The National tribune., 1884-08-28
BELLEF0NTE.
The Annual Encampment Of the GA.
R. of Pennsylvania.
CAMP CURTIN,

CAMP CURTIN,
BELLEFoNTR, Pa. Aug. %, 1854.
The Seth semi-annual Encampment of the
Department of Pennsylvania commenced on
Saturday morning last and broke up this MORN
ing TO the great relief doubtless of the citizens
of Bellefonte, who are unused TO the excite
ment and turmoil that have marked the past
week
THE CAMP
was located on the County Fair Grounds, about
three-quarters of a mile from town, a spot well
adapted for the purpose, the principal draw
back being want of shade during the intense
heat that lasted the whole week. Seven hun
drod "a" terts, 76 wall and four hospital tents
had been pitched, the camp being laid out in
regular military order, the main portion being
on the top of quite high hill, on which also
are located the county fair buildings.
Early on Saturday morning Posts from the
neigh boring counties commenced to arrive,
those from a distance coming in later in the
day. The only one from Philadelphia attend
ing in body was Post 81, while from the other
end of the State, Post S. Of Pttsburg, was alone,
! although comrades from many other Posts
came in small delegations. From the interior
counties however they came with full ranks,
and by Saturday evening there were not less
than 500 in camp. Department Commander
Dyer, Asst Adj't-Gen. Stewart and Comrades
Sellers and Bartran, of the Department Staff,
came out on Thursday morning, and, together
with The valuable assistance of Junior Vice De-
partment Commander Austin Curtin, who lives
in the immediate vicinity, had everything in
SUCH COMPLETE READINESS
that as fast as the comrades arrived their quar-
tiers were assigned to them, and all they had to
do was to take possession of them and make
themselves comfortable which an old soldier
can do in very short time. The camp is plen-
tifully supplied with deliciously cool, limestone
spring water, which is distributed on the
ground through pipes, and all the tents were
furnished with an abundance Of fresh, clean
straw. only needing blanket spread upon it
TO make il a soft and comfortable bed.
Let me here say few words about
THE GRAND SPRING
that furnishes Bellefonte with all its water and
from which the town takes its name. The en-
| gineer in charge of the water works informed
/ ME that the spring has fiOw of 164 600 gallons
/ per minute, and its temperature only varies
about i the whole year round, being $40 in
/ Summer and SIC III Winter. So thoroly is il
| impregnated with lime that if spigot is turn
ed on at a full head the water will present a
milky appearance, although if il is allowed to
stand it becomes as clear as crystal in few mo-
ments The water is forced up into reservoir
/ on top of high hill about half mile away,
/ whence 1t is distributed through the town
! out TO the fair grounds. Tie waste water from
the works forms a stream 80 feet in width
and two or three feet deep, and by the use of
dams has been utilized to form the motive
power OF several workshops. No fire engines
arc required IN the town, the force of wafer in
4 the pipes being sufficient to carry it through
/ hose 10 the tops of the highest buildings.
All day long on Saturday
CROWDS OF STRANGERS
poured into the town, and before night its
population was for the time more than doubled;
/ the hotels, Of which there are several quite
/ good ones, were filed in every part, and private
dwellings were turned into boarding houses.
At o'clock in the evening, when the air
commenced 10 cool a little, line was formed
/ by all the comrades in camp, and headed by
/ the Department Commander and staff mount
/ ed, and the Neccacoe Band marched into
the town to the open space surrounding the
courthouse, where they were massed and list
ened TO
AN ADDRESS OF WELCOME
from Ex-Governor Andrew g. Curtin, who was
waiting to receive them. His speech, though
not long one, was full of that thrilling elo-
quenee with which he was won't to arouse the
enthusiasm of the boys in blue nearly quar-
| ter of a century ago when they were on their
way 10 the front, and he presented their regi-
mental colors to them. Many who listened to
him at that time were present now, and a
flash of pride lighted up their eyes as the
/ old war Governor referred to the grand rec
ord they had made. He concluded his ad-
4 dress by extending a cordial welcome to the
/ town of Bellefonte, and the hope that the
comrades would have TO the full that enjoy
ment which they had so richly earned. After
the tumultuous applause which greeted the
address had subsided, Department Com
nander Dyer responded, returning thanks for
/ the hearty welcome extended and the assur-
ance OF ITS full appreciation. In concluding
he said We believe, sir. that the men who
| helped save the Nation and won for themselves
name and place in history, have right to
/ enjoy this name WOE on hard fought battle
fields In their own way. We trust, however,
that when we come 10 take our departure from
your town we shall have done nothing to reflect
upon the honor or credit of single member of
| the Grand Army of the Republic, and that
/ viii continue worthy of the confidence and
trust reposed in US by this great State and
/ Nation
During nearly all of Saturday night, as is
usual on the first night, the camp was in an
uproar, the
LAMBS" OF POST 5,
Of Philadelphia, being at the head and front of
the whole business, ably assisted by Post No.
800, Of York. With drums, tin horns of all
sizes and degrees of discordant noise, and big
"bull" crackers, they visited headquarters,
complimenting the officers with an ear-splitting
seTenade and fusilade, and then wandered
around camp paying their respects to their
! NSNhtAs IOuiAdGc5 IL S4tSp u0lii near Gay-
light was impossible and anathemas, both loud
and deep, were poured upon the heads of the
frisky Lambs"
! EARLY on SUNDAY MORNING
both town and camp were astir, and so appar-
emily was the whole country around judging
from the stream of visitors that soon SET in 1t
had been announced that religious services
would be held at 1870, and long before that
hour the circus tent that had been erected ON
the race-course for the purpose, was filled as to
the seats, every one being occupied, the ma
Jorlty by ladies, so that when the time arrived
for opening the exercises and the boys in camp
crowded in seating themselves on the ground
or standing wherever there was a vacant spot
there was probably larger congregation as
| sembled on that hot August morning than In
any church in the country.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
The service was commenced by singing the
old familiar hymn " Rock of Ages" and, accom-
panied by the Weccacoe Band, all united in
singing IT with spirit that carried the sweet
strains 70 the most remote corners Of the camp.
After prayer and singing another old hymn
known TO all, Jesus, Lover of My Soul" De
partment Chaplain, Rev. John w. Sayers
; preached an eloquent sermon from the text
Proverbs, 1874 Righteousness exalteth a
nation" The address was really a mastery
effort, and was listened to with close and rev.
erent attention, the Chaplain afterwards re.
ceivipg warm congratulations from many upon
3 the beauty and appropriateness of his discourse
! Comrade Savers has filled his resDonsble nosi.