Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-06-03

DECORATION DAY IN BELLEFoNTE.-
Saturday opened out bright and clear, and
the early morning hours gave indication
of unusual activity around the headquar-
ters of Gregg Post. The streets presented
an animated spectacle, and there was every
promise that the memorial services here
would be both imposing and interesting.
Although the civic display was not quite
up to our expectations, it was so well and
skillfully directed as to make the specta-
tors forget its paucity of numbers The
arrangements were complete and satisfac-
tory, and the various committees of Gregg
Post deserve great credit for the faithful
and earnest manner in which they strove
to make the impressive ceremony of laying
a flowery tribute upon the breasts of our
dead heroes, one not soon to be forgotten
in Bellefonte. In their efforts they were
seconded by the great interest our citizens
manifested and by the ladies, who came
generously forward with lavish floral con-
trbutions. Altogether Saturday, pageant
was the finest we have had for years. The
banks were all closed, but very few, if any,
of the business places closed their doors,
even during the little time consumed in
the actual decoration of the graves. I'm
mediately after II o'clock streams of peo-
pie began to pour in to the Diamond from
every avenue of approach, and by three
O'Clock the streets and sidewalks in the
vicinity Of Gregg Post were almost inn
passiblc. At 81 the various organizations
began to arrive and were at once assigned
their positions by Chief Marshal Curtin.
At fifteen minutes after four, all being in
readiness, Marshal Curtin waved his baton
and the procession moved in the following
order:
| Chief Marshal Gen. J. |. Curtin.
Mountain City Band-lS pieces.
! Gregg Post, G. A. R.-S0 men.
| Logan Hose Company-35 men.
Asst Marshals Tate, Brew and Miller.
| Orator Of the day and citizens in car
riages.
y large portion of the crowd in the
street followed the procession To the cemc-
! terry. The ceremonies here were exceed
ingy impressive, and there were several
new features introduced with which
the officiating members of Gregg Post did
not seem to have been thoroughly familiar
With n few unavoidable bitches every
thing passed off in an entirely satisfactory
manner. The music, both vocal and in
strumental, was rendered in very fine style
After the quartette had sung, 1--WE deck
their graves alike" the solemn work Of
decorating the graves Of eighty-seven SOL
disrs was accomplished. A wreath and
boquet were laid upon each grave while r
small flag bearing the name of the dead
soldier was placed at the head.
| The feature Of the occasion, however,
was the admirable Grafton pronounced by
the Hon. Jos. w. Parker, of Lewistown.
| Without question 1t was the finest effort Of
the kind ever heard in Bellefonte. Mr..
Parker is natural orator. His language
is choice and beautiful, while his voice is
good and his delivery pleasant. At the
conclusion Of Mr.. Parkers address the
procession reformed and marched to the
Logan Hose House, where the fire company
disbandcd. Gregg Post was then conduct
ed to its headquarters, where the parade
was dismissed This ended the ceremonial
and patriotic Bellefonte had once more
honored her soldier heroes.