The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-06-04
HONORING HEROES.
Strewing Roses Ger the Graves Of
the Nations Defenders.

Tested in this city on Monday in the cere-
monies of decorating the graves of the heroic
dead than has been manifested for some
years The day was one of extreme heat
yet 1T did not serve as an obstacle by which
people were kept away. In the afternoon
nearly all of the business houses and public
| offices were closed. Much praise is due the
| hundreds OF ladies of the city who so will
ingly and enthusiastically devoted their
time in arranging the floral offerings for the
| occasion.
| AS early as o. clock in the morning, flags
were unfurled from windows and house-tops
of many business houses and private resi-
dences emblematic as il were, that the deeds
of valor of Americas heroes in the dark
| hour of war for the maintenance of a COM
| mon country had not been forgotten by
| those who lived to share in the endowment
of what had been fraught and accomplished
by those who had forfeited their lives in the
defense of the Nation. AS early as IL o'clock
and up until the streets were lined with
carriages and wagons carrying people to
Crown Hill, that they may bear tribute to
| the memory of the departed ones that had
fallen upon the hotly contested fields
of battle.
The day was generally observed by all clas-
ses OF people participating in the ceremonies
and renewing fond recollections of the dead,
| with their deeds of valor and heroic will,
| that has long since been recorded upon the
taDletS OF history.
THE PROCESSION.
Promptly at 1:30 o'clock the procession
| formed on Delaware street, and at o'clock
| the procession moved.
The First Division was under command of
General Knefler, was headed by Beissen-
herzs Band and was composed of forty pa
| trolmen under Chief of Police Williamson.
The Light Infantry under Captain Ruckle
came next Next followed the Veteran
Association, numbering perhaps 100, under
| Captain Wheat The George H. Thomas
| Post of the q. A. R., numbering perhaps $50,
and the Knights of Columbia, numbering
| about thirty, came next under Marshall
| Woods. The Second Division was
| commanded by Major Irwin Robbins,
and staff, composed of carriages containing
Federal, State and County officials the Presi-
dent of the day, orator and chaplain, bat
| terry of artillery, under Captain Beeler, with
a long line of carriages, private and public
conveyances, leader OF Miller's City Band.
The procession was of quite good length,
| reaching some eight or nine squares. Nearly
every person carried wreaths of flowers of
| some description.
AT THE CEMETERY.
The procession arrived at the cemetery at
about 3 o'clock. There were present upon
the grounds at least $500 people. At the
base of the knoll where sleep the dead was
erected the stand. At $3.50 the assembly
was called to order by Rev. Myron w. Reed,
President of the Day, who made few re-
marks before the Divine blessing was invoked
by Rev. ]. b. Clark, Chaplain of the Geo. H.
Thomas Post G. A. r.. At the conclusion of
| the prayer Mr.. Reed introduced the Orator
of the Day, Mr.. Charles w. Smith, of the
law firm of Duncan, Smith & Duncan.
The decorations were elaborate, with
many choice and costly flowers of unique de
| sign. On the stand were seated a number of
| prominent gentlemen, among whom were
noticed Colonel w. w. Dudley, General
John Coburn. Hon. Stanton J. Peelle, Major
| Arnold, of the United States Army;
General Fred Knefer, General r. s.
Foster. Hon. George HI. Chapman,
Hon. F.J. Van Vorhis, ID. NJ. Ransdall, H.
| G. Adams, Hon. J. S. Duncan, E. w. Hast
| ings, Ben ID. House and Hon. K. R. Hawn,
Secretary of State.
At the close of the address of Mr.. Smith
according to the ritual of the
Grand Army of the Republic. Prayer was
offered by Chaplain Rev. j. B. Clark, fol-
| lowed with an address by Mr.. ]. L. McMas-
tiers, the Senior Vice Commander of the
| Post. Mr.. w. A Brown the Officer of the
Day, then scattered flowers upon the graves
near which he stood, and the dedicatory
verse was read by the Chaplain. Mr.. Nc
Masters then ordered the G. A. r. to break
ranks, which had encircled the rows of
| graves. and strew the flowers.
| The flowers were then strewn and ranks
reformed. In the general distribution of
flowers there were no graves neglected.
| There were numerous tributes of rich col
lections placed upon the grave of perhaps
father, son or brother by some kindred and
loving hand. In all, the day was spent
in strewing the green hillocks with i'm
mortelles, tokens of affection and love.
| A curious experiment in heat is performed