Seattle Turns Out by the Thousands for General Booth

Gen. William Booth, the head of the Salvation Army, whose battalions are ever in conflict with the forces of evil and for the cause of Christianity, arrived in the city yesterday and was given a welcome such as Seattle well knows how to give. The people turned out in thousands to greet him and his staff on their arrival at the depot; they followed the procession as it went through the streets, and they crowded Pioneer Place where the addresses of welcome were delivered. In the evening they packed the Armory and heard his burning appeals to their hearts as he outlined his scheme for letting the light into 'Darkest England.' The people showed emphatically that, without regard to religious differences, they honor the man who inaugurated the movement which has such noble aims as the Salvation Army.

The army fell into line in front of the barracks about thirty minutes before the arrival of the train, nearly 200 men and women marching in the procession. Representatives carrying banners were in line from Portland (second and third corps), Whatcom, Tacoma, Yakima, Everett, Snohomish, Vancouver, Washington; Oregon City and Astoria, Or.; Butte City, Helena and Great Falls, Mont.; Port Townsend, Walla Walla, Spokane and Seattle. The procession was headed by six horsemen, Captain Symon in charge, his aides being Captain Unchen, Captain Miller and Lieutenants Conlow, Elliott and Rindig. Six large American flags were carried just behind the horsemen, followed by half a dozen officers carrying large Salvation Army banners. Then came the band, swelled by officers from outside able to play a horn. In front of the band marched the various corps, Seattle represented by an immense red silk banner bearing the motto: 'Seattle Greets General Booth; Honor to Whom Honor Is Due,' in gilt lettering.

The line of march was up Second Street to Marion, down that street to West, and out West to the Seattle Lake Shore Eastern depot, where the army turned into Columbia Street and came to rest in single file on each side of the street. A platoon of twenty-two policemen in dress parade, under Sergeant Hogis, escorted the procession back to Pioneer Place. The crowd that followed to the depot numbered several thousands; by the time the train drew in, the passenger yard and Columbia Street up to Second became a dense mass of human heads.

On making his appearance at the platform of the railroad coach, General Booth was greeted by a great shout and acknowledged the courtesy by doffing his tall hat and bowing and smiling right and left. A way had to be opened by the police through the dense mass to the carriage in waiting. The party once seated, the procession went up Columbia Street under the big triumphal arch to Second, down that street to Yesler Avenue, and swung around the block to Pioneer Place. General Booth pulled out an old open-face silver watch, glanced at it, shut it with a click, and climbed to the platform, where he was greeted with a prolonged shout. He was introduced to Rev. W. A. Shanklin and Rev. Wallace Nottling, and the Doxology, 'Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,' was sung. Col. Lawley offered prayer.