The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-06-01

| The custom of observing Memorial Day evil
| dently-increases each year, for never was the
day more generally observed than on Wednes
day. Not only in this city was the celebration
unusually fine, but throughout the state, in
| every village almost the citizens turned out en-
| masse to do honor to the country's dead. The
| day was fine all nature seeming to paftake OF
| the spirit of the occasion.
In this city the programme was arranged and
carried out by Bosworth Post No. Grand Ar
my of the Republic. Flags were thrown to the
breeze at the hotels, the public buildings and
many private residences. The shipping in the
harbor was unusually well decorated with ma
tional ensigns In the forenoon the cemete-
ries in the city were visited by small squads of
Comrades.
The squad that visited the Eastern Cemetery
was under command of comrade Rensselaer,
Greeley, and decorated 35 graves, including
those of the officers of the Boxer and Euter-
prise, Rear Admiral Alden, Commodore Preble,
Drs. Hunkins and Thomas. Rev. Mr.. Wright
offered a fervent prayer. The same squad also
placed beautiful wreath around the Lincoln
Tree.
A squad under the command If Comrade w.
H. Pencil visited Forest City Cemetery and
decorated A graves. The military were met by
about $50 children from the Sunday Schools at
the gate of the cemetery, and escorted to the
open space, where Rev. Mr. Pfitchard offered
prayer The schools then sung hymn, after
which Rev. c. G. Perkins of Casco street church
made brief address. The discourse was adj
dressed to the Grand Army.
At Calvary Cemetery special service was
held, and mass was celebrated by Rev. Father
McKenna, who also. delivered very eloquent
and impressive address upon the day and its
ceremonies, dwelling particularly on the man
ner of its observance. There were 81 giaYes
decorated. The squad at the request of Com
rade Charles Mullin, was put under the charge
of Officer of the Day Fitzgerald, and was es-
corted by the Montgomery Guards, Captain
O'Donahue and Chandlel's full band.
At Westerns Cemetery 59.graves were decor
ated by the squad under command of Comrade
F. w. True, ard q very impressive prayer was
delivered by Rev. Mr.. Southworth.
AT o'clock the members of Bosworth Post
assembled at their hall aud a half hour later
they marched TO the street and formed in the
procession. Each comrade had floral decora-
ton and many of them carried several. The
display of flowers was the largest ever seen in
this city, AT 2 o'clock the procession moved 10
the following order:
Platoon of Police,
Officer E. I. Merrill in command.
Drum Major Bean.
Chambers Band-25 pieces.
Chief Marshal-George III. Abbott.
Aids.
W. B. Smith and G. N. Lang.
Portland Mechanic Blues, Capt. Pennell-43 men.
Portland Montgomery Guards, Capt. ODonoghue-
46 men.
Portland Light Infantry, Lieut.. Jackson-46 men.
Bosworth Post, No. 2, G. A. K, Commander Adams
81 men.
The procession marched over the route as ad-
vertised, aud were greeted at every point by an
immense concourse of people. The military
companies marched unusually well. and the
Post were, as usual, correct to the letter in their
step. The police showed marked improve
ment from their last appear ance which is evil
IDENTIFY due to their eut discipline. After CO.
ing over the route tae procession marched to
the City Building, received their invited guests,
including the members of the City Govern
mept and thu officers Of the steamer Dallas.
The line of march wa, then taken up for the
Rochester depot, where loug train of cars
was in waiting to take the procession as we'll as
the throng of citizens accompanying it to Ever
green Cemetery. The train went off with but
little delay, and on arriving at Westbrook juno
ton the proce ,sion reformed in the order as be-
fore and marched to the Cemetery. Here the
streets were lined with teams and the horse
cars and wagons were swelling the multitude.
1t is impossible to estimate thu number of peo-
pie in attendance. The steam cars carried
about 800 and the horse cars 1864. Besides
these conveyances there were no less than Is
wagons which made several trips each, and the
private carriages could be counted by the hun
dred.
After the graves had been decorated there
was dirge by the band, and then prayer was
offered by Rev. Mr.. Goldman of Knoxville,
Tenn, who formerly belonged to the 18th Ar
my Corps. Then came another strain of music
by the band, and the benediction by Rev. W.
E. Gibbs. An obelisk of evergreen, wreathed
with flowers, surmounted by an elegant DO.
quet, and dedicated to the army and navy was
placed on the Grand Army lot. On its front.
at the base, splendid floral shield was laid,
bearing this inscription:
In MemOriam
Serg. Charles I'll. Merrill,
Wounded before Petersburg,
Buried Washington, D. c.
Our Comrade.