The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-09
NO SIGNS OF DEcREPITUDE IN
THE G. A. r. MEN AS
THEY MARCH
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND
OF THEM ON PARADE
Utmost Measure of Popular Enthusi-
asm Aroused by the Appearance OF
the "Boys in Embellishments Fea-
lures of the Procession, Which Is
Reviewed by President Roosevelt.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. 8.-For
more than six hours today the people
in Washington hummed the chorus OF
the Civil war song, tramp,
tramp, the Boys are marching" and
during those hours the veterans con-
stitutfng the Grand Army of the Re
public, made good that claim. The pa
rade was the climax of the thirty sixth
encampment of the order. The occa-
sion was in every way worthy of the
Grand Army and the parade did not
fail appropriately to delineate the
spirit of the war and the memory OF
glorious achievements the army seeks
to keep green in the minds of the
American people,
Beginning at few minutes past 10
o'clock, when the head of the column
moved from it's station at the capitol,
it was almost o'clock when the last
squad in the line had passed the place
of disbandonment west of the White
house. None of the soldiers were
marching any great part of the time,
for the entire line of march did not
exceed two and half miles In length,
but those who composed the rear de-
tachments were on their feet pract1-
cally all day, much of the time being
consumed in waiting to take their
places in the line. The route of the
parade was down historic Pennsyl-
vania avenue, along which many OF
them marched as raw recruits in 1861
and 1852, and many others on the occa-
sion of the grand review after the
close of the war in 1865. The partic1-
pants in the imposing pageant entered
with life and vigor into the spirit OF
the occasion. Each countenance bore
evidence of the joy the experience
brought to the individual, but 1t was
evident that there was in the occasion
much of the restoration of youth for
most of them.
Old Are Young Again.
The "old boys" for the time being
evidently were reliving the days of
their youth. Not many of them exhib-
fted traces of age in their marching.
Almost without exception they walked
along with alacrity and kept step with
precision.
If the veterans had needed any spur
to their enjoyment, they would have
found it easily in the crowds who
thronged their pathway and in the
smile which Providence bestowed upon
them, for the weather was perfect. The
spectators were limited in numbers
only by the capacity of the broad side
walks, stands, parks, windows, house
tops along the line of march. The
government buildings and the schools
were closed for the day and practi-
cally the whole population Of Wash
ington turned out to do honor to the
veterans, along with the hundred thou
sand visitors to the city.
The crowd was enthusiastic and out
! spoken in admiration, greeting every
| division Of the procession with cheers
and dismissing 1t with "god speed"
that had in Ut both praise and feeling.
The president Of the United States
also lent his energies to the entertain
| ment of the capitals guests. Unable
to endure the strain of reviewing the
column from the stand, he rose from
his reclining chair and rode up and
down the line. The unusual interest
thus manifested was appreciated by
the old soldiers and the president was
everywhere received by them with
loud applause
More than five hours time was con-
sumed by the procession in passing the
reviewing stand in front of the White
in line, and the estimate Of Comman-
der-in- Chief Torrance ran as high as
10000 men. Tonight the veterans held
camp fires in the big tents in the
White lot.
Personnel of the Procession.
The procession moved in the order
prescribed by Chief Marshal General
A. Noel Brakeman. 1t was preceded by
platoon of splendidly mounted police,
and this was followed in turn by
| drum corps, composed of survivors of
| the Civil war musicians. Then came
mounted escort of citizens of Wash
| ington, with whom rode Gen. Blake
man, reSplendent in dress and SOL
dierly in bearing. He was accompanied
| by his aids riding in files of eight front,
and these were followed by the marine
band, whose familiar music elected fire.
| quently cheers from the crowd.
/ Gen. Ell Torrance, commander-in in
| chief, occupied a carriage. He was pre-
| ceded by his personal escort, consist
ing of John A. Rawlins, post of the
| department of Minnesota, and accom-
! panied by his personal staff, consist
| ing of Quartermaster Burrows Assist
| ant Adjutant General B. H. Warner,
| Judge Advocate General Duffield, In
spector General Wetherbee, Junior
| Vice Commander O'Donnell, Chaplain
Boyle, Surgeon General Thrall, Senior
Vice Commander McElroy and the ex-
| ecutive committee of the Grand Army,
| Immediately followed by the escort of
| the Grand Army, consisting of the First
1 NJ 4of