New-York tribune., 1905-03-05
ROOSETELT TAXES OATH.
Cheered By the East Thropg In
augurdl .4ddress DeHrered.


tFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAul
Washington. March T. - scene of singular
beauty presented itself when the President and
his escort issued from the great bronze doors Of
the Capitol and strode down the carpeted aisle
to the stand which he was to take the oath
or Office The black storm clouds which a few
moments earlier had hung ominously in the west
mad given place to a flood of sunshine, and in
cldentally the April zephyrs OF the early morn
ing had been converted into a brisk, bracing
breeze
with guidons flying, sa bres and bayonets fash
ing and horses champing their bits, the flower
OF the military establishment of the nation,
placed as to constitute three sides of a hollow
square Of which the Presidential stand made the
fourth presented arms, and cheer went up
from the 1000 spectators who surrounded the
military organizations. The President walked
rapidly down the aisle on the arm of Chief
Justice Fuller and it required unusual effort on
the part of his escort and the Congress COM
mittee TO keep pace with him. Pausing at the
edge of the stand, he surveyed the brilliant
scene and bowed his acknowledgements as the
troops presented arms. Immediately to his left
We're drawn in files of sixteen the West Point
cadets. On his right were the midshipmen from
Annapolis. in the same formation, while directly
opposite the stand was the staff of Lieutenant
of New-York. their bright blue uniforms and
gold presenting a striking contrast to the khaki
of the Rough Riders on their left. To the ex-
treme left were the staffs of the Governors of
the States
Following the President who was attended
by three members of the Congress committee
which earlier in the day had escorted him to
the Capitol, came the vice-Presdent, with
similar escort. Then followed the members of
fIa dIrl~,
preme Court, the Senate and the House, and
finally the Cabinet. Not, however. until Mrs.
Roosevelt and the other members of his family
were seated, close to the platform on which he
stood. did the President cease to search the
crowds that surrounded him. When they were
seated he bowed to Mrs. Roosevelt and took his
seat.
When the entire assemblage had issued from
the Capitol, Chief Justice Fuller. whose white
locks were covered with black velvet skull
cap. stepped forward. and. the President having
divested himself Of hat and overcoat, stood and
placed his hand on the Bible. In voice not
only audible but marked with distinct en-
phasis he repeated after the Chief Justice the
words of the oath, While all about him stood
with barred heads. 1t was precisely O'Clock
when the President laid his hand on the Script
and only a moment later when ne con-
cluded AS he was about to begin his inaugural
address the ushers and Capitol police endeav-
ored to induce the audience to resume their
seats. and, they proving momentarily unsuc-
cessful the President added his voice to their
requests with a please, be seated" spoken
with an emphasis which caused several elderly
women to gasp as they fell into their places.
while men stood not the order of their sitting,
but sat.
For fifteen minutes the President addressed
the assembled multitude in voice which carried
we'll considering the intensity of the wind and
his periods punctuated with enthusiastic
applause. At the close of his remarks four
lively sailors appeared from beneath the stand
and drew with them a convenient staircase,
which they termed the gangplank. Long before
the cheering had died away they had the steps
in place and the Presidents carriage was wait
ing at their foot The President entered his
carriage, drawn by four handsome bays, accom-
panied by Senators Spooner and Lodge and Rep
resentative Dalzell Next came the carriage of
the Vice-President which was occupied by Mr.
Fairbanks, Senator Bacon and Representatives
Crumpacker and Williams.
Squadron A once more assumed its proud posi-
ton at the head of the line, while the Rough
Riders. who rode without sidearms, were drawn
up in line alongside the Presidential carriages;
AS they passed the Rough Riders fell into line
followed by the West Point cadets and the An
and civic organizations constituting the inaug-
ural procession started down the steep hill and
along the avenue toward the White House.
On the third finger of President Roosevelts
left hand during the inaugural ceremonies was
a heavily embossed gold seal ring. The ring
was presented to Mr.. Roosevelt this morning by
Secretary Hay. Instead of a seal, the oval
surface of the ring is receptacle with glass
face. Under the glass is lock of hair cut from
the head of Abraham Lincoln. just after his as
sassination and before his death. While in his
room and waiting for the ceremonies in the Sen
ate chamber to begin, President Roosevelt called
attention to the ring. Secretary Hay, he said
had given it to him with the expressed wish
that it should be at his inauguration
Il am very happy to it," added the
President. land shall always value H. very
highly"
CAPITOL TO WHITE HOUSE