The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-30
DECORATION DAY.

| uul 10 verify inc preulctlOn OF the OlG sea
Captain the weather did not come exactly as il
was to be expected, but remained pleas
ant, with clouds kindly keeping the sunshine
from annoying the people who thronged oul
usually quiet streets this day. The city par.
Elephants in the doings of the day were early
astir, and the country sent in its representa-.
tons in crowds, who assembled on the public
square and on the dock, to be all ready in
time, to join the procession or take the part
| of lookerS-on.
THE PROCESSION.
Soon after 10 A. NJ. the public square,
where the procession was ordered to form,
was scene of unusual hustle and activity,
and the Grand Marshal and his aides were
busy organizing the column which little
before IL A. NJ, moved through 9th and
Nam streets to the river front, where the
steamers S. I. Church and Vancouver had
already arrived, the former from Oregon
City and the latter from Portland, each
having on board large number of invited
guests and excursionists After very short
delay the order to march was given and the
procession moved, through Military Avenue
and the Garrison parade to the Post Gene
tary. where the exercises were held
H aiding the procession was Grand Mar
shall G. W. Durgin and his assistants, all
finely mounted. Following them came the
battalion OF Twenty -tirst u. S. Infantry,
headed by their full band and field music of
thirty pieces, under leadership OF Prof. Hueb-
ner. The battalion was under command of
Colonel f. c. Mason, who was accompanied
by Lieutenants Evans and Ebstein, of the
regimental s.xf. ali mounted. The troops,
in column OF platoons, .Telve commands of
ten files each, presented a magnificent ap-
pearance and attracted universal attention
and praise by their fine marching. The bat
TALON was differed as follows:
Co. f, Captain Miles, Lieut.. Farrow.
Co. I, Captain Spurgin, Lieut.. Eltonhead.
Co. B, Captain Jocelyn.
Co. H, Lieut.. Haughey.
Co. G, Lieut. German, Lieut.. Shofner.
Co. D, Lieut.. Duncan.
Immediately in rear Of the troops came
the L. $ Ordinance Department from Van
couver Arsenal under command o; Major J.
A. Kress, and equipped as battery Of artll-
lery, with four field pieces, and presented
very fine appearance, the Calling -un espec-
tally attracting attention.
Close behind these came the Veterans OF
the Mexican War, heal-i by Nzss-s Brown
miller and Whitehead which though small
in number, made a crei.table ,ur.-51-.
Next came the carriage --------1- tie
President OF the Day, H51- LIS >---., -
clergy, orators OF the Cay. - -;-z- --v.:=i
guests, including General @. 90 E-1a-i,
who was accompanied ~ c. ~, p. Ma
jors Keefer and Rabbit, a-d Leu. "'.si.
of his staff
The Fire Department, which followed,
headed by Chief Engineer T " Padlen, and
Assistant L. r. Sohns, Jr., turned on; in
full uniform, parading about 80 members
and made a very creditable display. II was
succeeded by the Sabbath school children,
those from Oregon City giving decidedly
pretty effect to the line, carrying as they did,
a number of silken banners OF different de.
signs, and numbering nearly one hundred
children.
A large number of citizens on foot and in
carriages closed the procession, which was
nearly half mile in length, and which was
one of the finest pageants ever seen in Van
couver.
THE CEMETERY
Had some days previously been mown. and
otherwise prepared for the occasion The
speakers stand was erected near the entrance
decorated with flags and standards. Every
where the graves of citizens in the cemetery
were already covered with wreaths and flow
ers tokens of friends and the objects Of the
| Memorial Day.
On the arrival Of the procession the 2lst
| Regiment was brought to a halt at the right
and rear of the stand, the band in the
| right front, The Fire Department and Sun
| day schools on the left, the citizens occupy.
| ing the foreground The stand was occupied
! 10y the President Of the day, speakers clergy,
some of the officers and their ladies' After n
dirge performed by the band, Mr.. Sohns in
/ troduced Rev John W Sellwood Of Oregon
! City who opened the exercises with PRAYER.
! The opening address was delivered by Hon.
W II. smallw3od II Vancouver, who was fol-
lowed by Rev T. J. Elliot Of Portland and
Gen. Howard. For want of time and space
We cannot give resume of the remarks, nor