The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-05-30
DECORATION Day.
How it was Observed in this Vicinity.

As, usual, decoration day in this city
was not observed by the people generally. |
About 9 o'clock the members of the Rock
Island Light Artillery Company assem- led
at the soldiers monument IN Coart
Square and neatly decorated the shaft,
While this was going on DR.. Gregg ar
rived, and, mounting the ladder, placed a
handsome wreath about the shoulders of
the figure on top of the monument.
This was a gift of Mrs Col. Flagler,
Mrs. Brown Mapes, of Moline, also pre-
scented wreath to the artillery company
which was placed upon the brow of the
figure.
About TO- 80 train of four coaches and
four box cars arrived over the Peoria
road, crowded with excursionists from
Galva, Cambridge, and other places be-
tween this city and there. The excur-
sion was in charge of Messrs. M. Skim
mons and s. Rockwell, of Cambridge, and
the proceeds of the affair will be given
to the Methodist church at Cambridge.
The excursion numbered about $50
people. 1t was met at the train by DR..
Gregg and A, K. Philleo, and about one
half Of the crowd proceeded to Court
Square-where about 100 people had al
ready assembled around the monument.
After the firing of salute by the artillery
company, DR.. Gregg mounted a gun car
riage and called the meeting to order. and
then introduced Rev. Fl. M. Laney, of the
Fifth Avenue NJ. E. church, who made
short prayer.
DR.. Gregg then made short speech.
In opening his remarks he said that it
might be all very well for Davenport, and
Iowa people generally, and also for sMo-
line people, to decorate the graves in the
national cemetery at Rock Island Arse
nal, but his first love was to decorate the
monument erected in memory of Alb
brave men from Rock Island county.
lie said that not one man buried at Rock
Island Arsenal was from this city or
cOunty-they were either Iowa men who
died at Camp Mcclellan or were negro
guards Of the Confederate prisoners on the
Island-and not ORe-third had ever been
near enough to battle to smell powder.
He meant no disrespect to the dead-but
he believed the first duty of the people Of
this county was to decorate to the mem
DRY of their own heroic dead He closed
by introducing Rev. j. R, Findley, of the
Central Presbyterian church, who pro
nounced a benediction.
After the benediction, and before tht
crowd had time to dispense, DR.. Gregg
! stated that he had been requested to opeI
the meeting again.-and then followed
short speeches from Capt l.. NJ. Haver
stick, Rev. Nisbet. of the Baptist church
and State Senator ModerweIl, of Henry
county,-aiter which the meeting CLOSED
e again.
After dinner, the Galva and Cambridge
. excursionists boarded their train anC
we're taken across Sylvan Water bridge t,
e Rock Island Arsenal, where they partici
, pated in the exercises at the nationa
: cemetery.
+ AT ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL.
The programme for proceedings at tn
'. national cemetery. at Rock Island Al
senal, was published in TEE ARGUS som
y days ago, and we suppose was carried OF
this afternoon, though we cannot give DIT
tails to-day without keeping back OF
paper to a late hour. We will give part
\ culars tomorrow.
IN DAVENPORT.
J At Oakdale Cemetery in Davenport ii
10 graves of MajDr Chas. Foster. Col Wen
u and Capt Slaymaker were decorated wit
TO evergreen wreaths, and the grave of Il
9, gallant Col. William Hall, of the Elevent
20 Iowa Infantry, was decorated with an ell
- CANT wreath of flowers and handsome Boz
lv quets. This grave was decorated by OK
Halls daughter, Elsie, of this city Thes
II, we think, are all the soldiers graves
Oakdale Cemetery.