The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-08-08
THE VETERANS.
Grand Army Reunion at Old
Orchard.
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE
PRESENT.
The Greatest Throng Ever at Old
Orchard.
SPEECHES RY MIR. BLAINE, GOV.
RORIE, HON. H. B. REED,
AND OTHERS.
Special to the Preas.)

their human freight at an early hour. Veter-
ans OF the war, with their Grand Army
badges, were everywhere present Trains
from Portland, Saco and Biddeford were arriv-
ing every fifteen minutes. Mr.. Blaine, Con-
gresham Dingley, Gov. Robbie, Collector Dow,
Col Crockett and George d. Bsbee came out
from Portland in a special car, which followed
the regular train which ia due at Old Orchard
at 9.13. They were met at the station by Supt,
Furber Of the Boston & Maine railroad, w. T..
Eusts, George M. Seiders and John f. Lamb
OF the reception committee, Department Com
mander Benjamin Williams of Rockland, B.
f. Beals, Assistant Quartermaster General,
and John Deering, ESQ, Commander of the
Grand Army Post at Saco Gov. Robbie and
Mr.. Blaine walked arm-in-arm to the Old
Orchard House, the other distinguished people
following in the rear
As Mr.. Blaine's familiar face and form was
seen emerging from the car door, grand
hurrah was at once commenced, and it did not
cease until he had taken his room at the Old
Orchard House. The vast and enthusiastic
crowd followed him the whole length of the
plank walk, up the steps, across the piazza,
into the halls, and even to the room which he
was to occupy, SO great was their love for the
man, anC so eager were they to catch glimpse
OF James G. Blaine, the Republican candi-
date for President of the United States. Mr..
| Blaine and his party we're given the elegant
| bridal chamber on the Office floor.
Among those who were admitted to his
presence were Col Mark Wentworth of Kit
| terry, Collector Dow of Portland, Gov Robe,
| Col. A. F. Crockett of Rockland, and John P.
Swasey of Canton, of Gov. Robes Council
George D. Bisbee, U. S. Marshal at Portland;
| Hon. S. j. Campbell of Cherryfeld, and Hon.
Roscoe L. Bowers OF Saco, members of Gov.
| Plaisted's Council; congressman Reed and
Dingley, Judge Cleaves, Hon. W. L. Putnam,
Benjamin Williams, the Department Com
mander; E. M. Shaw, ex-Department CON-
mander; John T. Lamb, W. T. Eustis, Geo.
| M. Seiders, besides number of Grand Army
men. About an hour was taken up in hand
shaking and general conversation, after which
came grand reception to Mr.. Blaine in the
large parlors.
The reception committee, Messrs. Lamb,
Eustis add Sei6ers, headed by the G. A. b.,
Department Commander Benjamin Williams
of Rockland, escorted Mr.. Blaine, who leaned
| vi bnO AZ "a OOl EISu iOW OI 1OrLlduQ,
across the halls. through the music room, to
the large psrlors, where the reception was to
| take place.
| MIR. Blaine took his stand in front of the
| grand piano, facing the ball room. On his
right we're Collector Dow of Portland, Col. a.
| f. Crockett of Rockland, John P. Swasey of
Canton, Congressman Dingley of Lewiston,
| Geo. D. Bisbee, U. S. MAJ shall at Port and,
Samuel j. Campbell of Cherry field, John f.
Lamb oil the reception committee, w T.
Eustls, tho temperance candidate for Cover
nor. On his left were Gov. Robbie, Post
master Parker of Portland, George M.
Soldiers of the reception committee, Rev.
Thos. lyric of Salmon Falls, N. Il B. F.
Bsals Of Auburn, Assistant Adiutant General,
John Deerng, Esq, Commander of Fred s.
| Quincy G. A. r. Post at Saco, and Depart
ment Commander Williams of hockland.
The vast throng which had assembled
to be hopored by hand shaking from
Mr.. Blaine passed through the music
room, then into the psrlors, directly
in front, where the reception took
place. The arrangement for the reception was
| first cIass. Most of the crowd was kept back
| in the ball room aud made to await their turn
number o. G. A. r. men stood in the centre
| of the entrance to the reception room, forming
| passage way on each side of them. Four at
time, the people we're allowed to lass in on
the right OF this committee, shake Mr.. Blaine
| by the hand and pass out on the left. This
modus operandi was kept up for a full hour,
| while steady stream of men, women and
children took Mr.. Blaine by the hand, for all
| of whom ha had some word, which was differ
ent in every instance, as your reporter stood
| directly behind Mr.. Blaine and heard and saw
| all that passed. The women were very en-
thusiastic toward him. One woman on taking
his hand, looked into his face and said Mr..
| Blaine, L am only TOO sorry that | can't vote
for you" People from all over the country
were present. who gave Mr.. Blaine many
encouraging words and all assured
him OF their cordial support in Novem-
Der. I'VE are from Ohio said one
| party; "We are from Pennsy lvania," said an
other; "We are from Illinois," said still an.
other. To "a little party from Chicago Mr..
Blaine remarked: Every happy to receive
| YOU" Many we're the greetings of "Good
luck, " "Wish you success" &C., &c., to all of
which Mr.. Blaine politely and aptly responded.
To the greeting "Our next President" Blaine
modestly responded, POSSIBLY, sir.'' His
bearing and demeanor won the hearts of all
who saw him and took him by the hand.
| There must have bsen fully five thousand
people who were present at this grand recep-
ton to the first citizen in the land. After the
reception Mr.. Blaine repaired to his room
when, after little while, dinner as served
kN AI.ON
Messrs- Blaine and Robbie dined at the Old
Orchard House in the public dining hall. At
| the table were Hon. T. B. Reed, Nathan
Cleaves, Congressman Dingley, ex-Gover nor
Conner, Councillors Hon. J. P. Swasey, and
Hon. A. f. Crockett Col. F. N. Dow, and Col.
| S. f. Campbell. In the centre OF the table
was pyramid of dollhouse flowers. Mr..
Blaine occupied the centre chair.
About 130 Glovers Band of Auburn, march
ed up to the Old Orchard House and soon
carriages arrived which were to convey the
Blaine PARTY to the Camp Ground. Five car
riages containing the distinguished persons
were driven to the Camp Ground, where a
large crowd were already waiting. The seats
will accommodate ten thousand people, and
not show of seat was to be obtained, when
the largo crowd, which accompanied the band
and the escorting battalion over, arrived
there.
The crowd now rapidly arriving at once
filled the aisles and all the available space in
the vicinity of the seats, after which they be-
gan to form in large numbers all around the
seats and EVEN back of the speakers stand.
There was probably all of twenty thousand
people, which constituted the largest audi
ence, ever before assembled at Old Orchard.
Congressman Thos B. Reed in his speech, said
it was the largest audience which he ever be-
fore faced. Upon the arrival Of the speakers.
the speech making at once commenced. De-
paitment Commander Williams made few
fitting remarks, introducing Gen. Selden Con-
nor of the seventh and nineteenth Maine regi-
ments as the first speaker.
He spoke of the grand deeds of the G. A. r.,
the principle of right and integrity which sus-
taiDs them to great duties, and welcomed the
comrades in stirring fve-minutes speech.
He was followed by Gov. Robe, who said he
was most happy to be here as representative