The Springfield herald., 1905-03-10
A BRILLIANT PAGEANT
AT RoosEvEL7's INAUGURATION

Fine Weather for once-immense
Crowds of Visitors from All Sec.
tions-Most Impressive lnaueura.
tion Ever Witnessed.
Washington. March 5.-The most
brilliant and impressive Inauguration
ceremonies which the citizens of Wash
ington have ever prepared has passed
into the history of the Republic. Theo-
does Roosevelt did not ride to the cap
itol, hitch his horse to shade tree, en-
ter the building and take the oath of
office, booted and spurred. The tradi-
tional Jeffersonian simplicity was re-
placed by pageant which has not
been surpassed in the annals OF the Ma
tion. 1t was the first national inau-
guration since the Civil War The
South sent up its warriors and its state
officials. Men who fought each other
for years under different flags. men
who fought together in the war with
Spain under one flag; executive Off
GERS of the state who upheld the stars
and bars, and those who stood for the
flag of the Union. marched together In
review before their common President
"a soldier of the Republic. Fully
1000 visitors gazed with wonder and
enthusiasm at the districts handiwork
for hc.oring its President during the
day. The night was notable for the
unequaled splendor of the inaugural
ball and the wonderful display of fire
works.
Promptly at 1 O'Clock the President
entered his carriage at the White
house and with detachment of his old
regiment, the famous Rough Riders,
commanded by Col. Alexander Brodie.
riding on either side as his personal es-
cort, started for the capitol to take
the prescribed oath as the Nations
chief executive.
Behind the Rough Riders were the
carriages of the vice president and ot
the Cabinet, and then came a re-
minder of the grim past. detachment
of picked veterans of the Grand Army
of the Republic, whose gallant step be-
lied the gray locks and spare form OF
the old soldiers.
They led a detachment Of veterans
of the Spanish-American War, of men
who had taken part in the famous
march to Picking and of soldiers who
had campaigned in the jungles of the
Philippines.
Closing the escorting column came
veterans of the regular army and navy,
the whole veteran organization led by
Mai. Gen. o. o. Howard Of Civil War
fame 30
The President and his escort moved
along the avenue at foot pace. owing
to the presence in the column Of the
dismounted veterans, to the Senate
wing Of the capitol.
In the presence of as many OF his
fellow citizens as could be crowded
into the Senate chamber. Charles War
rem Fairbanks was at high noon yes
terday inducted into the ONCE OF vice
president Of the United States. The
solemn and impressive ceremony only
only occupied about FIVE minutes. the
oath being administered by Senator
Frye as president pro tepa.of the Sen
ate.
After reaching the capitol the Pres
ident devoted some time to signing
bills and closing the business OF the
session.
The windows of the capitol were
crowded; there was deep fringe OF
spectators along the roofs of the Sen
ate and House and the dome. The trees
Of the park were loaded with boys and
men; the broad acres of the park itself
were crowded with thousands upon
thousands.
With the appearance of the Presi-
dent from the Senate chamber the
shouting began, swelling into roar
like, Niagara, rising to cyclonic effects
and continuing while the Senate and
members OF the House, the Cabinet,
the Supreme Court, the heads of the
army and navy, ambassadors and min
listers. representatives of every -subor-
dinate branch of the government and a
great company of guests filed out OF
the Senate doors and filled the i'm
mense platform.
At length all was ready for the
crowning ceremony. The sea OF hu-
manity was stilled. The President ad-
yunced to take the oath of office. with
his hand upon the Bible held by the
chief justice he reverently repeated the
oath, kissed the book at the end, and
Theodore Roosevelt became President.
He then delivered his inaugural,
which surprised his hearers by its
brevity. AS the ceremony closed he
was again greeted by the roaring
cheers of the immense throng.
Accompanied by his escort and fol
lowed by troops and civilian paraders.
he started for the White House. 1t
was the most perfect column that ever
marched in an inaugural parade.
u marvel and delight, as indicated by
the continuing tornado of cheers where
1t passed, there were elements OF spe-
cial interest. The Ninth cavalry, that
splendid colored regiment, received
marked attention. The crowds went
wild over the section of Rough Riders.
The scouts from the Philippines and
the Porto Rico battalion excited intense
Interest.
The brigade of cadet battalions from
many states, organized by General
Chaffee, attracted universal attention
and received unbounded applause.
The civic grand division of eight
brigades, in three divisions. made up of
over fifty organizations, was in every
respect better organized than ever be
fore.
Bio Fire at Gunnison.