Abilene weekly reflector., 1901-05-09
IN THE COTTON BELT.
The Presidential Party Travels
from Memphis TO New Orleans.
INTERESTING VISIT TO VICKSBURC.
A Triumphai Arch Of Cotton Bales-Tns
Largo Number Of Handsome Women
Among the Spectators ut
New Orleans.


dental party Travelled across the cot
ton belt yesterday from Memphis al
most to the gulf of Mexico. Dowr
the low lying, rich Yazoo valley, fer
tile as that of the Nile, 1t went tt
Vicksburg, teeming with its memo
ries of 80 years ago, thence east te
Jackson, the capital of Mississippi
and from there down into the land
of the magnolia and the orange tc
this old romantic city near the mouth
of the Mississippi with its traditions
of French and Spanish rule. The out
pourings of the people to see the
presidential train along the route
yesterday were larger II anything
than on the two previous days, and
the demonstrations at Vicksburg and
jackson, the two principal stops
were very striking. The visit ia
Vicksburg was in some respects the
most interesting yet made. Here a
triumphal arch Of cotton bales, bear
ing the magic word Expansion y
pointed out to the president, as he
passed under it, the path of the new
south. Although it had not been in
tended to make any stops after leav-
ing Jackson, the train was halted at
several of the smaller towns where
cotton mills are located to permit the
president to see and speak to the
operatives At some of the stations
the crowds actually impeded the pas
sage of the train and the engineer
was obliged to slow down to avoid
danger of running over enthusiastic
people. As the sun was lowering the
train crossed the bayous with their
tangles Of moss-covered cypress and
live oak, and, skirting Lake Pont-
chartrain, steamed into New Or
leans. This is the first time New Or
leans has ever had visit from q chief
magistrate OF the nation, and it was
II royal reception which the old city
extended to President Mckinley. Mr..
Mckinley himself has been here be-
fore. lie made n notable speech here
the year preceding his nomination
for the presidency, and ex-President
Cleveland was here upon one occa-
sion during the interim between his
two terms, but never before has a
president, while in office, visited the
Crescent City. The air was full of
the boom of cannon and the scream
of whistle from the harbor craft as
the train drew into the station. Here
the president and his party were
greeted by Gov. Heard, Mayor Capde-
vile, Senators McEnery and Foster,
the, entire Louisiana delegation in
congress, the city council and repre-
srniativcs Of the various exchanges.
While the mayor was formally ex-
tending the hospitality Of the city
to the president fine military band
was completely drowning his words
with New Orleans favorite air,
"Louisana Lou" The president and
his cabinet passed out of the station
between a line Of smart-looking mill
tiamcn on one side and a smarter
looking line of young cadets from the
Jesuit military college here on the
other. The boys ranged in age from
eight TO IA, but despite their youth
they made u fine appearance in their
grey uniforms as they presented arms
to the presidential party Outside
the governors staff, resplcndent in
gold lace and mounted on pluDging
chargers, awaited the presidential
"artv The crowd around the sta
non was so dense that it required the
heroic efforts Of the police to keep
the path to the carriages clear. A
big military parade consisting of the
Louisiana cavalry troop, the Wash.
ington artillery and all the militia
from this end of the state, escorted
the party along Camp ard Canal
streets to the New st. Charles hotel.
The city was literally but not lavish.
ly adorned with the national colors
But the crowds in the streets were
tremendous. Never, except in Mard'
Gras times, were they known to be
SO choked and jammed with surgins
humanity. The iron wrought CALLER
les which embroider the fronts of the
buildings here, with their fine tracer
les, fairly groaned under their bur
dens Of human freight. The feature
of the crowd was the great number
of handsome women who watched the
procession from the windows and gal
leries.
Mrs, Mckinley and the ladies' OF
the party dined quietly at the hotel
and later received the ladies' of New
Orleans. The president and his cab
met, with the other gentlemen of the
party, were given an elaborate ban,
quct Mt the hotel in the evening.
About 300 of the prominent men OF
New Orleans were present and the
banquet was said to have exceeded
in every respect anything of n SINH
lar character attempted heretofore in
this clty.
To-day the party will drive about
the city in the morning and in the
afternoon take 4 sail along the river
front, At six o'clock in the even
ing the presidential special will again
resume its journey towards the Gold.
en- Gate.