Evening star., 1949-01-20
Throngs Line Route
.0f.P.arade 10 See
And Cheer Truman
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said he had seen every inaugural
procession since Taft's 40 years ago
He took up his wait at Second street
and Constitution avenue NV. short
iy after S am. He was wearing
three sweaters and had a camp stool
And at Fifteenth street and Penn
sylvania avenue NV, 1t. Alvin j
RICHES, IS, of Boiling Air Force
Base, was standing at. the curb at
the same hour with no special
equipment. He explained he was
holding the space for friend who
planned to take photographs with
camera having a telephoto lens.
The Army Band was the first
musical organization in the parade
order, but it was obvious the un-
assuming but smiling and confident
Mr.. Truman was bigger draw
than the snappiest band or the
most elaborate float.
Nonpayers Three Deep.
BY 10:30 am. the nonpaying pa
rade viewers sat, crouched or stood
at least three deep along the route
from the Capitol to the White
House block But, west Of Seven
teenth street, where Mr.. Truman
could not be seen, the crowd was
slow in gathering.
This despite the fact the entire
procession, with the exception of
the offcial party, was to proceed to
Washington Circle before disband-
ing.
Soldiers from nearby Army posts
Joined police in keeping close
watch on the masses of spectators.
As the parade was awaited, tele-
vision and motion picture cameras
scanned the Avenue from positions
on elevated stands and rooftops,
seeking to capture some of the color
Of the celebration for the millions
across the Nation and in foreign
lands who could not share the on
the-spot thrills Of Washington resi-
dents and the s500,000 out-of-
towners estimated to be here for
the day.
From a press stand opposite the
presidential reviewing box, news
paper and radio reporters sent de-
scriptions Of the arriving congress
sional and diplomatic parties by
special wires.
Millions Elsewhere Listen In.
An estimated 100000, 900 elsewhere
In the Nation plus millions more
throughout the world are hearing
the story Of the big events today
via radio. And for the first time
an estimated 100000 as far West
rs st. Louis, Mo, are seeing it on
televiSion screens - an audience
greater than the total number of
persons who have seen all the 40
previous inaugurations since the
Nations birth.
At the Capitol early arrivals were
wrapped in every type of clothing
nuc21 mink coats to Eskimo parkas.
lsla1fy brought blankets to keep
their legs warm in the early chill
. while some had pillows to sit on.
Small boys quickly climbed into
trees and onto fences erected to
protect the smaller trees.
Purveyors of hot dogs and coffee
did big business, although there
seemed to be more hot dog sales
men than spectators around 10 am.
The red hots were being sold as
democratic dogs" to add a politi-
cal touch.
The atmosphere before noon was
generally chilly despite the early
winter sun and clear sky. News
papers were being used both as
reading matter and clothing Others
brought along books to occupy the
long wait.
At parade headquarters on the
Capitol Grounds, a fleet of jeeps
from Fort Myer was being used to
courier messages to and from the
parade formation area.
Walkie -Talkies Used.
The thousands of early arrivals at
the Capitol were being held behind
barricades along the street lines be-
hind the offioial stands. Marines in
dress blue, topped by olive drab
evercoats, faced the crowds along
the barricades. Noncoms were were
using walkie-talk1es TO keep in radio
contact with their headquarters.
Capitol police who have witnessed
several inaugurations said the crowd
Of spectators near the inaugural
stands at 9 am. was the biggest
they had ever seen at that hour.
At am. the first arrivadls were
the concession operators who put
their stocks of coffee an hot dogs
In shape. Their first customers
started buying about Z am.
BY o am. about 100 spectators
took seats in the inaugural stands
directly in front of the platform.
Tickets were required for those sec
tions but the individual seats were
not reserved.
Men, women and a few children
were lined 10 to Is feet deep i'm
mediately to the rear of the street
level on the Capitol Plaza. Other
hundreds took early vantage points
farther back on the brick wall and
the grass Of the park near East
Capitol street
Many of them huddled in fuS
coats, blankets and parkas. Some
had books for several hours of
reading.
The first spectator, so far as po-
lice could determine, was 69-year-
old woman who sat down on the
brick wall east of the street level
stands. She was carrying a small
American flag
First detachments of the Marines
from headquarters here and from
nearby Quantico. Va, drove up in
trucks at 7:45 am.
The first attempt to gate crash
the coveted Capitol reserved seat
stands came around 10 a m. when a
man showed Marine guard gold
police badge and said he was .chiet
of police in small Connecticut