Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-14
M'K|NLEY At BRIDGE,
President at RockbIidge countys
Great Curiosity
NOT TO SEE It, HOWEVER,
Because He Had Been There During
the Civil War.
VISIT OF A FRIENDLY NATURE.
Met Number OF Young Lady
schoIars-Held q Reception-Those
Composing tho Party-Lexingfon
Was Disappointed.
VISIT OF A FRIENDLY NATURE.
Was Disappointed.

LEXINGTON, VA, May 13-(Special.)-
President McKinley's visit to the Ma
tural Bridge was Of brief duration. The
President did not go to the bridge SO
much to see it as to make visit to Mrs.
Henry c. Parsons, having been warm
friend of the late Colonel II. c. Parsons's,
her husband. The President had paid his
respects over thirty years ago to the
bridge, when at that time he was with
the Federal forces that captured Lexing-
ton, and his detachment, or COM
mand, left here and passed through the
county by the Natural Bridge route.
The presidential special arrived at the
Natural Bridge Station about II O'Clock
midday, and the party was met by car
riages at that point and transported TO
the bridge. Dave Mason, of Lexington,
a colored coachman, who for many years
performed coachman's service for the
family of Colonel william Preston John
son and the late Hon. John Randolph
Tucker, handled the reins over the backs
of a handsome pair OF grays from Lex
ington that safely carried the President
to and from the bridge. The morning
was showery. but the clouds broke in
places under q western breeze, and the
sun shown through the riffs, making the
drive delightful, and the mountains seem
cry in spring attire gorgeous along
the three-mile drive.
The roads, owing TO the heavy thunder
showers during the night, We're not in
the best condition, and made travel
rather slow. The President, who looked
the picture OF health, wore a black suit
Of clothes and silk hat. He alighted as
soon as he arrived at the gate-house, the
entrance to the Natural Bridge grounds,
and walked through the lower lawn and
down the path under the bridge. AT this
point some thirty Holiins Institute young
ladies' were, and the President was
introduced to them and shook hands with
each The President went snort
way up the glen above the bridge ana
then retraced his steps. AT the gate
house he registered, and there held
levee for the Rockbridge countans. who
had come out in rather goodly numbers
10 see the President Of the United States,
and. II possible, shake hands with him.
Many were gratiied Mr. Mckinley was
then driven TO Mrs. Parsonss residence,
which stands near the top OF the Natural
Bridge. where a hotel Of olden time stood,
and made his call alone on Mrs.
Parsons. From that point he walked to
the top OF the bridge and viewed the
depths below from Pulpit Rock. on the
top of the bridge he again entered the
carriage at just O'Clock, and was driven
back to the station.
he xyfc Mt
Bridge occupied about one and one-quar-
ter hours. Mrs. Mckinley did not leave
the special train, owing TO not feelnB
well. but remained at the station untli
the President returned. Those who reg
istered at the gate-house, and who came
with the President, were Secretary OF
the Treasury Lyman Gage, Cornelius W.
Gage, A. s. Barnes, j. q. Schmidlatt.
Emily Schmidlatt; Mr.. and Mrs. Fred.
W. Sterry. of Hot Springs; Mr.. and sirs.
of Cincinnati: c. T.. Pharis; Theo. How
ard. of the New York World; a. j. Dun
can. Of Virginia; Mr.. Barry, G. A. Boyn-
ton. and George +. Foster, or upper
Sandusky, o.. who. on special invitation
from Mrs. Parsons, called upon ner az
her residence, after the President had
MIR, Greenlee d. Letcher. of Lexington,
went TO the Bridge this morning, ana
was the solo representative from mere.
cnnversation with him. The President re-
GREETED very much that he could not Fay
q visit just at this time to lexington
as the trip was rather a hurried one
and the shortness of the tinlS prsSen.e u,
but said he would undoubtedly 10 so III
the near future He was assured warm
welcome and reception .,.o,. =.
Mir. Charles p. Nair, postmaster az
Clifton Forge. and former manager ol
President from Clifton Forge, and snow
ed him and the party around. While at
The Rridge Mr.. F. L. Worthy, of Spring
field sH Mass, was especially attentive 70
the wants of the PRESIDED, anu noon fhe
III vr,9 Of the president and party to the
ststion the special left for the hot
Springs. The Lexington people WERE were n tbia
disappointed when her President Ths would would not
c c'pr TO Lexington on this trip They yet
live In hopes.