Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-08-14

Park on the Delaware. Steamers left
the wharf every fifteen minutes, and
ON the way we encircled Camden, n.
j., on the opposite side of the river,
and went down past the great Cramps
Shipyards and the plant of the New
York Ship-building Co, where several
large vessels are being constructed,
League Island Navy Yard, forts and
several other places of interest. There
were number of war vessels in the
harbor, among them the battleship
Indiana, which the u. S. Navy de-
partment sent TO Philadelphia in hon.
or of the Elks' reunion, giving the
visitors an opportunity to board the
ship and inspect it thoroughly. There
was also an Italian battleship in the
harbor At Washington Park 10000
Elks were given an old-fashioned
clam bake and sea-food dinner. fol-
lowed with amusements of various
natures.
On Wednesday morning the massed-
band parade was given. 1t was
great sight to see over a thousand
musicians from all parts of the coun-
try march down the street together in
one immense organization, playing
selections written for the occasion,
under the leadership of w. +. Jocher
of Philadelphia Lodge, vino directed
from large tally-ho which moved in
front of the parade. 1t was viewed
by large crowds of people. That after
noon we saw a base ball game between
Philadelphia and Cincinnati, and in
the evening went to. ,.Kieth's new ST.
600, 600 theatre, where we saw fine
vaudeville performance with Nat. M.
Wills as the star.
Thursday was the crowning day of
the reunion, and will long be remem-
bered by those who participated. 1t
was the d4y for the grand parade of
lodges, and from all over the east
came special trains every few moments
loaded with excnrsionists. 1t was the
greatest event of the kind in the his
tory of Philadelphia or the Elks, and
probably of the country. Along the
entire line of march reviewing stands
had been erected over the sidewalks,
and seats readily sold at prices up to
50 EACH Besides this.every available
window and roof was crowded, and on
the sidewalks, along which ropes had
been stretched to keep them back,
were seething mass of people. The
people witnessing the parade was
| 5OO. 900, from which some idea of the
crowd can be gained. The parade
battles description. Neither money
nor effort were spared to excel by the
various lodges participating, and
many Of the uniforms. floats. etc.
were very elaborate and expensive.
From Manila, Honolulu, San Fran
cisco, Seattle, Ell Paso, and from
every nook and corner of the United
States lodges came, many OF them
bringing novel and costly outfits for
the parade. Every lodge participa-
ting had uniforms or floats, and such
display of elegance mingled with
comical costumes has never been
seen before. 1t was grand beyond de-
scription. There were about %. 600
men and 200 bands marching in the
i sah ra
a given point.
The one regrettable feature OF the
grand lodge reunion was the oppres-
sive heat and the record.breaking
number of prostrations on this day.
The heat had been oppressive and the
humidity intense for day or two.
which eliminated in the hottest day
of the year on Thursday. The city Of
Philadelphia and the local lodge hrd
made more complete arrangements r
the care of the people than have ever
been made before for a similar oc-
casion, and the small loss OF life is
accounted for by this fact. At fre-
quent intervals along the line OF
march police were stationed, and
with many of them stood nurses and
physicians Every ambulance in the
city was within easy call, and in
stands built on the telephone poles on
the corners men stood at telephones
, Watching for prostrations and calling
assistance at once. Even before the
parade started the people began to
,, topple over with the heat, and during
the five hours march the ambulances,
police on horseback and on motor
bicycles. as we'll as the physicians
and nurses along the lines, were kept
busy resuscitating patients where
they fell or carrying them quickly tc
the adjacent hospitals. During the
day there were upwards OF foul
thousand prostrations, but fortunately
less than a dozen deaths resulting
therefrom. owing to the preparations
: | ma1e for treating them