The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-24
LIKE WASHINGTON,
WILSON CROSSES
|CE-JAMMED RIVER.
But He Goes in Cozy
Yacht, Instead of
Open Boat.
REVIEWS PAGEANT
IN ALEXANDRIA
Official Washington Journeys to
Ancient City to Pay Tribute to
Father of His Country-Gov-
ernor Stuart One of
Honor Guests, With
Blues as Escort.

Washington, February 23.--Prcsidcnt
| Wilson to-day crossed the ice -jammed
! Potomac In the naval yacht Sylph, and
| from Il glass Enclosed stand reviewed
civic and military parade in Alex
| andria, Va. which marched through a
snowstorm In honor of the first Presi-
dent of the United States.
] With tho exception of brief exercises
| in the Senate, the national capital turn
ed to Alexandria, in the environmont
| where George Washington had lived,
/ for Its official celebration Of the birth
! day. Vicc-Presdent Marshall laid a
wreath on the tomb of Washington at
Mount Vernon, and, returning to Alex
andria joined the President. members
OF the Cabinet, and Governor stuart, of
Virginia, In watching the parade.
BESIDES the fraternal organizations
! or the city. the fro companies of an
| cient and modern equipment and floats
| showing scenes OF Colonial days, the
army and navy took Il prominent part
IN the pageant. Boy Scouts trudged
I through the snow with the same forti-
| tude as the soldiers while the blizzard
! ragged. Little girls in covered float
! showed schoolroom In Washington's
| time. On blackboard was n drawing
! Of the White House. which amused the
presidential party very much. Hero
| and there in the parade was a black
faced minstrel, n wagon load of equal
| Suffrage advocates, and some children
In grotesque Indian garb.
| Weather conditions interfered consid-
| erably with the plans for the pageant,
and 1t was delayed in starting by the
failure of the President to arrive on
| tmc. the ice in the river making a
| landing difficult.
IT seemed u somewhat hazardous trip
| for the President to make. in view OF
ms susceptibility To colds, but he WAS
in excellent condition to-day, and ar
ranEements were such that exposure
| was reduced to II minimum.
PnssnEc Is Difficult.
| The President left the White House
/ In one OF the big government lmou-
sines, and practically stepped from 1t
| to the gangway of the Sylph. Iio sat
In the yachts coy cabin chatting with
Secretary Tumulty. Representative Car
! lin and high military and naval aides,
while the little boat stcered It's way
| through the Icy river for seven miles
to Alexandria. Ice was thickly jalnmed
around tho wharf. and tho boat had to
swing around several times and grind
| the jam away before 1t could get
! alongside. The President had to climb
over the upper deck OF the vessel to
| n gangway. but was almost instantly in
another limousine. Several troops OF
| United states cavalry escorted him to
the reviewing stand. while twenty
one gun salute was fired by the near
by ships.
The return journey was made in tho
| same way, though the Syiph expert
enced less difficulty with the ice On
| reaching the navy-yard several inches
of snow had fallen. but the White
! House motors easily piowed through
tho heavy drifts and brought the Pres!-
! dent back home In quick time. Tho
| whole trip took less than four hours
Alexandria, Va, February 23-Pres-
ident Wilson and many other distin-
guished government officials are this
afternoon reviewing the big military
nnd civic parade In Alexaudria. In which
! thero are 5000 In line and sixteen
bands. given in honor of the natal day
of Washington by the George Wash
/ ington Birthday Association.
I With spits of snow falling and low
F, erlnG clouds, for awhile things looked
! very bad for the paraders. This, how
ever, did not dampen the ardor or
those participating and the passing lino
was cheered by nearly 10000 persons.
! The President and party. with many
other distinguished guests. numbering
n little more than 100. reviewed the pa
rade from stand inclosed In glass in
North Washington Street, near Oronoco
| Street.
| As the bands passed tho reviewing
stand. where thousands were jammed
patriotic airs were played and the pa
raiders were given q noisy greeting
President Wilson and party arrived
! In Alexandria aboard the Sylph, while
twenty one guns doomed forth front
the naval reserve ship Sylvia. Tho
President and members OF his party
were driven at once to the grandstand
from which they reviewed the parade.
Following the parade they returned to
Washington aboard tho Sylph.
Ovation to Governor stuart.
newly elected Governor. was given a
big ovation along the line OF march,
as was his escort, the crack military
company of the State known as the
| Richmond Light Infantry Blues. who
were the cynosure of all eyes with
their nutty- looking uniforms and big
plumed caps.
The old town early in the afternoon
took on hustle and hustle such as 1t
has not seen In recent years. The
military pardded up and down tho
streets. Bands moved to and FRO play
ing lively airs, and all was excitement.
! Thousands came over from Washing
ton to witness the parade, and each
electric train after the noon hour was
packed to its capacity, Hundreds also
came In from nearby points. and long
before the hour set for the parade tho
streets OF the city were mass OF hu-
manity. There was the tramp of SOL
diers, prancing of horses. and glisteniree
of bayonets, and military to be seen on
all sides.
Tho greatest throng was ON King
street, the main street OF the old town, Il
which was gay with flags and bunting q
for tho occasion. Long vistas of dagsss
also adorned North Washington Sfreee4l