The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-06-24
MILLION GATHER
AT HOLY CITY


ernOOn anu uuTlilS Inc AAShls NthiAp-
ing out under the stars to await the
great climax of the Eucharistic con-
gress.
Traffic brushes were terrific.
Trains moved closely together at
snail pace. Automobiles moved
double file along carefully guarded
one-way highways. Cross-traflic was
not allowed TO interfere.
Railroad stations as far distant rs
East Chicago we're densely popu-
lated with thousands seeking trans
portation to the grounds
The center Of attention, around
which the crowds We're grouped,
was the altar erected on the steps
Of the chapel A red drape aud
canopy was attached to three marble
pillars. The altar faced east Ex'
tending out on either side were the
red draped throngs for the cardinals,
About two blocks in front OF the
altar was a lake, three miles in
circumference, and shaped like an
hourglass.
But II was not I'm size alone that
today's spectacle paid honor 10 the
Eucharistic King. II was The al
most unbelievable reverence displayed
by so great congregation OF peo'
pie that attracted favorable COM
ment from the princes Of the church.
No shouting and loud demonstra-
tions, no cursing of police officers
who struggled valiantly to keep the
crowd within bounds.
But everywhere there was singing
the praises of God; everywhere there
was praying and thanksgiving.
Little children. joyously singing
the age-old chants of the church Of
their fathers, were found every
where on the grounds.
Cripples-some aged and others
children-were wheeled about in
their chairs wherever wheeling was
possible. Other invalids lay on
blankets under the burning rays OF
the midday sun. praying softly and
reverently as the great pageant was
unfolded before their eyes.
Babel StilIed
The great babel OF voices was
stilled almost Immediately as the
procession Of clergymen started
moving from tho chapel and the
princes Of the church took their
places on Cardinal thrones which
fianked the mammoth, specially con.
structed outdoor. altar.
John Cardinal Bonzano. papal
legate to the .Eucharistic Congress,
took his place on a throne one step
higher than the others, signifying
his high ranking as personal rep
resentative OF Pope Plus XI.
Clouds Bring Relief
Clouds, neecy and white-the
color of purity-appeared in the sky
as services started. They brought
relief to the vast congregation
which had been suffering under the
hot sun.
A bit Of a breeze came UP and
tossed out tina flags from their high
standards.
The crowd pressed forward as
fresh thousands were unloaded at
the station just without the
seminary grounds and sought in
vain to reach positions from which
to view the spectacle.
Million Is Conservative
Checkers. who counted the crowd.
said that 100000 people were
scattered along the route OF the pro-
cession before SERVICES started.
Another 100000 packed the roads in
all directions.
"a million people is too con-
sentative an estimate" said John
Prepdergast. who was in charge, OF
the detail OF Chicago police aiding
in handling the crowd. 1.-THE
million number will be exceeded" he
said.
Early arrivals by train and auto
mobile exceeded all anticipations and
calculations OF traffic experts
Many had travelled all night. 9th
ers camped along the highways.
rolled in blankets or sleeping in au-
tomobiles. Their camp fires made a
chain of light extending from the
gates of the seminary TO points sew
eral miles distant. Rockets were
sent up from the grounds at fire.
quent intervals during the night TO
inform the weary pilgrims that their
destination was near
BY sunrise the main road into
the seminary grounds was black
with marching thousands, and out
beyond the gates interurban and
steam trains were discharging their
cargoes of humanity in ever increas-
ing numbers. Automobiles We're
halted at special parking spaces
some distance from the grounds, and
from these directions came thou
sands more.
People Packed
Early arrivals obtained the van.
tage positions on the grounds In the
space between the altar and the
lake. People were packed as closely
together as they could stand In the
space about three blocks square in
the space before the altar.
Then. extending outward like
giant wings from this main body,
were four great groups, on either
side of the two curving roads ex-
tending north and south around the
lake, along which the procession in
which the holy Eucharist will be
carried would mass On the outer