The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1869-01-21
THE MILITARY BANQUET AT CHICAGO.

The Cincinnati Commercials (Radical) Chi
cago correspondent thus describes the closing
scenes of the Military Banquet which came off
at Chicago last month:
There wasa stormy scene at the banquet last
night. After the eatables were disposed of y
terrible raid was made on bottles. and negroes
who dispensed liquid refreshments were almost
frightened out of their wits as they were be-
siegrd on every hand by eager and excited
Wtarers OF shoulder-straps, champagne cOrks
flying as thickly as bullets in battle. and necks
OF bottles were snapped off in every direction
by those who were too thirsty to wait for cork
screws and walters When, at halfpast eight,
Sherman attempted to restore order, that the
toasts might be read and responded to, the
sound of the mallet could not be heard ten feet
from the desk All over the hall officers were
elegantly declalln.ng from chair or singing
songs more appropriate to the camp than at
banquet. Bottles of champagne were tossed
hlther and thither, ornaments were overturned,
and Il scene of confusion which resembled Il
drbauch rather than least cnsued General
Plcrcr's poem was called for, but he only read
Il few lines, which nobody heard, when he
passed lis manuscript over 10 the reporter and
retired. Even General Terry, who came for
ward 10 respond t. the toast, Our Country
was not permitted 10 speak more than few
sentences when his address followed the poem
The confusion had So increased that no attempt
MAS made 10 respond Ia the toast of " The
President" aud " Army and Navy of the United
States but am attempt was made 10 drown
out the noisc by Il flood of music This an
swcrcd until the music stopped. but as
General Siocum came forward Ia speak, bed
lam began, and after those near by had seen
him move hir lips for few minutes without
hearing word, he too gave up IN despair
Just about thl> time some ovcr-happy General
though; 10 create a diversion by throwing over
the immcns" tower erected IN the center of
the main table, and as fifteen feet of confcc-
tlous jclIics, sugars, flags, &c, &c. fell with
a crash among the dishes, General Barnum
Sprang upon the table. and, with frantic gcs
lures, eudcasorcd Ia restore quiet Mean
while Grant. sherman, Thomas, and all the
coinInltic" had been using their combined i'll
ilucncc Ia restore order. but without any sue
cess TIL about nine o'clock. General Grant
withdrew III apparent disgust BE II known
Is lls credit that he drank nothing but water
during the entire evening. General Logan,
purple with rage. and evidently IN Il condition
IL be- plt,cd. rndcaTorcd Ia bully the crowd
luto silence hy the bold assertion that The riot
ou~ demonstrations II the south end of the hall
were studird MARKS OF disrcsp"ct to the pres-
den; elect of the United States General
Thomas sprans up and raped vchcmcntly
with his cavrl. asserting. in the iirmcst tones.
that he would not speak until General Logan
was heard. Out of chaos finally came u sun
beam of order. aud Gcpcral Logan spoke. Six
military personagrs We're arrested for cndeav-
oriug Ia carry bottles "t wine from the hall
and conveyed 10 police headquarters.