The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-05-31
MEMORIAL DAY.
Decoration of the Gr0Ues of
the Dead Heroes.
The Memory Of Lincoln Honorcd.
Dedication of the Soldiers Lot at
Evergreen Cemetery.
EOeni,sg Exercises ac City Hall.

EOe1si'sg Ecercises 0c City Hall.
A finer day for the decoration of the graves
of the Union soldiers of this State could not
have been desired. The skies were cloudless,
the suns beams during the morning and the
first part of the afternoon were very powerful,
and during the latter part of the afternoon a
cool breeze from the east tempered the atmos-
phere.
Early in the morning the members of Post
Bosworth, No. 2, met at Grand Army Hall for
the purpose of receiving the contributions Of
flowers, and for detailing squads to decorate
the graves of those who were buried in other
cemeteries besides Evergreen. The floral do
nations were very generous, owing to the for
wardness of the season, and the rooms of the
organization were filled with elegant baskets,
wreatbs, crosses and boquets, filing the seve-
raj apartments with sweet odors. About nine
o'clock the different sections of the Post were
detailed with their floral offerings to visit the
several cemeteries. One squad under command
of f. A. Smith, Officer of the Day, visited the
Western Cemetery, where some 26 graves re-
ceived their decorations, while Rev. w. E.
Gibbs, of the Congress Square Universalist
Church, Officiated as Chaplain and m AIDE brief
but impressive prayer. A second squad under
Z. w. Bean, Officer of the Guard, visited the
Eastern Cemetery, where some Is graves were
likewise decorated, Post Chaplain N. w. T..
Root, of st. Paui's officiating. w. III. Kaler
commanded the squad that attended at Calya-
ry Cemetery, where some "A graves were deck
nmblnmc nf1 Iowa q
hundred people had collected in the Chanel,
and Fathers buddy and De Rose having bless
ed the flowers they were laid upon the graves
and then mass was celebrated. A fourth squad
under command of R. X. Galley, decorated
the graves of some Is soldiers in Forest City
Cemetery, Rev. r. Sanderson delivering short
but touching prayer.
AFTERNOON
The real celebration of Memorial Day, how
ever, in which the interest of the public CEN
tered, took place in the afternoon. The front
of City Hall had been decorated with long
festoon of flags. the badges of the several army
corps whose various colors contrasted prettily
with the rich drab facade of that noble edi
fce The national ensign was displayed at
half mast from all the public buildings and
many private residences, while as the clock
struck one the bells of tie city churches COM
menced to toll a requiem for the dead and the
artillery doomed forth grand accompaniment.
The streets were alive with the citizens and
suburbans arrayed in holiday attire, who
thronged the route of the procession. From
an early an hour as nine o'clock in the morn
ing the horse cars went laden with people to
Evergreen Cemetery, where the memorial SOL
emnites were to take place, and it is estimated
by the company that they conveyed over the
road during the day fully 5000 people, if not
more.
At 1 o'clock the procession was formed in the
following order:
Squad of Police under command of Deputy Decelle
Portland Band
Chief Marshal, W. p. Jordan.
Adam an A a1arKe Aids. s. 3 T. p ansSy:
Portland Mechanic Blues, 60 men. Lieut.. Pennell.
Portland Cadets, go men, Capt. Anderson.
Portland Light Infantry, 30 men, Capt. Mattocks.
(The three companies parading as Batta ion under
command of Capt. Parker of the Bues.)
Post Bosworth No. ?, 14O men uniformed, Post Com
w., mande eT Smith.
Post Bosworth No. 2, ununiformed, 40 men, Pas
Commander Land.
The procession marched according to the
published route to the City Hall, the military
and soldiers presenting fine appearance il
their soldierly bearing, handsome uniforms
ana solid marching, cliciting cncomums OF
every hand. Arriving at the hall, they wer'
Joined by the Mayor, members OF the City
Government and invited guests to the humble
6oabout forty, and proceeded to the Lincoln
Tree in front of the High School building OF
Cumbarlapd strnpt WHARF q m arb1a I'M ct nf n,
late martyr-President was placed upon ped
estal tastefully draped with flags, a fifth.
presence on this memorial oc easion. Here tn
procession halted, and Miss Blanchard, assisted
by Misses Short and Curtis, received from thu
hands Of the color guard q magnificent ever
green wreath, enclosing cross, with beautiful
calas and other choice flowers intertwined
with which she decorated the tree, while The
others strewed wreaths of evergreen at its base
From thence the line of march was taken vi
to the Portland & Rochester depot, where cars
were in readiness to carry the procession Il
MorrilPs Corner.
Upon reaching their destination the process
sion reformed and marched to Evergreen
Cemetery, amidst jam of people SO great thai
it seemed as il Portland had been deserted by
its entire population who had focked to thi
beautiful suburban town to pay their tribute
of respect to the memory of the fallen heroes
But if such was our impression on the road
what shall we say of the crowd at the Gene
terry itself? If we say that ten thousand PEG
pie were assembled in that be lutifu city of tn
dead, we think we shall make low estimate
The portion of the Chapel Lot that has beef
given to the Post had been previously mown
the borders were filed with Towering shrub,
and from the summit of lofty pine the ma
tional ensign foated over the consecrate,
ground. Previous to the commencement c
the exercises the comrades proceeded to deco
rate the graves, eighty-seven in number, an
among them was not forgotten that of the de
voted nurse, Adeline NJ. Walker, whose las
resting Place WAS covered with the swee
tokens of affection-a fit tribute to one who 3
the early age of thirty-fve laid down her Iii
for her devotion to the cause.
The Cemetery never looked moe lovely the
it did yesterday. The trees were all in full fl
liage, the thousands of shrubs and plants wei
all in full flower, loading the warm summ'
air with their fragrance, and the bright su
threw its long shadows over the velvet tul
while above all stretched the blue canopy
the skies unfecked by a single cloud.
After the decoration of the graves the milit
ry and spectators gathered around the Meme
rial Lot, when Col. T. A. Roberts introduce
Chaplain N. w. T.. Root, who, (taking b
stand by the mound upon which it is hoped
erect fitting monument) with Adj. Graves
his right holding magnificent wreath of eve
intart U npl with ia choicest Hover
delivered the dedcatory address, somewhat