The Washington times., 1901-09-19
POLICE EFFICIENCY PRAISED.
The Crush at the Capitol blamed
Upon Conflict of Authority.

Messages of commendation extolling the
excellence of the police arrangements in
| connection with the obsequies over the
body of the late President are beginning to
pour in upon Major Sylvester. Every fea-
ture of the arrangements has met with
approval. but probably no one feature is
so generally praised as the method pur-
| sued in protecting the hearse and the car
riages Immediately following. The plan
was original with Major Sylvester and
consisted in joining every policeman COM
prising the lire that surrounded the cor
tege with a strong rope, a portion OF
which each man clasped in his hand.
Major Parker the army officer in charge
of arrangements at the depot for re-
ceiving and sending away the funeral par
II. was an early caller. He congratulated
the Police Department on the excellence
of the work of the men. The arrange
ments were erninently satisfactory and
effective, he stated, and everybody seem
ed to be much pleased. Colonel Ransdell.
the Sergeant-a Of the Senate, also
expressed his approval of the police ar
rangements. but expressed the opinion
that had he and the Chief of Police been
unhampered by orders from others there
would have been no panic to mar the oc-
casion.
Mayor Sylvester was also in receipt of
letter from Gen II. V. Boynton, Chief
Marshal of the civic parade. which read:
Il thank you mCst earnestly for the
police arrangements in connection with
the civic procession yesterday. They were
absolutely perfect and everywhere effec-
tive. 1t is always matter of wonder to
me how you manage to do what your
force accomplishes on all great public oc-
casions with the very small number which
Congress provides for the care Of the Ma
tional Capital. AS to the dfsgIaceful af-
fair IN front of the Rotunda, had 1t not
been for the activity and courage of your
small force at that point the horrors Of
the affair would have been largely in
creased
Major Sylvester was informed yester-
day that the military had interfered with
his men and had prevented them from
carrying out their orders in some of the
most important details. lie Immediately
called upon Captain Pearson who was in
command of the police detail, tosmake n
fun report in writing all of the cir
cumstances incident to the stampede.
All those injured on Tuesday in the
crush on The plaza adjoining the east
front of the Capitol have been removed
from the hospitals with the excep-
ton of two persons who still remain at
the Casualty Hospital. Mrs. James II
Boteler. of rs II Street northeast, was the
most seriously hurt, and il is feared that
she has sustained internal injuries She
has shown no signs of Improvement since
the accident and 1t may be several days
before the extent of her injuries is de-
termined.
Miss Marie Wood, of 1877 | Street north
west, who sustained a fracture of three
OF her ribs. remained at the hospital yes
teroay. There was but little change in
her condi ton last night. She is suffering
intensely from her injuries and from the
shock and excitement incident to the
crush
Considerable criticism has been indulg
I'd In over the action of General BROOKE |
n ordering the mounted policemen from