The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-05
Solemn Function v tness- ed by Thoussds. TENSION OF INTEREST Tremendous 7 Splause Greet
 ed Proceedings. Chief Justice Fuller of Supreme Court Administers Oath to MT. Roese- welt and rwenty-oae Guns
 Roar Salute.

Washington, March 4.-President Roosevelt took the oath of office before 8 vast gathering of the people he has been elected to serve. The attendant scenes were not unusual. Inaugura- tions from the time the east front of the capitol first became the setting for the ceremony have been much the same Many of the central figures have of ficiated in like capacity on other oc- casions when Presidents have acceded to the highest office in the gift of the American people. Chief Justice Full Ter, in administering the oath, repeated a solemn function he has performed four times-today his last Yet, with all this repetition. nothing was faded and everything appeared new.
 The great crowd assembled for the crowning event of a day full of features, canot be estimated even by comparison. It extended far beyond the reach of the voice and was so densely packed as to carry the stage out of the sight of many. The capi- tol plaza, resourceful in accommodat- ing the thousands eager to view the ceremony was completely filled. Peo- pie came by its numerous streets and avenues, which. like so many yawning. ravenous maws, greedily swallowed the throng until every coign of want age was occupied. The trees, barren of foliage, carried their human burdens on limbs capable of bearing the weight of man or boy, and so far away as the terraces and marble steps of the libra ry of Congress thousands stood.
 Spectators Sought Positions. Hours before the ceremony could be expected to take place the people sought the most advantageous posi- tions. They came by every means of conveyance, carriages dischargipg their occupants blocks away, and cars in steady stream unloading their pas sengers 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 Ire of raillery and pushed and tostled each other, the sound of their voices mingling with the shuffling of feet on the asphalted plaza. It 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 differed lit- tie from those that have preceded it, in the great sea of spectators proba- bly, there was a larger number of rep resentative Americans than any inau- guration has brought to Washington. The Eastern States were rivalled in point of attendance by reason of Pres ident Roosevelt's great poularity in the middle and far West. Delegations were present from every one of the in- sular possessions. Many of them had never seen the capitol, and to a large number. the inauguration of a Presi- dent was wholly strange.
 Tension of Interest.
 During the hours intervening be- tween the gathering of the crowd and the ceremony there was no letting down of the tension of interest. The passing of a 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 ar- irving recruits, many struggled to get nearer to the point of interest. The effect upon the densely packed multi tude was a continuous surging back ward and forward-a turbulent sea of humanity.
 The rendezvousing of the troops,
  tained the crowd throughout the long wait incident to the schedule. The various organizations arriving by diff ferent routes passed into the narrow defiles wl<ch the police kept open, the brilliant rtpiform of the troops, the bright sashes of the committees and the rich caprisoning of the horses lending themselves to a kaleidoscopic. panoramic effect. Cheers upon cheers OrQ ture.
 As rapidly as the troops arrived they took the position assigned to them. The military escort stretched far to the left and consisted of all branches of the service-horse, foot and artiI- lery. To the right were grouped di- vision after division of State troops and In different places of honor the other organizations took their stand to await the signal to move. The tramp ing of feet, galloping of horses, the hoarse orders from chiefs and mar shals, the rattle of accoutrements and the occasional bugle calls contributed to a pandemonium of sound to which the public Is unaccustomed at such close range.
 Inaugural Preparations.
 The movements of the gathering troops and organizations were not all
 
 Directly in its front preparations were In progress for the inauguration itself | A monster stand in the form of an open amphitheatre had been erected on line with tho rotunda of the cap itol and there decorators were engaged in arranging for the ceremony and ushers busied themselves learning the sections to be assigned to the various officials and distinguished guests
 The stand itself was of symetricaI architectural proportions on a differ ent plan from those used in former years. For this occasion 1t had been built in the form of a semi-circle in- to level platform on which was placed a pavilion for the Presl- dents personal use The amphitheatre accommodated nearly 1000 persons. Jutting out from the main entrance the platform, with its decorations of 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 draping is permitted.