The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-06-03
DECORATION Day az Graf1on.

To the Editors Of The 1ntelllgeneerS
The decoration Of ourlsoldiers graves
Of Grafton was o grand occasion. There
were about three thousand persona pres
ent, as nearly as we could Judge. Owing
to the facts that no pains had been takeT
TO get the people 10 turn out and the indi
cation Of rain, and that the Democratic
Convention met at Parkersburg, &C., II
was not expected that many would bt
present, But the people spontaneously
poured out by hundreds and thousands
The exercises were held on the Fail
Grounds, at 2 o'clock +. NJ. Gen. Elem
Ing, Of Fairmont, acted as marshal, ant
did Lis part well. The marshal an
1ounced that the speakers and minister
present would please accept Of seats OF
the platform. Gov. Stevenson and q
number Of ministers came forward
There seemed to be perfect sea Of hu
man faces when the crowd was collected
into one congregation. Among the crowd
were to be seen all ages-irom the aged
grandfather to the little child.
Gen. Fleming arose and announced the
programme. of exercises. Prayer was
offered by Rev. Z. G. Wayman, OF Clarks
burg. Ex.GOv. Stevenson then was In.
troduced as the orator OF the occasion, Ia
deliver the annual address. The Gov.
ernor had spoken but few minutes DO.
fore 1t was apparent to oil that he was the
right man In the right place. Not taking
any notes Of his address at the time,
shall not be able 10 give you even an out.
line Of his capital address.
He began by telling us who those men
were, which sleep in the cemetery, the
memory Of whom we had como to honor
and revere. He spoke of their weary
marches, their devotion to their country,
their battles and victories of their hero
ism on the bloOl.stained battle, and suffer.
ing in Andersonville and Libby prison, in
a most graphic manner. He then dwelt
a considerable length Of time on the
pr0priety, duty and Importance of our
nation perpetuating the memory of her
fallen sons, 'by the simple ceremonies Of
strewing flowers on their graves in men,
DRY Of their heroic deeds. He offered
quite q number Of reasons why their
memories should be thus commemorated
and perpetuated. We owed these cerc-
monies to the fathers and mothers who
had given up their sons, and to brothers
and sisters, who had given up their
brothers, and to the widows who had
given up their husbands, and 10 orphans
who had thus lost their fathers. But it Is
useless for me to attempt q DESERT tion OF
the Governors most excellent and appro.
pirate address, His address was received
with enthusiasm by the mighty throng
which heard him, and will not soon be
forgotten by the listening mullitudes.
Rev. E. @. Wayman was then intro.
duced and read beautiful poem written
for the occasion by Mrs. Wilson, OF Yves,
tona very aged lady Of rare mental en-
demonstrating eighty.seven years o.
age. The reading Of the poem produced
a wonderful effect Many wept profused
", others clapped their hands and cheer,
ed. The speaker then made short ad.
dress ION the duty Of cherishing the
memories of our fallen brave.
Gen. Fleming announced that the vast
crowd would repair. to cemetery and
strew flowers on the dead-the noble
brave who fell in defence OF American
liberty. The strewing of the flowers was
touching scene. There were parents
brothers, sisters, widows and orphans tc
be seen shedding their tears and dropping
flowers upon the graves of their departed
loved ones. This closed the decoration
services Of Grafton, of May SOth, 1872.
1.-THE departed, the departed,
They visit us In dreams,
They glide above our memories
Like shadows over streams"
LEdATUs.