The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1901-03-08
NEVER SUCH CROWDS
Inauguration Of President Mckinley
a Gorgeous Spectacle.
Despite Downpour Of Rain tho National
Capital Furnished . Scene of Blazing
Splendor-Indoor Ceremonies Were
Unusually Brilliant,

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6plendor-Indoor Ceremonies We're
Unusually Brilliant.
Washington, March 5.-William Nc.
Kinley a second time is president OF
the United States. He was ushered
Into that Office yesterday in city
eblaze with more and finer decora-
lions than ever have graced the holi.
day-loving national capital, whose
streets yesterday resounded to the
tread OF more marching soldiers and
sailors than ever have participated in
like function, and had as witnesses
to the ceremonies a vast multitude
who cheered frequently whenever he
or his vice presidential colleague was
visible. The weather was in capri
cious mood and by noon slow driz-
zle had begun that lasted with some
intermissions and an occasional lively
dOwnpour until late in the afternoon.
The worst of the weather, unfortu-
nately, came just at the time Presi-
dent Mckinley was being indicted
into Office on the east front of the
capitol, in the presence of a crowd
estimated to number 10000 persons.
Yesterdays downpour at the most in
teresting point of the proceedings,
while the oath was being admins
tered on the east front of the capitol,
again brought forward the agitation
in favor of April 80 as the date for
future inaugurations.
Washington had decked herself as
never before for the second inaugura-
ton of Mckinley and the induction
into the vice presidency of Theodore
Roosevelt. The gem of it all was the
court of honor, where the president
reviewed the parade. 1t extended
from the treasury building, with it's
severe classic facades and columns, to
the state, war and navy buildings,
with itsi imposing italian renaissance
architecture, comprising the stretch
in front of the executive mansion.
Guarding the entrance were gigantic
white Pilons, surmounted by bronze
urns for the Greek fire at night.
DOric columns, like measured senti-
nels, stood before the white-roofed
stands in which the distinguished
personages were seated, while other
columns ran in semi-circle through
beautiful as the setting in theater.
Only a comparatively insignificant
portion of the vast multitude saw
anything of the actual Inauguration
ceremonies at the capitol. The great
unnumbered thousands were content
to wait in the avenue below to see the
two men on whom the mental atten-
ton of the world was fixed yesterday
and the great procession which fol-
lowed them.
When the president and vice presi-
dent quilted the capitol to take their
places at the head of the procession
the soldiers stretched across the
place where the multitude had been,
their bright uniforms, gay standards
and accoutrements of brass and gold
and such. showing no bad effects of
the wetting they had received. The
procession wound down the hill and
up the broad rain-drenched avenue
through a living lane of people. The
cheering rose and fell and rose again,
swept up the avenue around the
treasury building and on through the
court of honor to- the white house.
The regulars, infantry, cavalry and
artillery, the jack tars and marines,
the sombrero cowboys, the dark
skinned Porto Ricans in the American
uniform, the militia of % states and
the political clubs of the civic divi-
sion swelled the great procession
which escorted the president and vice
president back to the white house.
The eliminating event of the in
augural festivities was the inaugural
ball, held last night in the vast audi
torium of the pension Office. The
president and Mrs. Mckinley were
present, but did not lead the grand
march, owing to a slight indisposi-
ton of Mrs. Mckinley. As spectac-
ular event it was unparalleled in the
history of inaugural balls in the
sumptuousness of arrangement, in
the bewildering splendor of decora-
tons and ofSmarvelous electrical eff.
fects, and in the countless throng
taking part in the spectacle.