Omaha daily bee., 1909-03-05
Blue JACKETS BURN EN- UP
Returned Sailors Of the Great Fleet
Win the Big Crowds.
THOUSANDS MARCH IN SNOW
~Glimpses of noted and UnIaue Or
Ea~ntsations seen AmonE Thirty
Thousand Marcheru In the
inaugural Parade.
BULLETIN.

BULLETIN.
WASHINGTON. March A-By > p. m. a
large street cleaning force mad cleared the
central part OF Pennsylvania avenue OF
snow, which. in anticipation Of the parade,
has been completely choked with thou
sands who had gathered in spite Of the
slush.
WASHINGTON. March A-ln spite OF
sleet and snow thousands OF march
ms men participated today in the
great military and lcivic pageant, which
constituted the principal spectacular fea-
ture Of the presidential inaugural ceremony.
Approximately 1900 OF these were soldiers,
sailors and marines of the military estab-
lishments of the United States, bodies OF
the national guard OF many states, with
large contingents of spruce cadets and
midshipmen from the national military and
naval academies.
Numerically. the inaugural parade today
was not so large as that which marched
along historic Pennsylvania avenue from
the capitol to the White House when
Grover Cleveland. the only democratic
president OF the United States since the
civil war. was indicted into office the first
time. Tit parade today, however, had a
distinctive and impressive quality which no
similar pageant ever possessed. This year
each state represented sent the cream Of its
citizen soldiery and the finest of its civic
OF organizations to do honor to William How
ard Taft and James schoolcraft Sherman,
the new president and vice president of the
United States.
Dazzling Lane of white and Green.
Lining Pennsylvania avenue from the
capitol to the White House were immense
stands for spectators and many were oc-
cupied in spite of the storm.
Every vantage point in window
and on house-top was taken when the head
of the magnificent column of thirty odd
thousand men swung around the curve at
the Peace monument and Strengthened out
for its more-than-a-mile-lon march to,
through and beyond the brilliant Court OF
Hchor.
Almost every person or the sidewalks
or in the buildings along the route of
the parade carried a miniature star
spangled banner, attached to a golden staff.
These were waved with right good will
and no better evidence Of the patriotism Of
the American people and the popularity of
the new president and vice president could
have been afforded than the reception
which greeted the organizations as the pro-
cession swept down the sn~ow-covered
street.
After Major General j. Franklin Bell, the
grand marshal of the parade, accompanied
by his brilliantly uniformed staff, had
passed and been accorded a vociferous
greeting, the crowds settled down, with fine
discrimination, to applaud those organisa-
tons which appealed most distinctly TO
them.
Sailors Held Heart Interest.
In previous inaugural parades the mid
shipmen from the Naval academy, at Ann
apolis and the cadets from the Military
academy at West Point have won the
greatest popular approval. Today they
were no less favorites than formerly
among both residents and visitors, but in
heart interest they were eclipsed by the
detachment Of $500 sailors from the great
fleet of American battleships now anchored
in the waters of Hampton Roads. Just re-
turned from their world-enclrcling, epoch
making cruise of fourteen months. Tanned
these men were by tropical suns, 1.-the,
active and hard as nails through the rigid
lty of their work and discipline, and as
! they marched down the flag-flecked lane,
with the sailor mans quick, active step, to
the accompaniment OF inspiring music from
their own bands, the throngs became nearly
historical in the manifestation OF their
( appreciation. AS they swung along in
lively, happy fashion, accustomed now as
they are to the adulation OF thousands,
they were evidently pleased with the deep
chested roar that greeted them from the
open threats of a 10000 Americans-their
fellow-countrymen. In this way did the
American people, as represented In the ma
tion's capital, express their pride in the
men who. in time of peace, had won I'M
dying fame in far-off countries.
These men behind the guns" furnished
merely one of tho interesting features of
the parade. Eighteen governors of as many
states, who had journeyed to Washington to
do honor to the nations chief executive,
appeared in the pageant surrounded by
handsomely caparisoned stats. Silk-hatted,
frock-coated and disnffied, these men.
chosen beyond their fellow citizens, were
accorded everywhere a cordial reception
by the cheering crowds.
Veterans and V~olunteers.
There was tremendous applause, too, for
all organizations. civil and military, in the
line. Among them several regiments of
khaki-clad soldiers OF the United States
army. only recently returned from Cuba,
and other regiments that have won honor
in wars and In plains fighting with In
dams, attracted notable attention. Among
the state troops were attachments of the
National Guards of Connecticut, Florida,
Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland,
Missouri, Minnesota, New York, New
Jersey. Ohio. Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Some of the more distant states sent sew
eral companies OF their guard. while most
Of them were represented by regiments, and
Maryland ana Pennsylvania by brigades.
The famous Troop A, OF Cleveland, o., a
national guard organization, constituted the
special guard OF honor to President Taft,
as It had to the late President Mckinley.
Maryland's representative included the his
toric Fifth regiment of Baltimore, and Vir-
Einia had in line the Richmond Blues. a
light infantry organization that rendered
conspicuous service, on many occasions.
During the civil war It rendered service to
Lee and stonewaIl Jackson for the confed-
eracy. It was mustered In for the Spanish
war. but did not get to the front.
south Back TO its own.
Among other noted military organizations
in the parade were the Richmond Hussars,
a cavalry command of Augusta, Ca, and
the cadet regiment from the Virginia Mill
tary lnstitute. popularity known as The