Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-28


Within five minutes after the conclu-
sion OF his speech he was seated in the
private dining rooms together with
about 20 of Pres. Bears guests.
Among those i'm the party in addition
to the President We're Coy. and Mrs
HILL Sec. Cortelyou, Asst. Sec. Barnes
Senator Hale. Congressman and Mrs
Burleigh. Congressman Littiefield. Com
gresham Powers, Mayor and Mrs
Engel. Gen. and Mrs. Farnham. Prss.
and Mrs. Beal and others. II was .
O'Clock when the party had finished and
80 minutes later the start for the fair
grounds was made.
AT THE FAIR GROUND.
1t was just 2.30 when the procession
of the Presidents party was formed in
front OF the Bangor House for the start
to the fair ground.
The addition to the party was the
Bangor Band, which furnished music
on the way TO the grounds. As the
party proceeded down Main street if
was the same hearty welcome which
had characterized the morning ride
Where so many people could have come
from is a mystery. Seven boats from
down river did their best in the i'm
portation Of visitors into the city. Then
the electrics brought throngs from
neighboring towns and cities, to say
nothing of special trains in addition to
the regulars, run by both the Maine
Central and Bangor & Aroostook Rail-
roads.
But at the fair grounds. Here was
where the multitudes were. Why, the
mass of people there made the crowds
along Main street look like a plugged
quarter. There was so many massed
within the enclosure that at times the
high board fence would give a little
and threatened to burst and let the
people outside pour in. 1t is estimated
that there were fully $4,000 people on
the grounds.
A painful watch was kept by the ex-
Dectants for the first glimpse of the
beloved President. Several times a
number of the people would have opti-
cal illusions as to the approach of the
party, and then such a craning of
neckl 1t seems as if the people would
have to utilize all the oils and liniments
on sale at the grounds in order to bring
their necks back to normality.
There they comet" exclaimed a very
tall man. who from his vantage ground
had been able to catch a squint of the
mounted police that initiated the party
Then such a pushing. crowding and
jamming. Fat folks suffered more or less
while the thin mortal had handicap over
his fellow men and was able to squr1n
into the front ranks. AS the party passed
n "a aptr IN l.,
such cheer went up that the glass in the
windows of the Journal building fairy
quivered and threatened to fall out. sash
and all. Then cheer went vibrating up
the grounds and was taken up afresh as
a new squad sighted the carriages How
the guns doomed, fired by Paines Tire-
works Co., for this was a courtesy az
ranged by President Beal of the fair. AS
the Presidential conveyance entered tie
track he was greeted with a new out
burst of enthusiasm. Cheers upon cheers
and cries of Roosevelt, Roosevelt
dinned the air. 1t was a royal greeting,
full of cordialty of feeling and the way
they let loose their feelings at his APP
pearance was good to see. Hats were
thrown into the air, the guns doomed,
completely drowning out the band which,
too. was playing its hardest in honor of
the occasion.
The President smiled his response and
was kept busy bowling and raising Ills
hat in recognition to his generous ovation.
The people simply outdid themselves and
sore will be thousands of throats, tonignt.
Well may it be so, for they arose to the
occasion with that display of enthusiasm
which a people only could give who hold
their President in tender esteem and love.
President Roosevelt certainly looked
pleased at the greeting he was recei,ing.
He alighted from his carriage ut the
gaily decorated arch which had been
erected at the entrance to his stand IpGn
the track.
His appearance upon the elevated stag"
in the middle of the platform was the sig
nal for another burst of thunderous ap-
plause Following the entrance of Pres-
dent Roosevelt and Mr.. Beal to the plat
form. the members of the party in the
other carriages alghted and took their
places on the stand.
The Presidents platform was directly
in front of the grand stand. 1t is IS feeJ
long. Is feet wide. In the center Is 4
raised stage four feet higher than the
main platform. and ii was here that Pres
ident Roosevelt with President Beal. SEN
ator Hale. and others. sat during the ~
ternoon. The President was covered With
an awning but the rest Of the platform
was exposed.
The decorations were arranged under
the direction of Mrs II. +. TIbbetts, wife
of Chief of Police Tibbetts, and consisted
of red white and blue bunting tn Silly
arranged. and festoons of evergreen lang
from the sides of the stage. Gay BAN
ners and flags We're suspended from III :
Presidents stand to the grand stand.
After few introductory remarks by
President Beal to the grand stand he III.
troduced Senator Hale. His reception
was also most cordial. Senator Haze
made a welI-chosen and appreciative adj
dress to the people and then introduced
the Chief Executive of the United states,
President Theodore Roosevelt.
If such a thing was possible. the storm
of applause which greeted him eclipscd
all other attempt. After a few remarks
TO the people relating to the crowding and
pushing of each in the mad endeavor to
get nearer the President, he said:
am glad to greet the farmers of
Maine. During the century that has
closed the growth of industrialism has