The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-31

Observance of Decoration Day at Va
rious Points.
New York, Brooklyn, Washington
City, Chicago and other Points
Honor the Brave Boys
of 1861.

WASHINGTON CRY, May 3l.-The weather
is cool and breezy, and the sky is partly
cloudy, a circumstance in the highest degree
favorable for the outdoor ceremonies and
memorial exercises at the soldiers graves
All the public buildings and banks
were closed throughout the day, and
private business houses closed their
Ioors at noon The principal pro-
lcessiun, composed of the Grand Army posts,
formed on Ninth and Tenth streets, and
headed by the Marine band, marched at 10
O'Clock via Pennsylvania avenue to the Ma
tional cemetery at Arlington Heights. The
procession there disbanded and spent a
couple of hours decorating graves with
flowers and evergreens. At noon the
Veterans and the SPECTATORS reassembled
at the amphitheatre and listened to
the reading of a poem by Will Carleton
and an Grafton by Hon Stewart L. Wood
ford, of New York. The cemetery, was
covered with floral tributes.
Three or four THOUSAND persons visited the
Congressional cemetery, where the soldiers
graves were decorated under the supervis ion
Of a committee of the Grand Army Special
services were here held over the grave of Col
A. b. Meacham, Of Modoc war fame
The ceremonies at the Soldiers Home we're
similar to those at Arlington. Hon. William
t. Price, of Wisconsin, was oratorof the day,
and he had among his hearers cluster of
distinguished army and navy officers, vet
Grams of the late war, some of them retired.
The Second Artillery band furnished appro-
PIRATE music.
Committees of the Grand Army visited
,,oI = 81. al.
wood and Battle Ground cemeteries, and the
German Veterans union held memorial
services over the graves of the German
soldiers at Prospect cemetery. There
was no diminution of former interest
taken in the day. All the monuments
in the numerous parks Of the city are
wreathed with evergreens, and flags are
floating from all the public and many private
buildings.
About 900 excursionists especially Grand
Army men, with their families, who had al
ready taken part in the commemoration here,
departed for the battle field at Fredericks-
burg. Va, where interesting ceremonies were
held.
CHICAGO, May 3l.-The observance of
Decoration day here was general among the
members Of thee A. r. and other societies
The feature was a procession of military and
civic societies which paraded the principal
streets and addresses at the Lake Front
park, where a memorial column of flowers
had been erected Here also stand had been
built from which addresses were delivered by
Rev. DR.. Barrows and Emery A. Storrs.
Addresses were also delivered at the various
cemeteries in the vicinity of the city, and
| thousands Of people crowded all the lines of
communication with the cities Of the dead,
carrying flowers to plant and strew on tn
graves of those who died in the defense of thu
Union, and other departed loved ones.
! CINCINNATI, May 81. The day for the
| work of decorating the soldiers graves opened
! auspiciously. The sun shone brightly, and q
cool breeze made the temperature for march
| ing comfortable. The popular interest in the
celebration was demonstrated by the crowd
| that appeared along.the line of march. At Sa.
m. the posts of G. A. r. began to assemble on
Fifth street Market square, from whence
they proceeded to take the train for Spring
grove. Flowers in the procession were plenti-
| full and the designs beautiful The railroad
trains and street cars were crowded with
| people carrying baskets Of flowers and bo-
DUETS going in the direction of the GENE
| teres.
New YORK, May 3l.-The day dawned
| bright and clear with a cool breeze The
| cemeteries were thronged with the Grand
| Army and friends of soldiers. The military
parade was the event Of the day, and formed
on Fifty-eighth street and moved down Fifth
| avenue. It was reviewed and dismissed
at Union square. Flags and bunting were
| displayed everywhere and there were crowd:
! in carriages, among whom were President
| Arthur, Gen. Hancock, Mayor Edison, anG
! Gen. Butler, who was the orator of the day
The latter vas loudly cheere1 along the line
1 even more Than the president.
I BRooKLTN, n. Y, May 3i.-DecoratioI
| day was generally observed as a holiday
| throughout the city. All the municipal
| building, courts. etc, We're closed. The par
| aie was unusually fine, and was reviewed q
| Fort Green by Gels. Sheridan, Grant anC
Sherman, and Mayor Low After the par
ade the Grand Army posts visited tho GENE
teries and decorated the graves of their dead
comrades.
4 GETTYSBURG, Pa, May Sl.-The largest
crowd ever assembled here on Decoration
day gathered at the National cemetery
There was parade at the cemetery, and thu
ceremonies were by the Grand Army. Tn
graves were decorated by children. The ora
ton was by Martin Maginnis, of Maryland
PHILADELPHIA, May S0-There was
general observance Of Decoration day
Members of the Grand Army and citizen
crowded the cemeteries.
RICHMOND, Va, May 3l-Federal Decora
ton day was generally observed. The grave
at national cemeteries were strewn wit
| flowers