Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-27

and then more minutes had to b
counted.
AT Just five minutes before o'clocl
the sound of the approaching train wa,
heard: the fireworks from the Stat,
House We're started. giving the sigma
TO the soldiers at the arsenal to beei1
firing the Presidential salute of q gun,
which had been arranged for. The peo
PIE began to surge nearer and neare,
together, wedging themselves in solo
mass along State street and filling the
house yards to repletion.
Estimates of the number of people
composing the crowd were freely made
by gentlemen about the press tables
These estimates ranged from II, 300 tc
1000 SYbd 2 4ii -ytlil M r
Better count on $4,000 when the pro.
cession from down street comes alona. i,
said one gentleman of sound Judgment
This estimate tells the story of the size
OF the crowd at the house. but there
were at least 5000 more who could not
reach hearing distance.
AT $40 the strains of the Augusta
cadet Band were heard and the process
sion was seen turning the corner of
Grove street and heading for the Gov
ernor's residence. The jam was ter
/ rlflc. but the people were orderly and
very quiet
! AS the procession moved down State
street toward it's objective point the
scene presented was grand. On both
sides of the street red lights were be
/ ing burned by scores of men. stationed
here and there by the energetic COM
mIttee firayVnrEc ha
of Chinese lanterns were aglow: the
| shouts and cheers of the multitude
rang out on the evening lir; the fire.
works We're being discharged on the
State House grounds. and the greatest
enthusiasm was manifest On every
hand
through the surging mass of people
the procession with difficulty forced its
way, Chief Marshal r. w. Soule in the
lead. Then came the band and. fol-
lowing after the Presidents carriage
AS the well-knOwn features of the
Chief Executive of the nation caught
the eyes of that portion of the crowd
located below the Governors residence
the cheers and shouts, which had greet
ed his appearance above that point be
came louder and more enthusia site.
Cheer followed cheer in rapid success
sion. the President meanwhile rising i'm
his carriage and bowling his acknowl-
Judgements to the right and to the left.
at the same time gracefully lifting his
hat to the crowd.
The carriage reached the house
and the occupants alighted. They
were the President. Governor Hill,
Congressman Burleigh and Secretary
Cortelyou. Up the steps they passed
and entered the house. The President
threw genial smile at the newspaper
men, gathered south of the entrance.
as he passed them by. Following
came the members of the reception
committee ana the remaining members
of the Presidential party.
President Roosevelt only remained a
few moments in the house, just long
enough to allow the party to gather,
when he appeared once more at the
door. His appearance was the signal
for another outburst of applause which
lasted until he began to speak. 1t was
a grand welcome from grand crowd
to the popular Chief of the American
people
Congressman Burleigh escorted
President Roosevelt to the stand, which
had been erected at the north end of
the terrace, and they were followed
by Secretary CortelyOu. Governor Hill,
Assistant Secretary Barnes, Hon. Jo-
Seph II. Manley, DR.. George A. Lung,
the Presidential physician. Hon. Len
dali Titcomb. Hon. Selden Common, Hon.
H. NJ. Heath, Hon. Ira H. Randall, DR..
Fred G. Kinsman, Hon. Thomas J.
Lynch and Col. Frederick w. Plaisted.
AS chairman of the reception COM
mittee the duty devolved upon Con-
gresham Bureigh to present the
President to the people. When the
party reached the platform, and the
President moved toward the front, the
crowd cheered in greater volume than
before. Approaching the rail, and,
looking out on the sea of faces before
him, Congressman Burleigh raised his
hand to command silence and spoke
the few words Of introduction. And
then when President Roosevelt adj
vanced to the rail the crowd broke
forth once more in enthusiastic cheers