GREAT CROWD IN WASHINGTON

Southland Times, Issue 23840, 10 June 1939, Page 7

GREAT CROWD IN WASHINGTON

AMBULANCE MEN HAVE BUSY TIME

EPIDEMIC OF FAINTINGS IN STREETS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 9, 11.40 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 9. The heat was so intense and the crowd so dense during the procession after the arrival of the King and Queen that ambulance attendants and Red Cross doctors and nurses treated nearly 500 for heat prostration. One death is (reported, that of an unidentified hawker of boxes for people to stand on. In the down-town sector, where the crowds were closest packed, there was an epidemic of faintness, somebody falling over every few minutes. Many spectators had been waiting since early morning in order tc be sure of vantage points. The intervening hours before the parade took toll on sapped vitality from heat and lack of food and drink.

The curiosity and interest in royalty were far greater than had been expected, indicating that the New York crowds, when the King and Queen arrive there on Saturday, are likely to break all records and tax the resources of the police and other agencies. The most conservative estimate places the number of persons who will see the King and Queen in New York at 2,000,000. As it required 8000 soldiers, sailors and marines and 1500 policemen and firemen to patrol the procession route and restrain the crowd in Washington, it is evident that New York is facing a problem. It is planned to have 200,000 American war veterans in uniform lining the New York parade route. UP TO £6 PAID FOR WINDOWS KING FINDS TEMPERATURE DISTRESSING WASHINGTON, June 8. The newspapers agree that no visitors to Washington have ever been -given a greater ovation than the King and Queen. A record crowd of 600,000 persons strained against the wire ropes lining the foot-paths, shouting and waving. Several times they threatened to break through the rows of 1200 police and 6000 soldiers. Comment on their Majesties’ youth, charm and dignity was overheard in all quarters. The crowd began to form at 2 a.m. Up to £6 was paid for a window overlooking Pennysylvania Avenue. The temperature of 89 degrees was distressing for the King, who was in an open car in full dress. A man dropped dead during the Royal progress and 250 were treated for heat prostration. The noisy backfiring of the tanks struck a strange note. One caught fire and was abandoned.

The route had historic implications as 125 years ago 4500 British sailors after scattering the American defenders and setting fire to the half finished Capitol, moved down it and burned White House. The typical manner of the American Press in recalling such history is the newspapers’ expression of the hope that “the King and Queen will be careful with the matches tonight.”