The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-05
Seritnbie Downpour Of Rain While
the President Was Delivering
His inaugural address.
PARADE A GREAT SUCCESS
THOUSANDS OF sOLDIE ERs AND KHA-
KI-CLAD CLUBMEN IN LINE.
Cheers for the President, who Rode
Beside Senator Hanaa, and for
the New Vice President.
WASHINGTON, March 4-"He that ham

WASHINGTON, March A-"He that ham
dleth a matter wisely shall find good; and
whose trusteth in the LORD happy Is he.
",rhe wise in heart shall be called pru-
dent; and the sweetness of the lips in
creaseth the learning
kissing these verses OF the sixteenth
Proverbs. with bowed head In acknowl-
edgment of his subscription to the oath of
Office, administered by Chief Justice Fuller,
President Mckinley, at ILL o'clock to-day,
for the second time passed completely into
the full honors of the presidency of the
United States. The boob, a dark-brown
seS. teachers Bible, ABOUT nine by six
inches in size. had been opened at random
by James II. McKenney. clerk of the Su-
preme Court, who long has made it a point
to note as a matter of curious knowledge
the verse which chances to meet the lips
OF incoming Presidents.
Around the President were the chief rep
resentatives of the Nation and the diplo-
matte agents of other countries. while.
stretching far out and awdy over the broad
expanse facing the east front of the Cap
ftol, was vast soldier and civilian array.
The oath Of office was followed promptly
by the delivery of the inaugural address.
This was short, and soon what many per-
sons regard as the most Impressive feature
and finest spectacular event Of the presi-
Dental inaugural ceremonies was but a
memory of vast, cheering. rain-soaked
multitude, a vista of banners and flags,
and the figure of a weil-kept, buoyant-
looking man taking the oath of his coun-
try's highest office and then making a pub
lie address to those who had thus honored
him.
THE WEATHER
President Mckinley was ushered into
office to-day in a city ablaze with more
and finer decorations than have ever
graced the holiday-loving national capital,
whose streets to-day resognded to the tread
of more marching soldiers and sailors than
have ever participated in a like function.
and had as witnesses to the ceremonies n
vast multitude who cheered frequently
whenever he his vice. presidential coll
league was visible. There has been much
better weather on inauguration days. and
there has been much worse than that
which attended to-day's ceremonies. The
day in the early forenoon gave promise
OF being a golden spring cay. such as Prof
Moore, the chief of the weather Bureau,
emphasis predicted. but the weather was
In a capricious mood and by noon a slow
drizzle had begun that lasted. with some
intermissions and an occi sional downpour,
until late in the afternoon. The worst of
the wet weather. unfortunately, came just
at the time President Mckinley was being
inducted into office on the east front of the
Capitol. In the presence of a crowd esti-
mated to number 10000 persons But the
air was mild anI pleasant and the day
ended with dry weather. so that, as stated
there have been many worse inaugurations
than this.
Garfield was Inaugural ted In a storm;
Harrison in cold rain that deluged the
city, and Cleveland took the oath at his
second inaugural before 10000 cheering peo-
pie In fierce gale. with snow beating
down upon his bare head
To-day's downpour at the most interest
ing point OF the proceedings again brought
forward the agitation OF April 30 as the
date for future inaugurations. IL was on
April 30 that George Washington took the
first oath 10 the highest Office known TO
men. and to-days experience was a COM
mentary on the uncertainty OF March
weather. The day could not have promised
better than IL did in the early forenoon
The afr was soft and bllmy and a light
southern breeze was blowing. But II was a
gray day. Leaden clouds drifted across
ieaden skies. a leaden shaft pierced the
sky where a snow-white shaft to Washing
ton used TO stand. and i'm the distance a
leaden stream rolled wIrere formerly was
the silver Potomac But the weather sharp
was certain He used mo 'ffs" or butts. -
He staked his honor upon blue skies and
blazing sun later on aad the multitude
pinned their faith on him.
WARSHIPS ON THE POTOMAC.
Everything presaged the greatest pageant
In the history OF inaugurations Had a
man been on top of the dome of the Cap
itol Washington must have looked as il did
in the spring OF 1866. wien the victorious
armies and the multitude gathered here
for the grand review. on TO the south. on
the broad bosom of the Potomac, six war
ships. one OF them the historic Hartford.
Admiral Farragut's, at the battle OF Mo
bile bay. rode at anchor From every di
rection long, winding trains were coming
into the city TO pour thlr human freight
into the already seething calaron. In the
maze OF choked streets. spread out between.
squares OF moving gun barrels cleaned;
banners, flags and trensparancies rose
above compact masses OF men and gor-
seous bands. checks OF color drifted here
and there and everywhere, the shifting
multitude so closely packed that the ground
seemed fairly alive. Pennsylvania avenue.
decorated with miles OF bunting and with
thousands OF flags trembling and huttering
In the gentle breeze was lined with an I'M
renetrable mass Of people so early that no
one pretended TO have ARISEN In time to say