The Topeka state journal., 1903-05-02
Topeka. April 27. 1893.
The Bearer of this.
BRO. THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
is a member in good standing of
the local Union No. 3, Kansas,
2. & NJ. J. u. OF AMERICA.
W T. M'KNIGHT.
Financial Secretary.

AS tire president read it his character
istic whole hearted smile suddenly
spread over his face and he thrust the
card vigorously to a place of safe-keep-
ing in the bottom of his pocket. Later
he fshed it out to show to two union
masons who aided in the physical work
of laying the corner stone
1t was a great audience which faced
the president as he appeared to lay the
corner stone at seven O'Clock Last even
ing. an hour after the schedule time.
1t is estimated that more than fifteen
thousand people witnessed the cere-
rnony The center of Fourth street from
the Santa Fe depot to the front of the
new building, a block away, was roped
off and kept free OF everything eXeept
the fourteen carriages in which the
presidential party was to ride 10 the
COPELAND. and the Topeka city troop.
In front of the platform were massed
ar. acre or more of people 1t stretched
away across the Santa Fe tracks on
the south side of the street was another
vast crowd and Fourth street west OF
the Santa Fe tracks, q block away from
the platform, was packed.
The tops of all surrounding buildings
and cars were crowded, and numerous
cameras We're planted on these roofs,
waiting for a chance to shoot the
president. The branches of the trees
were pressed into service. and the cross
light pole 80 and 40 feet in the air.
swarmed with linemen.
1t was an unusually good-natured
crowd It began collecting about 4:30
o clock, an hour and half before tne
president was scheduled to arrive, and
as his train was an hour late, some OF
the crowd stood there for two hours
and a half. But no lmpatience was
manifest. There was great eagerness
To see the president, of course but the
crowd was not cross" Those in charge
did everything possible to keep the
crowd entertained The Santa Fe shop
quartet sang and was followed by the
Clehurne Texas, Glee club, which
aroused a great deal of enthusiasm by
singing a song praising the Santa re-
C. A. johnson, a scale inspector OF the
Delaware & Hudson River railroad at
Albany, N Y, gave seiectlon on
French horn, and G. j. lorch, W a.
hash man from Decatur. Ill, played
co4net solo. Then Engineer Lewis OF
Dennison, Texas. with voice nke d
bell sang a religious railroad song
wh1--- thrilled every person VINO HeatI z-i.'I =
if These songs were interspersed with
selections by the Knights OF pythlaS
band. At one time the band played
Nearer NY God, to Thee, and those
on and around the platform. under the
leadership of c. B. Willis of Milwaukee.
began to sing it. Those further out took
m the strain. Still the circle of music
spread. and gradually the volume OF
voices rose from those lhOusahuS "
people. 1t was indeed inspiring
The crowd did not know what made
the president late nor how late he was
and every ear VAS stralnlng TO eaten
fine first boom of the cannon of battery
p which should announce the arrival OF
the presidents train in North Topeka.
The fact is the train was an hour late
in leaving Kansas City. It was just
6.4e o'clock when the sound came
ssROont' the cannon roared and then
the crowd cheered. Again and again the
cannon doomed until the Presidents sa-
lutte of q guns had been fired
Every eye strained 10 catch the first
elin1Dse of the presidential train as 1t
came through the Santa Fe yards. and
as the engine. gaily decorated, appeared
cheer after cheer went up The train
pulled slowly through the mass of peo-
Dle until the rear car of the six Pull
mans had crossed Fourth street. A mo-
nent later the president appeared and
he and his party We're conducted
through the vacant space kept clear by
the ropes and a patrol Of Kansas Ma
tional Guards to the platform erected
for the corner stone laying AS he came
to the front Of the platform the cheering
became louder than ever. and the pres
ident snilingly bowed his acknowledge
naents. It was at this point that Colonel
McCCek handed him his card in the
Bricklayers' and Masons' International
unior
H. L. Nudge. general manager of the
Santa Fe, presided over the ceremonies.
He had a silver trowel made specially
for the occasion. with which the presf-
dent was to do his work. Rev. H. II.
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