Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-05-02
PRESIDENTS OUTING.
II. Mckinley on His Way Across
the Continent.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST NISHIpS.
4he Track, Switches and Bridges All Care
fully Inspected just Before the Tram
Reaches . Station and Everything
on the Road Side Tracked.


Washington, April 3o.-The train
which is to carry President and Mrs.
Mckinley and their party on their
long excursion across the continent
and back made its start Monday pre-
cisely on schedule time, over the
Southern road. Before ten o'clock
many people had congregated about
che 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 outside lhere
was cheer as the presidents immedi'
ate party drove up to the station, and
4 general demonstration OF affection
and regard as the head of the nation
and his wife made their way through
the crowd to their train. Mrs. Nc
Kinley found the drawing room OF the
private coach which she and the presi-
dent are to occupy decorated beauti-
fully with roses and other flowers.
She spoke gratefully of the thought
full care Of her friends and seating
herself beside a window, facing the
crowd, continued to smile and bow
10 acquaintance until the train
moved out. The president took his
position on the rear platform OF the
Olympia beside Secretary Hitchcock,
hat in hand, brilliant carnation in
his buttonhole and smile upon his
face. Just as the minute hand OF
the big clock in the station touched
the 1880 point the train started up
on its fO,OOO-mile journey. The crowd
cheered enthusiastically and waved a
eood-by. The demonstration was
continued until the train left the en-
yironments of Washington, the crowd
extending well to the city limits.
The president and his party will
keep in close touch with Washington
throughout the trip to California,
and every facility has been arranged
TO transact such business ms Is neces-
sary from the train. The railroad
officials in charge of the train and
the various divisions over which 1t
passes have taken every precaution to
guard against the possibility of mis-
hap of any character. The track,
switches and bridges IRE all carefully
inspected just before the train reaches
1 given station, everything on the
road, passenger as well as freight, be-
inr side-tracked, and over the Nor
folk & Western railroad yesterday a
pilot train ran ahead OF the presi-
Dental special. All the train crews
ON the side-tracks lined up and I'M
covered as the chief magistrate went
by. All the members OF the party
enjoyed the first day of their trip and
che president expressed his gratifcn'
tlon over the reception he had re-
ceived. Mrs. Mckinley, who was not
feeling particularly well when the
train started, became better as the
day progressed and last night said
she had enjoyed it all very much.
The first day of the presidents long
tour TO the Pacific coast lay through
m historic section in Virginia, across
the valleys Of the Rapidan and James
In sight of the homes of Madison an(
Jefferson, up past the peaks of Otter
30 dear to the hearts of the Virgiplan
into the picturesque Blue Ridge
mountains. The Tennessee line wal
reached at 1885 last night with tn,
arrival of the train at Bristol. TIT
presidential party received a natter
ing ovation from the time the trair
left Washington, Large crowds as
sembled ut every station, the coun
try side and cross roads each had III
little group Of waving watcher
straining their eyes to catch
glimpse of the chief magistrate a
the train whisked by. At Charlottes
Vile the students of the University o
Virginia turned out, at LynchburI
Senator Daniel, Virginia's crack ora
tor, made speech greeting the presl
dent, and at Roanoke two band
crashed out their welcome. At eacI
of these places the president respond
ed TO the loud calls made upon hir
and spoke briefly from the rear plat
form of his car.