The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-01-27
A MULTITUDE IN MISERY
WITNESSED INAUGURATION
BIZ VICTOR MEEKlNS

A MULTITUDE IN MISERY
WITNESSED INAUGURATION
Where the multitude slumbered
last night is inconceivable," a repor-
ter wrote 1872 years ago in Wash
ington, "unless it were on mother
earth, curtained by the broken
sky" It was on the date of Andrew
Jackson's Inauguration when for
the first time an inaugural address
was delivered from the East Front
of the Capitol. The multitude in
misery during last weeks inaugur-
al was estimated at million peo-
pie turned out in the snow and cold
wind to hear Kennedy's speech, and
/ too wondered where they all slept
the night before. Wrapped up in all
the clothes I had and some had
borrowed, I managed to endure the
program through, when three
preachers prayed longer than the
president spoke. l was shielded by
the warmth that emanated from a
large mob, the warmth that came
from several fat women in fur coats
in front of me, and some fat men
beside me in heavy jackets was a
big help.
l was greatly impressed by the
graciousntss of Ike and Dick Nixon,
the first calling Kennedy's speech
"fine, very fine" and Nixon said
it was superb"
There were 40 marching bands,
which were most impressive, but
the one that delighted me most was
the Washington High School Band.
It had endured some hardship, but
reflected credit on North Carolina.
On arrival in Washington the day
before, they had been entertained
by our Congressman Herbert Bon
ner of their hometown. They were
handsomely uniformed, and heard
numerous favorable comments
about them. They attracted more
attention than the Long Horn and
other mid-Western bands.
I noticed some excitement going
on about the speakers stand, and
learned later one Of the electric
heaters used to produce little
warmth for the inaugural party,
short-circuited and burned out
There were many unique and freak
ing things happening, and every
point of vantage was occupied. All
sorts of garbs and boards were
used to attract attention, and one
man rode a buffalo in the parade,
but gave up at last and tied the
beast to pole.
Twenty degree temperature, with
some eight inches of snow under
foot were not very helpful to say
the most, for the occasion. 1t must
have been rough going for the
5000 men who worked all night
clearing the parade routes and
other principal streets. An esti-
mated 10000 government office
workers and their families witness
ed the parade from office windows.
1t was reported that $50 snow
plows and dump trucks were re-
quired to clean up the streets. Some
1000 vehicles were abandoned on
the streets by the owners, driving
having become impossible due to
the heavy snow storm. The city
authorities lowed 500 of these
away, and the owners had to pay a
considerable bill to recover their
cars. Hotels We're overcrowded,
taxicabs couldn't handle the calls,
and buses and trolley cars were
overloaded. In some instances, fail
ure of electricity stalled lines of
street cars.
Getting around Washington was
a terrific problem. One could not
take his car and it was very diff
cult to get a taxicab. By taking a
bus, and transferring to a street
car, it was possible, with some
delay, to get to the principal places.
BY series of transfers from car to
cab, we got to tht main inaugural
ball at the Armory, FRIDAY, night
attended by some eight thousand
people. We were too late to get the
free champagne, and we had no
room for the free cake that was
provided. Once having gotten in,
we were so hemmed in by the mob
it was impossible to get to the end
of the hall where we had checked
our coats. While waiting near the
back door awaiting an opportunity
to get through, in came Sam Ray
burn, Adlai Stevenson, and Luther
Hodges, who stopped to greet us.
Mrs. Hodges was looking extremely
well, and Governor Hodges had his
usual bounce. The only others we
knew at this dance were Mrs. Max
Gardner, and the Fred Morrison
parties. Mrs. Morrison was one of
the principal members of the COM
mittee on arrangements for the
Inauguration.
Our hosts on this trip were Mr..
and Mrs. Keith Saunders and we
were most enjoyably entertained.