The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-05-31
DECORATION DAT.
THE LARGEST PROCESSION YET KNOWN ON
THE SAME OCCASION IN CANTON
imposing Ceremonies at The csmeiert,

Yesterday occurred the annual ceremony Of
decorating the graves Of deceased soldiers of The
late war, aud the grand success of the occasion In
Canton demonstrated the fact that II was held by
the people, one and ALL Of all societies and sects
nalionaliles and religions. as one Of the creates
and most generally observed holidays of the year
When first the custom was nauguated II was
recognized In a comparatively small wOy--very
few but the comrades and intimate friends of de.
ceased soldiers taking decided hand and inter.
est In TIA large proportion Of citizens merely
looking on with spirit of curiosity, and many
regarding II as a new notion which would be short
lived at best though at the same time feeling q
full respect for the motives and sentiments Of the
movement but yesterday, Jew and Gentle, sol.
dler and Civilian, Catholic and Protestant, black
and white, male and female, turned out, notwith.
standing the heat, and swelled the crowd Till II
numbered we'll up In the thousands, and formed
the largest procession that ever marched to the
cemetery, besides great many who went before
and followed along with the organized pedes.
triahs.
The success Of organizing the march and form.
ing the procession to and from the cemetery, also
reflects great credit upon those who had charge
OF tnlS part OF the programme,
Many citizens from many neighboring towns
and townships, were also present, notwllhstaud.
Ing the dust and heAt--though, thanks to the
Committee on Arrangements, the road from the
square to the cemetery was thoroughly sprlnkled.
The procession on foot four abreast and the
carriages, two and three abreast, took half an
hour In passing given point, timed by a respon.
sible man for the DEMOCRAT, and estimated by
experts TO number from eight to ten thousand.
Theline Of march formed Of the tap of the court.
house bell at thesquare under Chief Marshal, Col
7. B. Sewers and assistants Lieut.. w. Y. Ray.
nolds T. W. Saxton and Tom Rennlok, and was
organized as follows:
Fire Police, Capt Wm. Dannemller; G. A.
Band, Chas Fiala, leader and director, John
Webb, Drum Major veterans bearing wreaths
under Capt G II. Laird Company F, 8h o. N G..
Capt Jas, Craig Knights Of Pythias, under Chas
A. Pentz; Turn Yerein,. Germania under Karl
shanefeld osnaburgh Brass Band, j. Smith
leader Nimisila Lodge, l. o, o. f., under John
Devices and B. Cox Stark Lodge |. o. o. f..
under John Rooms; st. Joseph's Catholic Society
under Joseph Biechele st. Peters Catholic SOcl
ETY., under Samuel Becher;s 81 Laurentes Catho
lie Society, under Charles Wernet; Fire Depart
ment under Chief JEFF Koons; citizens on foot
mot only In liue but on both Sides lour-horst
wagon with flowers, wreaths and crosses clergy
and orator of the day in bus carriages bearing
ladies and little girls In white bearing boquets
citizens In carriages. tN'.
Arriving at the grounds the drives, walks, lawni
and saats, were already thronged with those who
had gone before, r.'.n H
Ualllnga halt In pleasant place, the crowt
collected as closely as possible, and the orator
Rev. W. II. Locke, of the first NJ. E. church. was
introduced by Rev, l., NJ. Kuhus, of the Lutherar
church, and he proceeded to deliver aud elo
quentand highly entertaining discourse appropr
ate to the occasion, occupying nearly three quar-
ters Of an hour, which was listened to will
marked attention, This was followed by drge
from the Bands, during which the decorating
committees performed thersolemu task BETTING
ly, when The line reformed and returned to towr
with regularity and order