Evening star., 1933-03-05
TRAFFIC ENGULFS
INAUGURAL BALL
TangIe Follows TangIe as
Dancers Converge on
Auditorium.

Despite the best efforts of approx
mately 100 policemen, traffic in the
vicinity of the Auditorium, scene Of the
inaugural ball, last night tied itself into
one knot after another as the officers
blew their whistles and yelled them
selves hoarse.
Although the ball was not scheduled
to start until 10 o'clock, automobile and
pedestrian traffic began moving on the
Auditorium more than 2 hours earlier.
BY $50 sidewalks for blocks around
we're thronged and automobiles jammed
the streets from curb to curb.
Under the direction Of Inspector B. A.
Lamb, head of the Traffic Bureau, and
Capt. Edward j. Kelly, third precinct
commander, the policemen did their
best to keep both automobiles and Pc
destrians moving without let-up.
Converge on Auditorium.
So great was the congestion in all
parts of the downtown section. how
ever, that the officers were able to
keep the Auditorium traffic moving only
in fits and starts. From all direc-
tions. motorists and pedestrians con-
verged on the Auditorium-many to at
tend the ball, many others only in the
hope Of catching glimpse OF some OF
the celebrities crowding through all
entrances to the building.
From $3.50 to 10:45 the cars con-
tinued to come-big cars, little cars,
pretty cars, ugly cars. Private ma
chimes were in the minority, most Of the
guests preferring to solve the parking
problem by using taxicabs. The con-
gestion was increased immeasurably by
cruising cabs, which circled the Audi
tOrillm time and again
After a while. though, the policemen
began to recognize the same faces and
they ordered the hackers to get out Of
the neighborhood.
Watch for Pickpockets.
Uniformed officers and plainclothes
men moved about on the sidewalks, the
former keeping path clear Tor those
attending the ball and the latter con-
tenting themselves by keeping on the
lookout for pickpockets.
Although it was plainly advertised for
days in advance that admission would
be by ticket only, many optimistic souls
showed up at the last minute, confident
they could get in. That some Of them
did get in was due only to the fact
ticket spectators had foreseen such a
situation and were on hand prepared to
take care OF It.
So much whistle blowing was neces-
sary to keep the automobiles moving up
to and away from the various en-
frances in good order that the officers
assigned to this job had to work in
shifts 1t was like foot ball game in
q way-a lieutenant or sergeant tap
ping one of his men on the shoulder
and ordering him to relieve so-and-so;
then the substitute running out into
the street, thumbing the whistle
blower to the sidewalk and taking up
the footing himself.
Cars Move in Several Lanes.
Cars were kept moving in two lanes,
sometimes three or four. The officers
who were not blowing whistles were
shouting "Over to the left" Right in
there" Cut er hard" and similar di-
rections.
Most of the drivers did as directed.
but some Of them seemed determined
to pull up to the auditorium in their
own way. The result. OF course, was
more yelling and more whistle-blowing.
And while all this was going on,
other officers were trying to get pedes-
| trians safely across the street-a task
| that often appeared next to impossible.
Along about 1890, the traffic became
even heavier than before, automobi es
| shooting this way and that as the drlv-
ers attempted to follow the directions,
| sometimes inadvertently contradictory.
| of the policemen.
There was no perceptible let-up until
close to II O'Clock, and even then the
traffic was extremely heavy. BY this
| time, however, most Of the standers-
around had moved away-either because
| Of the penetrating cold or else because
they had got their flll OF celebrity
glimpstng.
Few Accidents Reported.
From then en- all the officers had to
worry about was the cars. Even thee
were rapidly dwindling by II o'clock,
however, and it was not lorg before
| things had Quieted down.
Not many street cars or busses came
along, but those that did helped tangle
things up, making it necessary for the
automobiles to form one lane, instead
Of the usual two or more.
Despite the jam, however, there were
few accidents, and all were OF minor
nature
Traffic throughout most Of the city,
particularly in the downtown area, was
unusually heavy all day and all eve
ming, too, and there was hardly cor
ner in the central district without
an officer
The fireworks display also resulted
| in traffic tie-ups, but most Of these were
| due to failure on the part OF motorists
| to abide by parking regulations.