St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-10
MILWAUKEE, LETTER.
Dedication ofthe Hall of Robert Chiyas
Post, G.. A. r.
The Truth in Regard to Manager MerrilPs
Reported Serious Illness.
The Allen VIII Case-Quarrel in Church
General Notes.
Especial Correspondence of the elobe.l

Especial Correspondence of the Globe.
MILWAUKEE, March I'm keeping with
the soldier movement throughout the coun-
try, Milwaukee veterans are booming the
Grand Army of the Republic. There are
two posts here-Robert Chivas post and E. B.
Wolcott post. Chivas post was instituted
about ten years ago, during the first boom Of
the soldier organization, and for a time there
was much patriotic enthusiasm. But politi-
clans saw their opportunity and made the
most of it, and the result was partial disin-
tegration of the post, and pause in the en-
thusiasm. Many of the active members
withdrew in disgust, and the post languished
and lost tone. 1t was then cultivated by the
brawny German element that delights in
Sunday parades and lager beer, and pretzel
camp fires, and after a season of listlessness
commenced to grow, and when the. reforma-
ton was effected throughout the country BY
the purging Of political ''bummers," its
strength was renewed appreciably. To-day
it is the stronger of the two posts i the city,
both in numbers and in finances, possessing
hall of its own, and, fguratively, is Sin
clover" Its hall was formerly known as the
West Side Turner hall, and it is
situated on Fourth street. The Turn
ers outgrew the premises and erected
new quarters, and Chivas post
raised funds by issuing stock, purchased the
place and had it rearranged, frescoed and
otherwise. ornamented to meet their require
ments. 1t was dedicated last night in grand
style, the programme including a banquet
and ball. Gov. Rusk, Commander Cheek,
of the Wisconsin Department G. A. R., and
Gen. Bragg delivered addresses. A realistic
tableaux, THE Fight fer the Standard, J"
closed the exercises preceding the ball.
Chivas post is differed as follows: Com
mander, Henry P. Fischer; senior vice com
mander, Byron Albert; junior vice com
mander, n. H. Thompson; adjutant, W. H.
Croker; quartermaster, J. G. Staff; surgeon,
DR.. F. A. Marden; chaplain, Henry Van
Eroyck; officer of the day, John NJ. WEIGH
lein; officer of the guard, j. B. Wright;
sergeant major, John W. Harvard; quarter
master sergeant, W. B. Ward. The post has
about 200 members. E. B. Wolcott post
named after the late Surgeon General VOL
colt, who died four years ago, has about 100
members.
ROBERT CHIvAs.
While no one is DESTROYS of detracting
from the memory of Robert Chivas, after
whom the post particularly mentioned above
is named, it is generally admitted that the
selection of his name for the post savored
of toadyism' and a bid for patronage. Chiyas
was nephew of Alexander Mitchell, and be-
fore the war had lumber yard where the
Union depot now stands. He had not been
in this country very long when the war
broke out, but he was young
and enthusiastic, and left his business to
take hand in the fight. He obtained a
commission in the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin
regiment and went with it to the front.
After following the fortunes of his regiment
for some time, he announced himself tired
of war, but was unwilling to return home
without first getting "a wee scratch" He
was Scotchman and his speech had the
breadth of gauge Of that peculiar tongue.
Young Chivas led company of the Twenty
fourth in the storming of Missionary Ridge,
and was killed by bullet that pierced his
head as he was climbing the steep side of the
now historic eminence. His remains were
brought to Milwaukee and inferred in the
Mitchell lot in Forest Home cemetery, and
his grave marked by a handsome monument
in the form of an altar covered with the Stars
and Stripes, upon which rests a military cap
and sword. Chivas was brave young man,
but he was no more deserving than many
another young hero who gave his life to his
country. Had he not been the nephew of
Mr.. Mitchell tits hardly probable that his
memory would be publicly held as green as it
is to-day, Yet his honors are
merited-as they would be by many of
his comrades who sleep in the same
cemetery. By priority of heroism the
first post of veterans in Milwaukee
should have been named after George Drake, 4
the first of Wisconsin's sons to fall in the
war of the rebellion, and doubtless the first
northern soldier to die in actual engagement
in the Slate unpleasantness.' He was a
member of company A, first Wisconsin regi-
ment, in its three-month's campaign, and
was killed at the battle of Falling Waters,
Virginia, (now West Virginia). What a
thrill of horror that first fight sent through
Milwaukee,; and yet it was only skirmish in
comparison with the slaughter that followed
on other fields. The young hero is now
sleeping near the field on which his hearts
blood was spent.
s. s. MERRILL's ILLNESS.
For several weeks reporters and CORE
spondents have been on the Q,a 0i0e in regard
to a reported serious illness of General Man
ager Merrill, of the Chicago, Milwaukee &
St. Paul railway. His office was haunted by
scribes, but nothing could be learned beyond
the fact that the veteran railroader was indis-
posed DIR. Crooker, who was attending
him, gave no satisfaction, but looked darkly
and gravely wise whenever approached, and
BY an ominous twitch of the
facial muscles, gave the impression
that the Grim Reaper's scythe was hanging
over the Merrill mansion. At last the As
ISOLATED Press reporter unleashed his imag-
ination and sent out a dispatch saying Mr..
Merrill had suffered severe stroke of paral-
ysis and would probably never again resume
active labors. This story was repeated in
modified form by other reporters, and Mr.
Merrills numerous friends were filed with
alarm. The GLOBE correspondent has it
from a gentleman of veracity who is init
mate with Mr.. Merrill, that there was no
paralysis about the case. 1t was simply re-
fusal of an oycrworked system to longer
serve its unrelenting task master. Mr.. Mer-
rill has worked upward in the railroad bust
ness from the position of gang boss, and as
a consequence is so thoroughly acquainted
with the details of the work from A to z that
he cannot let GO and be content with reports
from his subordinates. The gentleman re-
ferred to demonstrated with Mr.. Merrill, tell
ing him he was killing himself, but added,
81 suppose if box car vera to overturn out
at Wauwatosa you would go there and help
get it on again. eyes," replied the vete-
ran, II must see it ALL" Mr.. Merrill is so
far improved that he will start for southern
California next Monday, with his family, in