Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-01

heard from yesterday morning.
sOuthbridgc.
The Grand Army post was aided in the cere-
mOny Of decoration by The fire department and
the citizens generally Rev. Mr.. Warfeld, pas
tor of the Union church, delivered an address,
and the Woonsocket band furnished music, Civ
ing, also, a miscellaneous outdoor concert in
the evening. 4 heavy shower took place in the
afternoon.
North RrOokGeId.
Memorial day was observed by the citizens of
this town in general suspension of business and
turn out of its people. Owing to the extreme
heat of the weather, the exercises of the day
were somewhat changed from the original pro-
gramme The ceremonies were conducted I'M
der the direction of Post 81, G. A. R. At2 -
O'Clock the citizens assembled at the town hall,
which was filled to its utmost capacity The
meeting was called to order by DIR. Warren
Tyler After the preliminaries of opening
prayer by Rev. Mr.. DeBevois, and music, the
chairman introduced Lieut.. T. NJ. Duncan, who
delivered the following address:
FELLOW CITIZENS Perhaps 1 owe an apology
for having presumed TO accept the kind invitation
of my comrades to address you on this occasion,
but / shall offer none. The only fitness can claim
fer standing here is heart full of grateful love for
the memory of my fallen comrades, and bosom
swelling in tender sympathy with all those who to-
day come bringing their beautiful tribute of fra
grant flowers jewelled with tears of sweet affection
to lay upon the honored graves of loved ones whose
memory shall be ever fresh and green in their
hearts, but whose pleasant faces they shall see
earth no more.
have thought that 1t might be well TO recur TO some
Of the acts and incidents of those stirring, anxious
days while they still fresh and vivid in the minds
of all-excepting only the youngest OF those who
hara nv nur and
| III gathering up and weaving together the loose
| threads of our local history, mueh--that may now
| be deemed of little interest or importance-but
which children and chidren's children in the
distant future will regard with interest and prize
the dearest heritage and richest legacy of their
fathers-may be partially or entirely lost.
On the 18TH of April, 1851, President Lincoln is
sued his proclamation calling for $4,000 volunteers,
and commanding the rebels to return to peace with
twenty days. On the 18th, in quick and cheerful
response to the presidents call, the gallant old 9th
regiment of Mass state troops left Boston their
way to Washington to offer their services for the
defence of the capital. On the 18th they reached
Baltimore, where they We're attacked by a rebel
mob, by whose hounds two of their number were
murdered while marching on their route through
the streets, and seven Others more or less wounded,
when our soldiers turned upon their assailants, and
eleven OF the rioters forfeited their lives by their
cowardly assault, and many others received wounds
from which they did not soon recover or speedily
forget. A few moments only were required to flash
this startling news through all the loyal states;
the whole people were electrified, and at
| once began TO realize that war with all
its dreadful realities upon The peaceful in
dustres of life to great extent laid aside and
all began TO prepare for the terrible issue Only few
moments after the occurrence of this brutal assault,
| the news was received by our telegraph operator
Mr.. George &. Lincoln, whose Office then at his
store in the old town house. The news spread like
| wi!d-ire. The dispatch was at once sent to the
| counting room OF Messrs i. & Il. Batcheller Co.,
where upon its being read, our amented friend and
fellow citizen, Mr.. Ezra Batcheller, said excitedy
something must be done immediately" and at his
suggestion after few words of consultation among
those who happened to be present, it was decided
| that public meeting should be held in the town
hall on that evening tApril 18TH to see what
| could be done to meet the emergency. Accordingly
large sheets of paper were taken from the Batehe-
ler's packing room and quickly converted into fam-
| ing plaeards and posted in several places in the
village where they would not fail to attract imme-
| diate attention. The words upon these placards
| were very nearly rs follows:
s'wARi wARil wARii!
| Oar Massachusetts soldiers have been murdered
| in the streets of Baltimore while marching ON
their way to Washington TO protect the capital of
our country.
All our citizens are requested to meet at the town
| hall his eUeaiag to see what can be done"
As this notice met the eyes of the eager crowds
| who gathered around it, mingled expression of
Indignation, anxiety and sorrow was depicted on
| every eountenance
Evening came. Our hall was filed with interest
ed and anxious citizens The meeting was called to
order by Mr. W 5. Phelps, who was chosen chair
man, and was addressed by J. E. Green, ESQ.,, Free
man Walker and Others, who alluded to the barbar-
Gus massacre which had that day occurred in Ball
tnore, and stated the object of the meeting TO be-
10 see If North Brookfeld will respond to the cali
OF the president by raising company Of volunteers
to offer their services to the government"
| some OF the Older and more conservative of our
citizens, who had heard from their fathers lips
something of the priyatons and sacrifice hardships
and dangers of revolutionary days, and thus knew
something of what is involved in the terrible
fact Of war-ominously shook their heads, saying
1t cannot be done ;-others in the full strength oil
early manhood, with warmer blood cOursing through
theii veins, and still retaining all the ardOr, impulse
and enthusiasm of youth said, eyes, ours is glO-
rious country, this is native land Ours is the
| nm uhia fha Cnv
has ever shone. Traitors hands at its throat
seeking TO throttle and destroy it, 10 us who have
shared its bOunties and enjoyed its protection
in this time of its rarest need and greatest DANGER
il calls for help, and should we refuse the aid which
il implores. Shall the sous of revolutionary sires
see the dear old flag which so ber0ically borne
through seven long years of fire and blood by their
fathers, and which has ever since waved in undis
puted triumph-shall we see this glorious old flag
torn down by treacherous hands and tramped in
the dust by traitors feet? MOI Never! We are
ready we are willing, we are anxious to 90 TO the
rescue, and if need be will seal our devotion with
our liVes." 1t was then stated that an enrolment
list mad been prepared, and it was voted that ii
should then and there be opened for signatures
Joseph e. Fuetts and Charles Perry were the first
70 enrol their names, and several others soon came
Forward and signed the roll amidst the most enthu-
slaslc applause. This the starting point oil
! company y of the old 18th regiment nj v After
nuen eAclted and interesting discussion and The
adoption Of strong and decided resolutions eSnres.
ive OF he Willingness and determination of All our
telloW citizens TO do whatever our duty and inc
energe1nieY might demand, the meeting at a late
hour adjourned till the next evening iAnTi oOtl ~
IL o'clock At the close OF the ,na3i y =; ~
decided by those who had thus far been inda.
ential IN arousing the people, that fhe towr
hall should be put in military trim 'anf
accordingly all the red, white and blue material il
the town was brought into requsition; moi q sin
gle piece of bunting could at this time be bought il
Boston or New York, while all the principal street
in both those cities were profusey decorated a
| 10 be almost covered with it.
saturday evening IApril 2Oth) came, and with
: | such meeting as North Brookfeld had never see
before. Our town hall filled to its utmost ca
paelty Not only were own citizens there Ell
Y inasse but many also came in from the adjoinin
q towns. The band from Brookfed came over an
volunteered their valuable services, and the fine an
nspirting martial music which they diseoursed az