The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-13
Widest NIGHT
EVER KNOWN
RECORDED
3 Dead, More Than
1000 Hurt During
Great Fete
BY KINGsBURY SMITH

LONDON, May 10 d.N.S)
Despite a coronation hangover
which made London'S streets a
bedraggled sight, festivities con
tinued today when King George
and Queen Elizabeth began the
first Of Q series Of drives through
the metropolis.
Their motor journey, in keeping
with the ancient tradition that
the monarchS must "Show them
selves" to their people, brought
renewed cheers from the moe.
fatigable British, who again lined
the 14+mile route in thousands.
Police Lines Broken
In Clerkenwell Road the throng
Swelled through police lines and
delayed the royal cars when sub.
jectS surged about the King and
Queen to shout cheers almost In
their ears.
The newly-crowned monarchs
showed no signs of fatigue after
their arduous day Of ceremony
and glory yesterday. They left
Buckingham Palace at 2:30 p. m.
Their trip today took them
through the northern part Of Lon
don, q section diversified by slumS
and dwelling places Of the rich
In the Regents Park district, they
motored not far from Cumberland
Place, former home place OF Mrs
Wallis Warheld.
Subsequent trips will carry them
into the SlumS Of the East End
and other sections Of London.
Two Cars in Escort
Through streets that were lit
tered with papers but still bright
in decorations, the King and Queen
drove slowly in one car, preceded
by a police car and followed by .
police truck.
Most Of London had gone back
to work, however, and ScavengerS
took possession Of the coronation
route. :s
They had to remove tons Of sod
den newspapers, cardboard cartons
and other refuse which had been
ground to pulp under thousands
Of milling feet during an al-n1ght
rain that failed to dampen the
spirits Of hordeS Of jewellers.
But the crowds who watched the
coronation procession and later
celebrated the event with q night
of cavorting in the streets trans
formed staid Trafalgar Square. st.
James Park and the stately Mall
into what looked like vast garbage
dumps.
The coronation celebrantS also
counted q death toll Of three as
q result Of the activities surround
ing the coronation. One Of the
dead was killed in q dispute over
sidewalk space. He was hit by q
beer bottle.
The two others dropped dead
from sheer excitement.
Ambulance officials eported
more than 1000 persons injured
during the festivitieS-about 200
Of them seriously. Ninety OF these
were taken to hospitals after be-
ing involved in traffic accidents
or sustaining injuries in the ter
rifle crush when the streets were
line 20 deep by spectators.
RevelerS Rule Night
After the day Of intense strain
and fatigue while the coronation
rituals and professions we're in
progreSS, usually reserved Lon.
doners, reinforced by $4,000 Amer.
cans and other visitors from every
corner of the earth, let themselves
60.
The whole town event hilari-
ous," as one observer put it. Thou
sands crowded into night clubs.
Hotels, restaurants, private clubs,
London's famous bottle parties"
tiny cafes-everywhere that prom
ised gaiety and relaxtion-was
damned to the caves.
Many young peeresSes, some Of
them still wearing the dresses they
wore for the coronation ceremony
in Westminster Abbey, Joined the
dining and dancing throngs, along
with scores Of dreSS-uniformed
army and navy officers.
American entertainers, like
Harry Richman and the De Mar
cos, packed the crowds into the
spots where they were perform
ing, and the jollity was increased
by the fact that every "high-
brow" and ''lowbrow' spot sold
liquor far into the night.