Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-02-23
TODAY'S PARADE.
An Imposing Pageant-Genuine En-
thuiasm - Long-to-be-remembered
Event-Gala Day I'm Alexandria.

An Imposing Pageant-Genuine En-
thuiasm - Long-to-be-remen1be
Event-GaIa Day In Alexandria.
The 1908 celebration of Washington's
birthday is now q thing of the past, so
far as the pageant is concerned, but the
aftermath will come tonight when ban
auets and reunions will be the final
acts. There will be many pleasant
memories in connection with the event.
The visitors have been cordially received
and entertained and all have We'd to
render each and every one perfectly at
home. The organizations from other
cities which formed part of the parade
entered into the affair with spirit, while
the hearts of the Alexandrians were
equally filed with enthusiasm.
In parade of the dimensions OF that
which moved through the streets today
it is a hard matter to specify which
organization had gone to the most trouble
to aid in making the affair a success.
Suffice it to say that all acted W ell their
respective parts and there was nothing
to criticize.
At the meeting of the Friendship
Company last night arrangements were
made for bringing their time-honored
apparatus out. 1t was determined to
have the engine pulled by four
horses, as many colored residents acting
as grooms, and that about dozen
youths be in line with antique fire
buckets. The members of the company
concluded to appear in capes and fire
hats. They attracted mucn interest
from the spectators.
The Hydranlion members were attired
in blue shirts, black pants and white
fire helments.
The members of the Relief Hook and
Lader Company wore cream-colored
shirts with the hook and ladder worked
across the breast, black trousers and black
hats.
Red shirts, back trousers and white and
gold hats distinguished the members of
the Columbia Company.
The paid-members of the department
were attired in regulation blue suits.
The indications yesterday were for
fair and mild weather today. During
Saturday night the wind came out from
the northwest, lowered the temperature
and cleared the sky of clouds and this
morning broke pleasant, clear and crisp
ideal weather for a parade.
The animation began at an early hour
and the streets were soon thronged with
young and old. There was joy in the
air and it was contagious. King street
was in holiday attire and the tasteful
decorations on the buildings swayed with
the breeze. On many other streets
buildings had also been adorned for the
occasion. National emblems could be
seen in every direction, and in most
cases considerable taste had been dis
played in this feature of the occasion.
Members of the various committees
were busily at work making the final
preparations for the parade.
During the early morning hours trains
and boats began to land people in the
city, and by noon the floating population
was dense. The chief marshal and his
aides were riding from point to point
making final inspection and preparing
the city for the rise of the curtain.
Company H, of the 10th Regiment
Capt. Thompson, of Richmond, reached
here shortly after noon yesterday via the
Washington Southern Railway. The
visitors were met by the Alexandria
Light Infantry, under Lieut.. Thomas b.
Cochran, and escorted to their quarters
in the Braddock House. This company,
with Company L, of Fredericksburg,
and Company G, of this city, the pro-
visional battalion of the Seventieth Regi-
ment, Virginia Infantry, served as the
military escort to Gov. Montague.
By last night all Of the arrangements
for the entertainment of the visiting or
CARNATIONS had been completed The
bands, troops and marines were quar-
tered at the Alexandria Light Infantry
armory, with the exception of the Rich
mond company mentioned above. The
visiting Red Men were cared for at the
City Hotel by Osceola Tribe, of this
city. The regiment of Knights of Pyth-
las from Washington were the guests of
Rathbone Division, at Pythian Hall, on
north Pitt street. The Junior Order of
American Mechanics were entertained by
the two local councils at Sarepta Hall.
The Mechanics made fine appearance.
They carried red, white and blue UNI
brellas.
Two hundred machinists from the
Washington navy yard were in line.
They were the guests of the Alexandrians
who are employed in the navy yard.
The members of the chemical engine
company from Washington were quar-
tered at the Hydraulion engine house, on
north Patrick street, where they were
handsomely entertained. The new Ho-
tel Rammel, on north Royal street, had
been tastefully decorated and three
rooms on the second floor were fit
ted up for the convenience and comfort
of the visiting newspaper representa-
tives, who viewed the parade from
that point.
Major William NJ. Smith, the chief
marshal, last night entertained the Off
GERS of the Seventeen Regiment at his
residence on Prince street, and they will
be his guests today. Tonight the Off
GERS of all the visiting military and naval
organizations will be the guests of the
Alexandria German Club at a german in
McBurney's Hall.
The train bearing Governor Montague
and his staff reached the Fayette street