The Washington times., 1902-10-09

/ DreilaS covered with patriotic emblemS
The largest single post in line was Me
mortal Post. of Cleveland, of which
Senator Hanna is member 1t had 81
men in the parade yesterday and wal
headed by. the Rossini Band
a ladies band, the members of which
wore dark drab uniforms and rendered
inspiring music, was commented upor
favorably as one of the features of the
pageant
In the opinion of the crowds Lafay-
cite Post. of New York, had the fines
| body of men in the line. if such dis
tinction should be made Between vet
Grams. They were in dress uniform. ant
marched in excellent line Rankin
Post. of Brooklyn. also presented an I'D
mirable appearance as did the John A
Dix Post
Famous Generals Greeted.
When the Maine troops turned the
corner of Fifteenth Street, approaching
the White House. General Howard, who
had occupied position on the review
ing stand. left his post and took his
place with his comrades from The Pine
Tree State He was heartily cheered as
he passed. Close behind came the De-
partment of California and Nevada
and marching in the ranks. but con-
spicuous. was General Shafter, of San
tiago fame. He was recognized and
greeted with cheers
i The Vermonters wore green ta1ges.
and each. veteran had a sprig of ever
green in his hat. emblematic OF the
Green Mountain State. North Caro-
lima presented considerable body of
colored troops. as did Maryland.
Now and then in the line marched a
woman. often an army nurse who had
followed the soldiers in time of war
and remained with them still in times
of peace.
Occasionally an ambulance Of the
Hospital Corps dashed by, bearing from
the line feeble veteran who rad been
forced by his inf1rmities to drop out,
but the casualties were few.
General Torrance Fatigued.
General Torrance remained standing
during the entire time the pageant was
passing. Just before the end he be-
came faint from the strain. and came
near a collapse. He was supported by
his comrades, however, and soon recov-
cred without being obliged to leave the
reviewing stand. The strain upon the
reviewers was somewhat relieved dur
ing the afternoon by a dainty luncheon,
served under the direction of Colonel
Staples.
After the various departments had
passed the reviewing stand. he com
manders returned to, the grandstand and
assisted General Torrance in the re-
view. Conspicuous among these was
Gen. Grenville VI. Dodge, who headed the
contingent from Iowa. He was erected
with applause, and was warmly re-
ceived by General Torrance.
Estimates of the Crowd.
According to the word of numerous old
the crowd which watched
the parade of the Grand Army yester-
day was the largest which has gathered
in the Capital City since the civil war.
Some go even further and say it was the
greatest gathering, in numbers, in the
history of the city. Certain it is that
hundreds of thousands of people were
banked in solid masses along the line of
march. The space between the ropes and
the curbs on the sidewalks was packed
with men and women. who either could
not get into the stands or who could not
afford tickets. From every available
elevation people stood on tiptoe and
watched the procession of veterans.
The buildings along the line of march
seemed to be bursting with humanity.
Every window was crowded with heads
From the roofs of every structure APP
peared row of forms, which belonged
10 the hundreds of the more daring
spirited who were willing 10 assume the
risk Of a high post in order TO get
good view Of the ceremonies. The little
parks formed by the intersection of the
lettered ana numbered streets with the
Avenue were crowded, the spectators
standing on curbs. clinging to the stat
ues, and swinging to the chains about
the fountains
Like Flies on a Wall
AT the Treasury building people clung
to the available projections until they
looked like dense swarm of flies on
a wall The spaces between the great
columns were packed, the steps were
damned. and the windows contained an
average OF dozen heads each. The
same condition prevailed at the South
ern Railway Building and the PostofIice,
as well as at the buildings of every pri-
vate party or concern. Along the lower
part Of the Ayenue were rows and rows
Of balconies. which were rented out by
the proprietors to eager spectators. At
Sixth Seventh, Ninth, and Fourteenth
Street and New York Avenue hundreds
Of people sat on the tops of the block
AIDED street cars or occupied positions
Of vantage on wagons which had been
caught in the crash
From above the heads of this vast
.hrong. over the ranks OF the marching
veterans. waved the most artistic and
Drofuse decorations the city has seen
N several years. Every store front
was draped in the national colors. over
he line of march were suspended enor-
nous flags fastened to ropes which |
g,.Z,. 81 81
o the other. The hundreds of thousands |