The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-03-05


their occupants blocks away, and cars
IN steady streams unloading their
passengers within the prescribed area
from which the unlicensed vehicles
were excluded. The number of con-
veyances Of all kinds was totally in
adequate to meet the demands of the
public.
The scene was one Of remarkable
animation. Those who sought places
maintained running fire Of raillery
and pushed and jostled each other, the
sound of their voices mingling with
the shunling Of feet on the asphalted
plaza. II was a cosmopolitan public,
varied and inclusive, taking in those
who from force Of circumstances and
lack OF opportunity were unable TO
gain desirable places to view the grand
procession that was to follow.
Although the ceremony differ
ed little from those that have
preceded 1t, in the great sea
OF spectators probably there was
q larger number of representative
Americans than any Inauguration has
brought to Washington. The eastern
states were rivslled in point of attend
ance by reason of President Roose-
Velts great popularity in the middle
and far West. Delegations were pre-
sent from every one of the insular pos
sessions. Many of them had never
seen the capitol and, to a large num-
Der, the Inauguration of a president
was wholly strange.
No Decrease Of Interest.
During the hours intervening be-
tween the gathering Of the crowd and
the ceremony there was no letting
get nearer TO the point Of interest. The
passing of uniformed horseman was
sufficient to call forth cheers, although
In some sections the multitude showed
signs Of restlessness. This was true
particularly on the outskirts of the
throng where, pressed by constantly
arriving recruits, many struggled to
get nearer to the point of interest. The
effect uponsthe densely packed multi
tuoe was a continuous surging back
ward and Forward turbulent sea
OF humanity.
The rendezvousing Of the troops
committees and civic societies, enter
tanned the crowd throughout the long
wait incident to the schedule. The va
rious organizations arriving BY differ
ent routes passed into the narrow de-
files which the police kept open, the
brilliant uniforms of the troops, the
bright sashes of the committees and
the rich caparisoning Of the horses
lending themselves TO the kaleido-
scopic, panoramic effect. Cheers up-
on cheers greeted the constantly shift
ing picture.
Big Military Escort.
As rapidly as the troops arrived
they took the position assigned them.
The military escort stretched far to
the left and consisted of all branches
or the service-horse, foot and artil-
lery. To the right were grouped divi-
sion OK state troops and in different
places OF honor the other organiza-
lions took their stand to await the
signal TO move. The tramping of feet.
galloping Of horses, the hoarse orders
from chiefs and marshals. the rattle
OF accoutrements and occasional bugle
calls contributed to a pandemonium
of sound 70 which the public is IN
accustomed at such close range.
The movements Of the gathering
troops and organizations were not all
the crowd had for it's entertainment.
Directly in its front preparations were
in progress for the Inauguration *.
self. A monster stand in the form oil
an open amphitheatre had been erect
ed on a line with the rotunda Of the
capitol and there decorators were en-
gagged in arranging for the ceremony
and ushers busted themselves learn |
ing the sections to be assigned to the
various officials and distinguished
guests.
The stand itself was Of symetrical
proportions, on a differ
ent plan from those used in former
years. For this occasion it had been
built in the fom of g semi-circle in
clining to a level platform on which
was placed a pavilion for the presi- |
dents personal use. The amphithea-i
ire accommodated nearly 1000 per-
sons.
In Brilliant Contrast.
Jutting out from the main entrance
the platform, with its decorations IF
flags, bunting, palms and flowers |
was in brilliant contrast to the naked
purity of the stately capitol, on which,
by act Of Congress no decorative drap-
ing is permitted.
Some time before the beginning of
the inaugural ceremony several thous-
and persons holding tickets emitting
them to seats on the stand began to
take their places. BY IL o'clock, the
human garden, which had f1ourished
In the senate and house galleries, was