The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-10
THE FIRST VIEW OF THE LAND OF
FRUIT AND FLOWERS.
A MOST REMARKABLE SCENE.
Inc Train Passing Through q Sea OF
Salt-Snow-Capped Mountains and
Groves OF Tropical Fruits I'm Sight.
The First Stop at Redlands-The Days
Travel Ends at Los Angeles Where
the Carnival is I'm nPrcxress-wild I'm.
thusiasm Everywnere.

Redlands, Cal, May S.-President Nc
k1nley and his party entered the Land
of Fruit and Flowers" shortly after
midnight. The Colorado river was
passed at Yuma.
The first glimpse OF California this
morning was not prepossessing. but it
was novel sight. The train was run
ming through the bed OF an ancient
salt sea south Of the Mojave desert. II
is 200 feet below the sea level and Is a
white sheet OF encrusted salt which is
plowed up as eastern farmers plow
their fields. This was passed very ear
ly in the morning. The train was
mounting a gorgeous pass between
snow capped mountain peaks when the
president first looked from his car win
dow. The mountains were covered 10
the snow line, and to the foot hills on
both sides stretched waving fields of
wheat
Soon ofterward, the train entered
San Bernardino county, famed for it's
wonderful fruits, and hurried along
through green, enchanting orange
groves, orchards of citrus fruits and
gardens of beautiful flowers.
ever were
smiling, happy people. The women and
children held roses in their arms and
pelted the presidents car with them as
the train rushed by.
Redlands, the first stop in the state
was reached at o'clock. Here great
preparations had been made to welcome
the president and his party.
Governor Gage and the senators and
representatives in congress had gath
cred TO welcome the chief executive TO
California. 4 company of local militia
and the high school cadets escorted the
party to the hotel through lanes OF
cheering people. Oranges were pro-
fusely used in the decorations.wn
the marshals of the parade wore orange
ribbons across their shoulder. The
exercises took place on the fiower-be-
decked balcony of the hotel in plain
view of the thousands gathered below.
An Indian band from the school at
Paris, Cal, played patriotic airs while
the president exchanged greetings with
Governor Gage and the distinguished
assemblage on the platform.
The mayor of Redlands introduced
Governor Gage, who, in eloquent lam
guage that aroused an enthusiostic
echo from the audience welcomed the
president and extended to him the free
dom Of the state.
The presidents response, delivered
in graceful style, drew repeated cheers.
The exercises We're followed by
drive of an hour and half through the
orange growing section.
Los Angeles, Cal, May S.-The ap-
proach to the city of Los Angeles was
heralded by a terrific din which could
be heard for miles. Steam whistles
screamed, cannon doomed, and as the
train passed through the Chinese quar-.
ter of the city, long strings Of fire
crackers hung from awnings, exploded
like the continuous rattle of musketry.
The city had been beautifully decorat-
ed in honor of the presidents coming.
The fiesta is in progress here and the
town was dressed like a queen to re-
ceive the coming of her lord. The col
ors of the carnival-red, yellow and
green-representing the wine. orange
and olive, predominated.
The president was escorted by artil-
lery and militia to the hotel through
dense crowds. At the hotel he h~'' a
reception and made a brief address.
This evening the president and F'rs.
Mckinley dined at "Bivouac" the h ID
some residence of General Harrison
Grey Otis, and after dinner a private
reception was held there in their honor.
They spent the night at the "Bivouac"
Tonight the members of the cabinet
and other members OF the party Wit
messed the brilliant illumination in the
streets. The whole city blazed with
fantastic colors, and the air was
binding storm Of confetti. thrown by
the merry rioters.
Tomorrow the president and his party
will witness the floral parade and in
the afternoon a visit will be paid to the
soldiers home at Santa Monica
The train will leave Los Angeles ear
ly Friday morning.