The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-01
Parisians Go Wild Over Major
Marchand.
Began Assembling at O'Clock
This Morning
AT RAILROAD DEPOT,
Though His Train Was Not Due
Until 9:1O.
The Explorers Carriage Was
Buried in Flowers.

Paris. June 1.-The civil and military
went to the railroad station at Lyons
at 1 o'clock this morning to welcome
Major Marchand, the African explorer,
on his way to Paris from Toulon. A
great concourse began assembling
around the depot here of the Lyons
Paris railroad at an early hour today.
Members of the League of Patriots ar
rived in wagonettes decorated with gar
lands and flags.
A tremendous shout of "Vive Mar
chand!" announced the arrival of the
popular IDOLS train at $40 4. m.
victoria was sent by the minister
of marine, NJ. LOckroy, to convey the
major to the ministry of marine. where
a lunch was given in his honor. The
carriage was literally covered with
flowers and had a tri-coIor flag at each
corner. while the coachman's whip was
tied with tri-color ribbons.
Major Marchand and the representa-
tive of the minister of marine, ,Lieuten-
ant Darriens, entered the vehicle, which
on emerging from the railroad station
was greeted with storms of cheering.
All present, with the exception of the
officers and non-commissioned officers
on the sidewalk, uncovered their heads
as the explorer passed. The military
men saluted in military fashion.
Deltrious enthusiasm marked every
step of Marchand's passage along the
Boulevard Dlderet to the Henri (Qu2LIG
bridge. On either step of the carriage
stood a policeman who kept the explor-
ers frantic admirers from entering the
vehicle.
FELL LIKE A BOMB.
Chicago. June IA special cable to
the Chicago Tribune from Paris says:
Major Marchands speech at Toulon
has fallen like a bomb. Marchand's
previous attitude and his frequent pro-
testations of loyalty to the government
gave no indications of his intention to
lash the government for the evacua-
tiOn of FaShOda.
The speech is regarded as seditious.
Here is the discriminating phrase,
spoken in reference to the evacuation
of Fashoda:
Seeing what a state of division our
country was in over affair of which
1 need not speak, we comprehend that
France could not make the supreme ef-
fort. We felt that our country could
not make a proud, energetic reply. Ten
centuries of history have taught her
that peace was the instant question;
Happily, peace was maintained, but 1
believe l can say that of that sort OF
peace there had better not be too much
in France in the same century.
AS a result of Marchand's speech a
group of city councilmen asked that
plans for the grand reception to Mar
chand at the Hotel de Vile be counter
manded. The prefect of police for
bade anyone inside the station to meet
the hero save government officials pro-
vided with special permits.
FRANTIC ENTHUSIASM.
The Marchand procession in which
were several carriages conveying nom
commissioned comrades and officers
sent to greet the explorer proceeded
along the quays to the boulevard st.
Germain headed by detachment of
horse guards. There was frantic en-
thusiasm along the entire route. The
crowds in spite of the efforts of the
police broke into the procession, cut off
Marchand's carriage from the others
and surrounded it, cheering and waving
hats and sticks
The procession arrived at the Place
de la Concorde at a walking pace and
stopped in front of the ministry of
marine where Marchand entered. The
other carriages finally arrived with
Captain Baratier DR.. Emily Ensign
Dye and the other members of the ex-
The crowd noticed there was no flag
hanging from the ministry of marine
and shouted for one, whereupon the oc-
cupants of a house opposite threw a
flag to the crowd The police, however,
seized it and prevented the flag from
being attached to the ministry building
after some hard scuffiing.
The minister of marine and Major
Marchand then appeared on the balcony
| and the other members of the expedition
followed, formed a group and repeated
ly bowed to the spectators who acclaim
ed them until they were hoarse.
The Place de la Concorde was
black with people and the house on the
Avenue de TOpera, at the corner of
which the military CluD Is ana
the adjacent streets were decorated
with flags
An enormous crowd gathered in front
| of the military club and cheered for the
army The interior of the club was dec
| grated with trophies of flags, flowers,
| etc.
Squads of municipal guards, mounted
and on foot eventually cleared the
Avenue de POpera and diverted all
traffic from it.
Marchand and his companions then
| lunched at the ministry of marine a
number of generals and admirals being
| among the guests. The explorers will
| be received by President Loubet at the
| EIysee palace at O'Clock this after
noon.
After luncheon at the ministry of
marine and listening to congratulatory
speeches, Marchand received from the
minister of the colonies NJ. GuiIlan a
medal commemorative of the expedi-
ton.
A delegation from the military news
papers then presented the explorer with
| a sword of honor. after which Major
| Marchand, accompanied by the minister
| of marine, drove to the Elysee palace
at 8 O'Clock. The crowds along the
| route cheered the army. the marine
minister and Marchand.
| Immense throngs of people surround
| ed the palace and shouts of Down with
| Panama." caused the arrest of a num-
ber of those who gave vent to their
| feelings in that matter.