The Washington herald., 1912-06-09
A Wildly Cheering ThrOng Of
100000 Watches Parade,
Three Miles Long.
FLOATS DEPICT DISCOVERY
Brilliant Procession WsndS Way
Through Broad Streets, Under
Smiling June Skies,

Columbus yesterday afternoon paradet
through the heart Of the National Capt.
tai and passed in review before Presi
dent Taft just after he had unveiled tht
snowy white memorial that graces tht
Plaza Of Union Station in tribute to tbs
greatest discoverer Of all time.
Escorted by Uncle Sans soldiers anC
sailors, including commands representing
every branch Of the military OF the
nation. with nearly twoscore bands I'LL
ing the warm spring air with MARTA
strains, the knights formed a line thret
miles in length and consumed more thar
three hours in passing the Executive re-
viewing box. delighting the swarms oi
humanity that jammed the line Of
march with one OF the most gorgeous
and dazzling pageants ever seen in
Washington.
Three mammoth floats, each drawn by
eight richly caparisoned horses. fanked
by tiny pages and heralds IN gala raj
ment. bearing emblazoned standards and
trumpets, passed through the line OF
march, each float depicting a chapter in
the conquest by Columbus, and the
three chapters relating TO the spectators
the never-to-be-forgotten story Of the
discovery Of the New World, so simply
told in the living pictures that the chill
Was Signal Tribute.
When dusk came the last command
had passed in review and the day time
tributes to Columbus had been paid, the
thousands and thousands who witnessed
the ceremonies acclaimed that no more
fitting day OF memories and honors
could be dedicated to the d!scoverer in
the Capital City Of the greatest nation
in the New World, in which he was the
FIRST white man TO place foot And the
consensus of opinion was that II the
knights who bear his name aimed to
perform the most signal tributes given
any man in the Capital City they sue
ceeded to a degree that cannot but
awaken admiration throughout the civ
ilized world where the name Columbus
is known.
Even nature smiled warmly in her
sweetest mood, and while the thousands
paraded under the sunny skies, the
imaginative pictured just such day in
1892. when the sturdy adventurer first
placed shoe sole in the virgin sands OF
America. Old Sol beamed down in
benedictiOn. and some among the spec
tatOrs could imagine the bright warm
rays falling as a blessing upon the head
and shoulders OF the fearless Genoan as
he bore the standard of Spain over the
new land and claimed it for the gra-
Cious Queen who parted with her most
precious jewels for his venture.
Hardly had the hands of the clock
passed the hour of 3, than Maj. Richard
Sylvester. with an escort Of sixteen pick
ed mounted policemen, forming the van
guard Of the pageant, started the march.
passing slowly east in Pennsylvania
Avenue past the White House. AS they
proceeded with slow and dignihed gait.
the nervous. foam-fiecked mounts pranc-
ed and reared, their nerves set atingle
with the blares of trumpets, fanfares of
ougles, and the louder strains Of the
bands.
Gen. Evans Heads Parade.
Behind the police escort rode Brig. Gen
r. X. Evans, L. S. A, sitting erect and
soldierly on a huge black mount, and
followed by his stan, consisting Of Capt
George V. H. Moseley, L. S. A, chief
Of staff; Mai. Leroy W. Heron, n. G. D.
C; Capt. Paul B. Malone, U. S. A; Capt
Monroe c. Kerth, L. s. A; Capt. James
NJ TIL ID, L S. A; Lieut.. Commander
Needham L. Jones, L. S. n, and Lieut.
Commander Charles F. Fourtney. U. S.
N
Then came Col Joseph Gerard Of the
Fifteenth United States Cavalry, Fort
Myer, at the head OF several companies
Of marines, a battalion of engineers, a
battalion of coast artillery, a squadron
Of the Fifteenth Cavalry, and a battalion
Of the Third Field Artillery from Fort
Myer. Then followed LOO men. form
ing the naval contingent, headed by Capt
Henry B. Wilson, U. S. N. The tars
were headed by the Atlantic Fleet Band,
and included detachments from the Bat
IL E1nrfan nnlnf1
and Delaware.
Behind this military escort, which
marched in company front, reaching from
sidewalk to sidewalk, and covering half
a mile, came the Knights Of Columbus,
thousands strong. garbed in all sorts of
regalia, happy with the festive spirit,
and joyous as boys. The column was
lead by Supreme knight James A
Flaherty, marshal Of the division, with
Capt Harry Coope, adjutant, First In
fantry, n. G. D. c., as chief OF staff.
At intervals between the divisions OF
Knights, marching so close behind each
other that the music Of the band just
passed had hardly ceased before the
next band was heard coming. So close
together were the musical organizations
that the spectators were stirred with the
martial strains throughout the long pa
rade.
Near the heaQ OF the COluInn were lne
Knights with a Boston
band at the head. led by the comedian
Johnny Rae, who entertained the spec
tators all along the route in his brilliant
uniform and long brass baton.
His sallies Of wit caused laughter in
every block, and his antics were as funny
as his acts behind the footlights. The
knights at the head Of the column wore
silk hats, black frock coats, striped trous-
ers, and patent leather shoes with gloves,
each company carrying an emblem.
Cuban Knights Picturesque.
Probably the most picturesque delega-
ton was the one from Cuba, the Knights
Of the island wearing white duck suits,
panama hats, white cloth shoes, and brill
liant purple bands around their left arms.
Behind the Cuban knights was the float
depicting the departure Of Columbus,
showing the discoverer bending over in
q rowboat as IT is being showed from
shore. The principals on the float were
chosen from among the Pennsylvania
Knights, who were the originators Of the
living picture.
The boys band Of St Mary's Industrial
School, In white duck suits and round
white sailors caps, awakened applause
all along the line. Following this band
was the float Of the Massachusetts
depicting the reception Of Co.
'umbus before the Spanish throne. Among