The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-03
THE SPECIAL TRAIN STARTS ON TIME
ON ITS LONG JOURNEY.
CROWDS ATTEND DEPARTURE
The President and Mrs. Mckinley. At
Reach the Depot a few Minutes Be-
Room OF Private Car Beautifully
Decorated with Flowers Immense
Crowds at Stations Along the Route.

WaSn1nSlOH, April ZS--Ine JralE
which is to carry the president and
Mrs. Mckinley and their party on their
long excursion across the continent
and back, made its start today pre-
cisely on schedule time, over the
Southern road.
Before 10 o'clock many people had
c~ongregated about the station, and
when the president and Mrs. Mckinley
arrived as they did about 1920 o'clock,
the building was thronged. and many
persons were Congregated on the out
side. There was a cheer as the presi-
dents immediate party drove up to the
station, and a general demonstration
Of affectionate regard as the head of
the nation and his wife made their way
through the crowd to the train. Mrs.
Mckinley Leaned upon the arm of DR..
Rixey. and both she n the president
smiled in response to the greetings
which met then at every step.
They were accompanied to the train
by numerous friends and by many
persons. distinguished in the affairs of
the nation.
Mrs. Mckinley found the drawing
room of the private coach which she
and the president are to occupy beau
tifully decorated with roses and other
flowers. She spoke gratefully of the
thoughtful care of her friends, ana
seating herself beside a window facing
the crowd. continued to smile and bow
to acquaintance until the train moved
out.
The president took his position on the
read platform of the Olympia beside
Sanr0to wv TIitAhanoE hot in hand n
brilliant %carnation in his button-hole
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 10, 200
mile journey. The crowd cheered en-
Enthusiastically n waved a goodbye.
The demonstration was continued until
the train left the environs of Washing
ton. the crowd extending we'll to the
city limits.
Charlottesville, Va, April 29.-The
presidential train, with a tiny flag on
the pilot of the engine, denoting that
the chief magistrate of the nation was
ON board, arrived at Charlottesville on
schedule time. The run from Wash
ington was made without incident. A
brief stop was mad at Alexandria. A
big crowd had assembled at the station
there and the president and Mrs. Nc
Kinley appeared upon the platform to
acknowledge salutes. Speeding through
Virginia to this town, people gathered
at every town, village and cross a
to see the train go by.
At Charlottesville there was an i'm
mense aSSemblage at h station. The
students from the university lined up
alongside of the train and gave the
president three rouSing cheers and a
tiger when he made his appearance.
From the platform of his car the pres
i6opt smoke for a few minutes.
Lynchburg, Va, April 29.-In this
city, the home of Senator Daniel, there
was a stop of ten minutes. Senator
Daniel, Mayor G. w. Smith, members
of the board of trade and city council
and a great crowd greeted the party
aSm.
Senator Daniel made a speech of
welcome to which the president re-
sponded.
Wytheville; Va, April 29.-The presi-
lent and his party will keep in close
touch with Washington throughout
the trip to California, n every facili-
ty has been arranged to transact such
business as is necessary from the train.
The railroad officials in charge Of the
train and the various divisions over
which it passed took every precaution
to guard against possibility of a mis-
hap of any character. The track,
lilo AAASSo "NA>
inspected just before the train reached
a given station; everything On the road,
passenger as we'll as freight, was side
tracked, and over the Norfolk and
Western railroad today a pilot train
ran ahead of the presidential special.
All the train crews on the side tracks
lined up and uncovered as the chief
magistrate went by.
All the members of the party enjoyed
the first day of their trip and the pres
ident expressed his qualification over
the reception he had received. Mrs.
Mckinley, who was lot feeling partic-
ularly we'll when the train started, be-
came better as the day progressed, and
tonight said she had enjoyed it all
very much. Tomorrow the train will
make brief stops at Huntsville. De-
catur and Tuscumbia, Ala, and Cor
NTH, Miss. Memphis, where the party
will remain until midnight will be
reached at 4: 80 o'clock p. m.