Other Events Of The Day

OTHER EVENT OF THE DAY

Tremendous Crush at the Public Reception in First Regiment Armory.

For two hours in the afternoon President McKinley stood in the First Regiment armory and held a public reception. It is estimated that fully 5,000 persons were greeted by the president and double that number was disappointed. There was a tremendous crush inside and outside the building. The doors were opened to the public promptly on time, and until the allotted time was over a continuous stream of humanity poured in and out of the building at Sixteenth street and Michigan avenue. Assistant Secretary of War Meikeljohn had ordered 100 men from the Fourth Regular infantry at Fort Sheridan to report at the First Regiment armory for police and guard duty in connection with the public reception. Detachments from the First and Seventh Volunteer infantry and from the naval reserves were also on hand to assist in handling the crowds. The Chicago Hussars also were represented.

As the president, escorted by George R. Peck, Colonel Henry L. Turner, C. B. Farwell and the reception committee, and closely followed by Secretaries Gage and Bliss, stepped upon the platform a storm of cheers went up from the men, while the women waved their handkerchiefs frantically. After Colonel Turner and John M. Harlan had greeted the president on behalf of the reception committee the handshaking started, and the president shook hands with thousands who streamed by him. For each one he had a smile and a word of greeting. A number of men and women kissed the president's hand.

During the morning hours the president was kept busy receiving callers at Captain McWilliams' home. The final function of the day was a banquet given in honor of the president by President Harper, of the Chicago University. The dinner was given at the Auditorium. Alexander H. Revell and Charles Truax accompanied the president in his carriage from the armory to the Auditorium. It was a brilliant affair, and at the board sat many of the most eminent statesmen and soldiers of the nation.

The president did not stay to the conclusion of the banquet, but after spending some time chatting with members of the committee, he went to parlor D of the hotel, where he met a committee from the Illinois Manufacturers' Association. The committee presented the president the resolutions adopted at the association's meeting in September, asking that all ports in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines be opened for American trade. Then, in company with Dr. Harper, Alexander H. Revell, and Captain McWilliams, the president left for McWilliams' residence. The president was somewhat fatigued, and retired soon after reaching the house.

Distinguished guests are numerous in the city. Two gray-haired Indian warriors in the persons of Major General Nelson A. Miles, commanding the United States army, and Colonel William F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill"), scout and showman, grasped hands yesterday at the Wellington hotel, and renewed a friendship formed on the western frontier when both were fighting to subjugate the savage aborigines. General Miles arrived in Chicago yesterday morning, accompanied by Mrs. Miles and his staff.

Referring to the late war the general said that in his opinion the friendly attitude of Great Britain previous to and during the Spanish war was the sole preventive of hostilities that would have involved America and the European continent.

General Shafter arrived last evening from Sycamore, and was quartered at the Lexington. Governor Barnes, of Oklahoma, Representative Griffin, of Wisconsin; L. J. Fenton, of Winchester, Ohio; William Alden Smith, of Grand Rapids, and Charles L. Henry, of Anderson, Ind., arrived this morning. Governor Tanner got in last evening General "Joe" Wheeler will not be here, his military duties preventing. Yesterday morning Senator Fairbank, of Indiana, and General H. M. Duffield, of Detroit, arrived.