The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-04-16
At the Exposition on Presidents Day.

Mr.. Editor: We're you in Charleston
! on Presidents or Charlotte day? If
not I will undertake the task to de-
scribe it to you. From every quarter
the people had been pouring in for
more than a day, some of the trains
being so long and full that they could
barely move on dead level after a
halt. The schedule trains were INSULT
cient so there were number Of extras.
The one I went on was an extra
which carried not less than thou
sand people, so I was reliably in
formed.
There we're not fewer than thirty
thousand visitors there Wednesday
morning. It was difficult to secure ac-
commodations in the city. AS result
On Tuesday night some were on the
streets we'll nigh all night. Early the
next morning made my way to the
Exposition grounds, but none too soon
for the vast crowd had begun to move
in that direction, AGAR and afoot.
Transportation was vastly insufficient.
When I arrived at the grounds [ found
that very great company had already
preceded me so that even at that
early hour I found it difficult to secure
a ticket for admission and more so
to pass the gate. Mr.. Sam Boykin
told me it took him two hours or bet
ter to get in. He came at a later hour
and had his girls with him. Once on
the inside what a surging mass OF
humanity presented itself to your eye;
10000 people is not small crowd.
You could scarcely move for them,
all bent on sight seeing. At half past
ten they began to collect round the
auditorium where the president was to
make his appearance. The writer
secured a comfortable seat but the
great majority had to stand. Walks,
promenades, all space was fully taken
up in front and on its either wing by
the immense company We wondered
where the review would take place (:
no space wasssthere for it, The people
were pouring in incessantly, swelling
and swelling the mighty multitude In
front of the auditorium. Expectation
was now on tiptoe. ALL bent on seeing
the president. You know how people
do on such occasions; they will not sit
still. When everybody in front stood
ND on the benches 1 overcome the
difficulty by getting on the back OF
mine, but my, it was tiSesome for we
remained in that position more than
an hour. He came, the President,
after while, and the people seemed
almost Wild with excitement. He
made entrance to the auditorium iby a
side door. Thea began the hard task
of clearing space for the review which
was done with considerable difficulty
and no casualties that Z heard Of.
After time the President came out
and such cheering you never heard.
Then came.the review which was per-
fectly splendid When this was over,
retiring within, where he was to pre-
sent that seven hundred dollar sword
to gallant Jenkins, the President made
stirring and felicitous speech that
heartily wish our people could have
heard. Under great emotion he spoke
with considerable difficulty. It was
evident that he was.a captive, happy
captive. He was pleased with Charles
ton, he was pleased with the people,
with the occasion, 81 have seen few
occasions that enjoyed so we'll" All
the while ne was speaking the people
were speaking through their throats
and by their faces till great love,
fellow feeling, of kindred relation had
sprung up in the midst of which our
Chief Executive exclaimed, eye are
my people, What wave of ap-
plause swept over the audience then.
But l must stop, time will not~~allow
more Hagood.