Evening journal., 1919-09-12

full sight on the rear platform while
the train passed through the city. lie
did not descend from the train at all,
the mayor and committee ascending the
car steps, and occupying the station
platform below.
An the .flre apparatus In the city
ilOckcd around the station. Perhaps
The most spectacular decoration was a
big nag suspended high In air, at tho
top OF the ladders Of tho Delaware hook
and ladder truck, cranked erect 10 do
honor TO the General
. Some present on the platform had
been In New York 10 see 1.-THE porshlng
parade and said they got better view
OF the A. =. r. In their home town.
\ composite band. members of the
Musicians Union. from Harlan. Pusey's
and other bands OF The city, led by J.
Norris Robinson. played as The train
arrived and as 10 left The singing Of
America" by The crowd. led by Irving
lC. easier. Communiiy Service Song
leader. had been planned. but time was
too short. Moreover they could not
have been heard for the cheering.
The official delegation included Mayor
TAYLOR. President Lyon and an The city
Councilmcn. an the Public Building
personnel. Mrs. Taylor. Mrs. J. ID. short,
George W. Sparks and a great repre-
senlailOn from Delaware Chapter. or
the Red Cross. The cantcen workers,
motor corps and other bureaus were
I'm uniform. The big Red Cross nag
loated over Them Many railroad Of
ilclals and employees were also on lhe
central platform. The shoriness of the
time for preparation made collection
Of a committee a very hurried matter.
Many Of the public poured across the
tracks 90 The central platform before
the railroad and city cops could stop
them.
There were hundreds of persons with
cameras, professional and amateur. In
the crowd. but most Of them must have
been disappointed in getting even
snapshot.
Automobiles and pedestrians began
pouring into and surrounding French
street station as early as ~ o'clock.
Early In the day temporary gates had
been placed at The entrance 10 both the
north and souihbOund platforms. and
many people were turned away. some
OF these remained and finally gained ad-
mitlance 20 The depot. but many went
home disappointed. Finally an were
permitted 10 mount the stairway, and
soon there was a regular crush. which
required the united efforts or the rail-
road police 90 prevent overlooking on
the tracks. II would be difllcult To es-
tlmaie the number present. but u IS
safe 10 say that there has never been
large gathering Witnessed at the
French street station than was there
today 20 greet General Pershlng.
The mayor and members OF City
Council, together with the band. motor
corps girls and members OF TIE Red
Cross. were given places on the center
platform This led 90 an amusing in
stance at the stopping Of the train.
The gates on lhe side next 10 Front
street were opened and General
Pershlng took his position there TO
greet the committee. The mistake was
not. noticed until the Mayor called TO
the guards on the platform that the re-
ception committee was on the south
side
That no one was hurt In the crush
/ is little less than miraculous. As the
train pulled from The station the crowl
surged over the tracks and toward th'
train Many grabbed the rear Of tn
car and extended hands 10 Genera
Pvrshinq A number OF the more mus
Icular youngsters succeeded IN grasplnl
/ the general by the hand. but as On
trains speed quickened. the police fo
the safely OF the crowd closed In an
kep. ;ha people back. The crush o.
peopie leqs ing .he station after the ifair
liaq was Almost as bad as during th'
reception A number OF people receive
bad bruises
North Philadelphia.
ITO the Mayor and Council Of VII
mlngton Delaware: General Pershing' s
{ train will stop IN Wilmington for a
I few minutes, about 1 o'clock.
"OUECKENEYER.
a. n. c."
This telegram from General Pershing
/ aide was In the hands Of Mayor Taylor
| and President Lyon. Of City Council.
/ shortly after 10 o'clock this morning.
| giving double assurance that General
Pershing would stop In this city. Also.
/ giving the news that the Pershing train
had safely reached Philadelphia on its
way TO Washington.
An exceptional honor has been con-
/ ferred upon the city Of Wilmington
through the promise Of General John
J. Pershing TO have his train stop in
this city" begins the proclamation is
/ sued by Mayor Taylor early this morn
/ ing, when a telegram received at 4
o'clock first made 70 sure that the gen.
eral would stop in Wilmington. The
mayors proclamation called upon every