boys climbed trees, and few more
venturesome spirits stationed themselves on
housetops, whence they would periodically
shout, Here they GOMEZ Whereat every
body would rush out in the street, greatly
to the worry of the special policemen.
When the people discovered that they were
victims Of false alarms they would say
'pshaw," and go back to the shade.
St Clair Park was crowded The people
carried the benches out to the sidewalk and
stood on them. One of the hospital tents
was located here. and the spectators gazed
with proper and respectful awe upon the
corps of physicians and attendants The
corps sat in the shade and famed itself
and smoked cigars most of the time The
cross streets and alleyways were blocked
with buggies and carriages. One man, at
the corner of Walnut street, had erected
reviewing stand the seats of which were
offered for sale, but the sightseers seemed
TO prefer the view they could get from the
SIDEWALK, and. as a result, only about half
the seats on the stand were occupied.
From Sixteenth street down to Michigan
the crowds were not so large that every
one could not get view, but from Michigan
10 the monument it was simply a cOnges-
ton Of humanity. Plymouth Church and the
crowded with sightseers, as were the L. A.
w and Marion Club, and all the buildings
In that vicinity.
When the squadron of mounted police
swung into view at Sixteenth street there
was murmur of expectation but the
crowds did not give vent to any great en-
thusiasm They were warm, anyway and
seemed to feel that they were doing as
much as could be expected in coming out
10 look at the parade. The women folks as
serted that the uniforms of General Carna-
nan and staff were particularly gorgeous.
But there was no wild outburSt of enthusi-
asm- Further down the street, however. the
n Nlofr
street the crowds cheered with impartialty
everything that attracted them, from the
commanding general and gorgeously uni
formed staff to the little colored boy who
marched in solemn dignity in the rear of
the second company and carried key of ice
water.
And so. for two hours the crowd stood
and sweltered and cheered. and perspired,
and applauded, while the bands played and
the gaily be-plumed knights marched by.
The uniformed knights were a soldierly
body of men and finely drilled. The parade
much dashing to and fro of mounted order
lies. while the general and his staff were
served with water by a boy from the hospi-
tai tent. The When Band which headed
the parade, was cheered much and often
along the route. One noticeable thing about
the procession was the large number of
The Knights of Pythias are a very patriotic
body. The Kentucky brigade was headed by
Home" and was cheered but the band that
made hit was one which rolicked along
70 the air or "A Hot Time in the Old Town
Tonight. There were two troops of cav
airy m the long line of marchers. The troop
from Ohio was the best appearing. The men
sat on their horses with the self-assurance
Of Teddy Roosevelts Rough Riders and
had their blankets and camping accoutre-
ments fastened TO their saddles A boys
drum corps from Covington, KY, whose
members wore white duck naval uniforms
and played good old army tunes, was pop
uler feature.
The Illinois brigade was headed by Col
John w. Bartlett, whose home is in Rock
ford, which town is more famous because
Schweinfurth located his Heaven there
than for any other reason.
The hospital tents along the route were
little used. Occasionally some of the march
ers would give out, but they only dropped
out of the line and looked for a cool place
where they could see the rest of the bows
walk by. The crowds at the monument
were liberal with their cheers and every
company which preserved a clean line was
vceiferously assured that ii was all right
and every officer who gave an exhibition of
good horsemanship was applauded and held
up as an example to the rest. The change
from the glittering equipment of the Uni
formed Rank to the lighter tones worn by
the subordinate lodges was refreshing and
the onlookers staid in their places until the
last subordinate lodge had filed by They
then rushed out into the street and followed
the parade, until the thoroughfare was
black with humanity.