New-York tribune., 1900-12-26
ARMY FEEDS BIG CROWDS.
COMMANDER AND MRS. BOOTH-TUCKER
SEE 3.49S BASKETS OF FOOD GIVEN
AWAY-DINNER AT NIGHT

The Salvation Army yesterday gave cheer in the
form OF a dinner in Madison Square Garden to
than forty thousand persons. Commander
and Mrs. Booth-T Tucker were at the Garden as
early as $50 o'clock preparing for the crowd Ac-
companying them were at least hundred ana
fifty soldier boys and girls. The decorations were
pretty. Long lines Of flags, the emblems OF nearly
every nation in the world were strung so that
they met at common centre at the big arc light
under which Commander Booth-Tucker sat Flags
were also hung from the galleries and at each END
Of the Garden large banners containing the
words Welcome Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year" On the Twenty-seventh-st
side OF the Garden immense banner, Praise
God, From Whom All Blessings Flow.
The morning and afternoon were given up 10 the
distribution of the baskets containing food for
families at home On one table extending from the
entrance in Madson-ave. to the exit In fourth-
ave were piled the baskets. The doors were
opened at 1O:4O o'clock for the distribution Com
mander and Mrs. Booth-Tucker occupied a stano
in the centre of the Garden and spoke to the peo-
pie as they filed by. The line extendeo from
Twenty y-seventh-st. down Fourth-ave ana around
into Twenty -sixth-st No trouble or ooisteroushess
occurred and the big detail of patrornen from
the Broadway Squad had little TO do except no"
and then to rescue decrepit woman from oe!ns
crushed in the crowd One woman, seVehty-hihe
years old was almost fainting when PatroiInan
Roberts picked her up and carried her 10 the door
in safety AS the head of the line passed INTO the
Garden the Army band struck up lively airs
Poverty in all degrees represented In that
lorg procession. Some carefully. even Wen
dreesad while others were in tatters. Black and
white men and women, crippled and manned. ola
and young mothers with babies in their arms
filed by.
To each person was given basket, and with 1t a
pleasant word from Commander and Mrs. BOOTH
Tucker.
On several occasions Mrs. Booth-Tucker nearly
broke down. A girl not more than twelve years
old accompanied by younger sister, passed py:
why you children here alone! asAeu S'
Booth-Tucker kindly. -
Mamma is very Sick replied the eldest chlo'
'and there was nobody TO come with us
Further inquiry developed the fact that the little
ones had trudged down from One-hunor reo-ana-
twenty-ffth-st. They received an especially Dig
basket of good things, and member OF the army
was sent home with them to see the sick motner
and find out what could be done for her All
mothers with children in their arms ana all Grip
pied persons received carfare home.
Just 349S baskets were distributed each OF Whlch
contained dinner for five persons. Each basket CON
tained a fowl four pounds Of potatoes, an equa-
amount of turnips beets, ETC., loa1 OF DIeao'
coffee sugar pepper salt and apples Many M nes 0i 'n'
In the first hour. it was estimated, more more t than
fve thousand persons were then waiting OUTSIDE.
The line by this time extended along Iwenty-s%1xcn %
ST. almost TO Thrd-ave. Soon after II CLOCK S9I
mander Booth-Tucker sent men out with IN, G1peTs Gers
ing stores be bought. and that it be given away
until there was not & SCRAP PsaeT rev IN ten1e thou
sand persons would receive basket dinners, insteaa
OF the 1900 originally decided on. About 1Z:4o
O'clock the people stopped going in The large crowo
still in the streets tickets. Tickets had Deen
gVe 81 %oby qf5 p psrson IeP # the a meerg Of the
army gave tickets 10 those who seemed 10 oe most
needy Then until $50 o'clock people kept going IN,
and baskets were freely given out
The dinner the Garden took place IN the even
ing. Fifty great tables were spread ana apout
four thousand persons men. women and ohIdren.
sat down the feast The cost was derrayeo from
8 fund of about s. 900 collected chiefly through the
kettles which for several weeks have hung from
tripods in various parts Of the city z,
with early comers, and when the doors were opened
at 5 O'Clock the rush required vigorous eIorts py
score of policemen TO prevent the little ones from
being hurt BY s o'clock about four thousand per-
sons were in the galleries, waiting In jolly mood
for the dinner while the helpers in the arena
below were serving out the good things. Promptly
at 6 o'clock three thousand of the Army s guests
marched down to the tables a feature was the
family parties, parents with their chill
dren seated together. At the second table were
After the dinner the headquarters brass band
struck up Onward Christian Soldiers, and the
great crowd Joined in the hymn with yigor Com
mander Booth-Tucker then made an address. Miss
delight in a kinetoscope picture representing the
visit of Santa Claus. Greetings from Governor
elect Odell W. r. Hearst and others were thrown
upon the screen, followed by pictures or Commander
pictures became deafening when one was shown
Of General Booth, founder Of the Salvation Army.
Scenes from Oberammergau were shown and
views illustrating the Salvation Army's work
in various parts of the country. number or hymns
were sung by the National Singing Brigade. Com
mander Booth-Tucker ended the evening by leading
a prayer meeting in the cafe at the Garden en-
trance