The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-09
IN LAND OF FLOWERS
THE PRESIDENTS PARTY NOW
IN CALIFORNIA.
LOS ANGELES WELCOME.
GOV. GAGE RECEIVED THE PARTY
AT THE STATE LINE.

The First Scene i'm the Morning Was
Sea of Salt Below the MOjnve
Desert-San BernardinO, the GREAT
Fruit County, Crossed-Chinese,
Indians and Pretty Much Every
thing Else Joined in the Demon
stratIve Welcome at Los Angeles.
Redlands, Cal. May S.-President Nc
Kinley and his party entered the Land
of Fruit and Flowers" short
ly after midnight. The Coora
do river was passed at Yuma. The
first glimpse of California this morning
was not prepossessing, but it was novel
sight. The train was running through
the bed of an ancient salt sea south of the
Mojave desert. II Is 200 feet below the
sea level, and is white sheet of en-
crusted salt, which is plowed up as East
ern farmers pow their fields. This was
passed very early in the morning. The
train was mounting gorgeous pass be-
tween snowcapped mountain peaks. when
the President first looked from his car
window. The mountains were covered
with verdure to the snow line, and to the
foothills on both sides. stretched waving
fields of wheat.
Soon after the train entered San Ber-
nardino county, famed for its wonderful
fruits, and hurried along through green,
enchanting orange groves. orchards or cit
rus fruits and gardens of beauurul
tioWers.
At every little station were groups OF
smiling, happy people. The women and
children held roses in their arms and
pelted the Presidents car with them as
the train rushed by.
Redlands, the first stop in the state. was
reached at 9 o'clock. Here great prepara-
tions had been made to welcome the Pres
| ident and his party
Welcomed by GOV. Gage.
Coy Gage and the senator's and repre-
sentatives in Congress had gathered tn
welcome the chief executive to California.
! A company of local militia and the high
school cadets escorted the party to the
hotel through lanes of cheering people.
| Oranges were profusely used in the decor
ations while the marshals of the parade
! wore orange ribbons across their Shout
! ders The exercises took place on the
| flower bedecked balcony of the hotel in
plain view of the thousands gathered be-
| low. An Indian band from the school at
| Paris, Calf. played patriotic airs, While
! the President exchanged greetings with
i Gcv. Gage and the distinguished assem-
! blsge on the platform
The Mayor of Redlands introduced Gov.
Gage, who in eloquent language. that
aroused an enthusiastic echo from the
audience, welcomed the President and ex
tended to him the freedom of the state.
The Presidents response. delivered in
graceful style. drew repeated cheers The
exercises were followed by a drive of an
hour and a half through the orange
growing section.
Los Angeles Noisy Welcome.
Los Angeles, Cal, May s.-The approach
to the city of Los Angeles was heralded
by terrific din which could be heard for
miles. Steam whistles screamed, cannon
doomed, and the train passed through
the Chinese quarter of the city, long
strings of firecrackers, hung from avn
ings, exploded like the continuous rattle
of musketry. The city had been beauu-
fully decorated i'm honor of the Presidents
coming. The fiesta is in progress here,
and the town was dressed like queen 10
receive the coming of her lord. The col
ors of the carnival. red yellow and green,
| representing the wine, orange and olive
| predominated.
The President was escorted by artillery
and militia to the hotel through dense
crowds. Al the hotel he held reception
and made brief address.
This evening the President and Mrs.
Mckinley dined at "Bivouac." the hand
some residence of Gen. Harrison Grey
Otis, and after dinner a private reception
was held there in their honor. They spent
the night at the "Bivouac." Tonight the
members of the cabinet and other mem
hers of the party witnessed the brilliant
illumination in the streets. The whole city
blazed with fantastic colors and the air
was a binding storm of confetti, thrown
by the merry rioter.
Tomorrow the President and his party
Will witness the floral parade and in the
afternoon a visit Will be paid to the sol
diers' home al Santa Monica.
The train will leave Los Angeles early
Friday morning.