The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-05-06
CAMP FIRE.
The Members of Butte and Deer Lodge
Posts Of the G.. A. r. Give 3
Royal Banquet.
Warm Congratulations and Speeches
Of Welcome rendered to Their
Commander in Chief,

Of the Grand Army Of the Republic
arrived in the city last evening in
company with Captain J. III. Mills
(editor of the New North Vest Sen.
ior Vice-Department Commander;
Howard Zsnor, Senior Vice-Com.
mapder of Geo. II. Thomas Post; L.
Goyerney, Junior Vice. Commander,
and s. Glover, who acted as an escort
from Deer Lodge. The party was
met by q delegation FROM Lincoln
Post under Commander Charles s.
Warren, and conducted in carriages
to the Mt. Vernon Hotel. Judge Ad.
vocate General D. r. Austin did not
arrive. being called away to WalIa
Walla.
The expectant arrival of their dis
tingulshed Comm ander was bright
ened by a general invitation to all
comrades Of the Grand Army of the
Republic to participate in the recep-
tion and Banquet, and to do honor
to one of the nation's greatest de-
Tenders,
During the afternoon the Court
House had been appropriately deco
rated for the occasion, and In the
evening presented a fine appearan ee.
Directly over the grand entrance
hung Japanese lanterns of variegated
cOlOrs, among great profusion of the
stars and stripes, while just inside of
the hallway, surmounttd i by the stars
and stripes. was spread an arch with
the words '::WelcOine to our Com
mander," The electric light whi, b
sLone on th' 50 decorations added an
exhilaratlng effect to the whole
scene. On each side of the door stoGd
two sentrits in full uniform With
guns and bay pnets tixed.
These preparations excited good
deal of attention and long before the
hour for the camp fire,
gathered about the Court
House eager to participate in the
general welcome to the comrades of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
When the c0mraC es, preceded by the
Union Guards band, arrived, the
streets were black with a surging
mass of people, which made way for
their passage.
The camp fire and general recep-
lion was held in the court room,
which proved almost inadequate to
nod the large crowd that was pres
mt. The evening programme began
With s,me very exec lient music,
which was rendered by the as ,istance |
If Colonel jerks, Mrs. Diven aud !
Mrs. Cowan and all joined in the
inging of "AuId Lang Syne" and
America with genuine earnestness,
without formality or ceremony. An
Lir of freedom and good feel Dg
eemed to pervade all present and it
vas consequently devoid OF that
tiffness that usually a:ter'zes
arge state receptions. It was u jovial
of old war veterans, who
anne as one, bound to weic me the
rrival of q cOmrade.
After the singing, comrade Charles
J. Warren, in the absence Of the
senior Vice Department Commander
ntroiuced G. Z. Frost, who deliv-
red All able address appropriate to
be oceasi,n H'opened with .lat-
az little historical incident of how
small baud of people two and
alf cenlurits ago ca he t this cOun-
~ trusting III God, whose first act
u reaching here was to bow in
nankfu ness. Tuey went into the
,rt st and cut logs that they might
rect q shelter for Themselves and
leir families, but their labOrs did
OF end here. They then built
luch larger structure and edicAted
to God. He believed that the Gcd
'ho led them, looked down, and saw
rat their plan was Alright. For two
nd halt centuries they have lifted
,eir flag 10 the breeze. The flag
'hich was dearest to our hearts. f,r
'hich lives and liberty were sacri-
ced, and still floats over our lant-
d evidence that God has blessed the
ght. He recalled the tales OF
lood and warfare, which all heard
| buyhOod, with burning cheeks
ley knew not why, until some gray
aired sire Lade them think no more
it. Youth PAST d and manhood ctme
I'D with it came the call t) 60 in de-
nse of their country and homes.
hey hastened to the charge and the
orld never saw such scene-t!e
tisan, the preacher, men of all
asses, left their OCCUPATIONS aud
splayed f. ats of bravery and devc-
Oh not rivaled in the past. He cited
le thrilling scenes OF Chickahorni' y,
Anderson ami Bell Isle,
I'd their result, ,ln men manned and
stigured all over the Union then
c ured the homes of the. widows and j
therless !; of those who went to [
, battle but never returned. ,
hen he contrasted the change
that time twenty years ago, when
70 country was drenched with tears
I'd bl, odshed, and mourning at 1
,ery fireside, with he happie times of
e prese mt, when the entire nation the {
orfh o,,d S,nfh n o,olI tOuot or aa .