THE NEW YORK PRESS Thursday Morning, August 26, 1897 PRESIDENT IN G.A.R. PARADE He, with the Governor of New York, Leads a Line of 45,000 Marching Veterans. SPLENDID COLUMN BREAKS ALL RECORDS Varied and Interesting Features of the Great Day Receive Warm Commendation. BUFFALO, Aug. 25--This was parade day with the Grand Army Encampment, and 45,000 veterans in the line formed such an exhibition as this city never will see again. The crowds were so enormous that police fairly had to fight for room for the President and party and Governor Black and staff on the way from Hotel Niagara to the head of the column. Waiters at the hotel went on a strike in the morning and delayed breakfast, but that did not interfere with the Presidents good humor. His appearance everywhere evoked enthusiasm that was simply remarkable. At 10 oclock the President left the Niagara, accompanied by General Clarkson and escort. At 10:30 oclock the command to march was given and the procession moved. To the roll of innumerable drums, the blare of trumpets, the clash of cymbals, the screeching of fifes, the Grand Army of the Republic, headed by the first citizen of the band, took the triumphal way through a sea of elbowing, cheering humanity. CROWDS WERE IMMENSE. Against the strong wire cordons, stretched along the route, the onlookers crowded one another until the wires bulged beneath the pressure. The sidewalks on each side of Main street, as far as the eye could reach, were filled with a solid mass, packed in so tightly that to move was almost out of the question. From every window faces beamed out and the roofs had a population equal to, if not greater than, that of the windows. Cut clean and clear, in the centre of these two walls of spectators, reaching from curb to building wall and between walls of buildings, with every window filled, and with every roof loaded, the path of the parade stretched out, a long white ribbon of asphalt. In the square in front of the Erie County Bank and a great, improvised grandstand, the immensity of the crowd was seen for the first time in the partial open. It seemed like a tide that had been poured down upon the arch of welcome as the President of the United States and the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic passed through the monster portals. TOUCHED BY THE TRIBUTE. Once clear from the portale of this arch, the President saw before him the great living shield, and caught the music of 2,000 young voices lifted up to National anthem. As the columns moved on nearer and nearer in the to the shield, the first platoons wheeling u Delaware avenue, the human sympathy that had been pent up for an hour of waiting broke out in one tumultuous climax of enthusiasm at sight of the President. Flags, bunting, draperies in every conceivable design, fluttered on all sides, and lawns were peopled with beautiful women in gala dress. Out before the steadily moving columns there came a vision. It was a bevy of fair young girls, gowned in the colors of the flag, and weighted down with the finest flowers that the gardens of Buffalo could produce. Handful after handful, basketful after basketful, wagon load after wagon load, they scattered their garlands, under the feet of the old soldiers. For the first time President McKinleys face showed the emotions that its usual seriousness conceals. For a moment he looked to one side, then the calm face turned once more to the front, and a warm, kind smile illuminated it as the flowers dropped from the dainty hands that tossed them. ILLINOIS IN THE LEAD. As soon as the department of Illinois had, from its place of formation, taken up the march, the department of Wisconsin fell in from its place in Perry street, and brought up the rear of the first division. The second division, composed of the great department of Pennsylvania, fell in from its place of formation in Scott street, while the third division, composed of the department of Ohio, fell in from its place of formation on the lower terrace. The fourth division, composed of the departments of Connecticut, which formed in Exchange street, and the department of Massachusetts, which formed in Washington street, followed. The departments of New Jersey, Maine, California, Nevada, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Potomac, Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Nebraska, in the order named, formed the fifth division. The Departments of Michigan, Iowa and Indiana, in the order named, formed in Washington and Swan streets and composed Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Delaware, Missouri, Oregon, Kentucky, West Virginia, South Dakota, Washington, Alaska, Arkansas, New Mexico, Utah, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Montana, Texas, Idaho, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Indian Territory. DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK. The eighth division formed at 12:45 oclock. It was composed of the first half of the Department of New York, arranged by judicial districts. The ninth division was made up of the second half of the Department of New York, also arranged by judicial districts, and, by reason of being the host, occupying the extreme left of the line. At the reviewing stand is a