The sun., 1901-04-30
PRESIDENT
ON LONG TRIP
His Ten Thousand Mile Tour
Started Yesterday.
CROWDS SEE TRAIN START
Departure Made on Schedule Time
MIR. Mckinley Waving Goodby
From the Rear Platform of
His Special Car.

Washington. April 20. - The train
which Is to carry President and Mrs.
Mckinley and their party on their long
excursion across the continent and back
made it's start precisely on schedule
time over the Southern road. Before
10 o'clock many people had congre-
gated about the station, and when the
president and Mrs. Mckinley arrived,
as they did about 1920, the building
was thronged, and many persons were
congregated on the outside.
There was a cheer as the presidents
immediate party drove to the station
and general demonstration of affec-
tionate regard MS the head of the nation
and his wife made their way through
the crowd to the train. Mrs. McKin-
ley leaned on the arm of DIR. Rixey,
and both she and the president smiled
in response to the greetings which met
them at every step. They were ac-
companied to the train by numerous
friends and by many persons distin-
guished in the affairs of the nation.
The party included Secretary Gage,
Secretary Root, Senator Hanna, Justice
McKenna. General Miles, General Cor
bin, General Sternberg Secretary White
of the American embassy in London,
Commissioner of Pensions Evans,
Comptroller Dawes, General Bates, AS
sistant Postmaster General Shellen-
barger, Congressman Livingston and
many ladies of the cabinet circle.
Floral Decorations
Mrs Mckinley found the drawing
and the president are to occupy beau
tifully decorated with roses and 9TH
er flowers. She spoke gratefully of the
thoughtful care of her friends and,
seating herself beside window, con-
tinued to smile and bow to acquaint-
ances until the train moved out. The
president took his position on the rear
platform Of tie Olympia beside secrc-
tary Hitchcock, hat in hand, a bril-
liant carnation In his buttonhole and a
smile upon his face.
Just as the minute hand of the big
clock in the station touched the 1890
point the train started upon its 10000
mile Journey. The crowd cheered en-
Enthusiastically and waved a goodby.
The demonstration was continued un-
til the train left the environs of
Washington. the crowd extending well
to the city limits.
Shortly before his departure the
president signed the commissions OF
Colonels Roberts and Gillespie as
chiefs of engineers, and they will be
issued at the war department on the
1st and I'd of May. The same course
was taken with the commissions of
Colonels Barr. Clous and Davis, who
will become judge advocates general
upon the retirement of General Lieber.
Colonels Roberts, Barr and Glous are
to go Immediately upon the retired
list upon receiving their appoint
ments.
All other commissions of officers who
will be appointed during the presi-
dents absence also have been signed
and will he issued on the dates when
the appointments are to be made.
One Of the last acts of the president
before leaving the White House was
the signing of the commission of Mr..
Pruden, one of his assistant secretaries,
rs major and paymaster.
Saw Train Start.
john Bulge superintendent of the
local plant of the Pullman Palace Car
Co. returned from Washington early
Yesterday afternoon where he had been
to see the departure of President Nc
Kinley's special train, the cars for
which were made up at the Pullman
works, this city, under the supervision
OF Mr. Bulge.