Knoxville Daily Chronicle

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
CHICAGO, Aug. 16.--The several commanderies were serenaded at their camps last night by the Apollo club. To-night the entire list of commanderies, numbering 280, will be here. The weather is rather cool for camping, but pleasant and dry. A steady stream of strangers, sir knights and their ladies and other men, women and children poured into the city all night, and are arriving by thousands this morning. Already the city is more crowded than during the national republican convention. A great difference in the crowd is the large percentage of ladies, many of the knights having not only brought their wives but whole families. The hotels which thought they were putting their powers to limit to accommodate a thousand are trying to lodge and feed double that number. Single cots will have to do double duty, and carpets are at premium. To-day is to be devoted entirely to the reception of the visiting knights on the northwest and south sides of the city. The commanderies of knights templar continue to arrive in such rapid succession that it is impossible to keep track of them. So large has been the tide of visitors setting towards this city that trains have had to be divided to accommodate the rush, and in this way much delay has been occasioned. The local commanderies are kept busy escorting visiting commanderies to their assigned homes. The sound of music and the tap of the drum is heard in every direction, to which various bodies of uniformed knights are marching in and taking possession of the city. The streets are almost impassable with spectators, and Chicago is at the feet of an invading legion of templars. The influx of thieves, pickpockets and burglars is very large, and they began operations last night by capturing some regalia from the tents of the California delegation. The police have been instructed to arrest all known bad characters, or even suspicious ones, and lock them up during the conclave, they being numerically unequal to the task of watching them in addition to their other duties. Gen. Torrance, brigadier general commanding the first brigade of Illinois national guards has issued an order detailing four hundred and twenty-five men to be stationed at Camp Delomia. Over one hundred newspaper men have arrived, representing the leading papers throughout the country. The weather is delightfully bright and cool and there is every prospect of it continuing pleasant throughout the remainder of the week devoted to the conclave.