large, gayly decorated compartment in the middle of the 3,000 seats for spectators had been set apart for the President, the Governor, the Secretary of War and other distinguished gusts. Archbishop Ireland was the first comer to receive recognition. General Ruggles and General Sickles were cheered. Senator Mark Hanna came to the stand early, but few people seemed to recognize him. Mrs. McKinley, Mrs. Alger, Miss Alger, and Fred Alger drove to the house of George W. Miller and saw the parade from there. It was ll:30 oclock exactly when the head of the column reached the reviewing stand. When the mounted escort had passed the carriages containing the President and Governor Black drove up, and attended by the committee and the Governors staff they dismounted, the vast crowd rising and cheering vociferously. At 11.30 the parade moved again, and as the staff and aids passed and saluted, the President and Governor Black arose and doffed their hats, remaining standing until the aged veterans composing the staff had all passed. SALUTE FROM THE PRESIDENT. When the Illinois division passed the veterans uncovered and waved hats and hands, and McKinley, again rising, returned the salute by kissing his hand to them. The orders were strict that in passing the reviewing stand the men should keep eyes to the front, but enthusiasm was greater than duty, and nearly every post disobeyed the order. Youre all right! shouted one man who passed, and another supplemented it with, Were all McKinley men, the President smiling his greeting. When the Pennsylvania division passed with twenty-two tattered flags of the regiments of the war President McKinley motioned to the crowd on the stands, and with one accord all arose and uncovered. The President paid a pretty tribute to some colored veterans as they passed by waving his hand to them. Some men from a post at Bradford, Pa., hit upon a novel method of obtaining recognition. The man closest the President was directed to get near the President and shake his hand. The others formed a chain by grasping hands. Mr. McKinley laughed heartily at the scheme. Ohio came next, and as their banner came in view there was a roar of applause, and the President smiled his acknowledgement of the tribute. This was repeated, but with more emphasis, when the Canton post came along, and the President, stepping to the front of the platform, clapped his hands vigorously, while the members of the post wved their hats and shouted. GENERAL ALGER ON FOOT. After a brief lunch the President and Governor Black resumed their seats, having missed seeing the departments of Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Washington Post received a special welcome, the colored veterans being especially recognized. That is a fine display, he said, as Detroit Post of the Michigan division passed. When Fairbank Post of Detroit came along the Secretary of War, General Alger, was seen upon the right flank of the first company, marching in the post uniform. When the President saw him he pointed him out and the stand occupants gave him a round of applause. With Lafayette Post of Indiana walked Geneeral Lew Wallace, and he received a welcome. Mr. McKinley laughed heartily at the corn and wheat displays of the West and the complimentary references to prosperity. It was ten minutes after 3 when New York State Department Commander Shaw and his staff saluted the President and the New York State veterans began to file by. They composed two divisions and formed the largest department in line. MADE A GREAT SHOWING. The battered flags of New York elicited the greatest applause, and Gettysburg Post of New York city was heartily cheered. On and on went the column, and for over an hour it was nothing but New Yorkers. Jefferson Countys representation stopped in front of the stand and cheered for the President. Oneida County battalion paid a similar tribute. The Monroe County brigade showed up splendidly and was heartily applauded. General Alger joined the reviewing party while New Yorks delegation was passing. It was close to 5 oclock when the last of the New York State division, comprising a brigade of Buffalo posts, passed the stand, and after nearly six hours of constant attention the President and Governor Black were driven to their hotels amid the huzzahs of old soldiers and the applause of vast crowds of onlookers. Throughout the entire day the great crowd was most orderly. The President admitted that he was tired after the days work, but pleased. President McKinley, after his return to the hotel to-night, said of the parade: Even to a veteran, the sight was a most surprising as well as inspiring one. It is too bad that every child in the country could not see it, for it would surely inspire patriotism and inculcate all the good qualities that go to make up the American citizen. I had never supposed until to-day that so many brave survivors of the war were capable of following martial music through city streets. Such a display of patriotic courage cannot fail to be of benefit to the entire country. The closing event of the day was a reception to the President at Music Hall.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 12:55:34 +0000
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