St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-31
SALTWATER NEWS.
Decoration Days Proceedings--Bea eau
tiful Weather and Large
Attendance.
Decoration, Day.

DeCOrltlOm Days
Decoration day came in most auspiciously.
There was gentle breeze blowing, and the
suns rays were softened by a somewhat
hazy atmosphere. 1t was just such day
as one would wish for the important bust
ness that was to be transacted. At an early
hour the veterans were seen en- the streets
dressed in regulation blue, and all with the
emblem of the Grand Army over their
hearts. There was little done in the city in
the way of the spread of bunting to show
that it was day that should be held in re-
membrance by every citizen of the United
States, but some three or four had the ma
tional colors at half mast. AT 9 o'clock q
detachment of Muller Post No. 1, &. A. r.,
consisting of eighteen men and two officers
went with carriages to South Saltwater to
do due hOnOrs to their comrades resting III
the two cemeteries at that place. They
first saluted, by kneeling reverently. the
graves of those who were in the Protestant
cemetery, the drum corps, composed OF the
Foster brothers, marking time for the men.
They next presented their floral offerings
to those resting in the Catholic cemetery.
But it was in the afternoon that the prin-
cipal ceremonies took place. At 2 o'clock.
the hour set for the procession to start, a
sudden storm came up, but it quickly
passed over. The procession formed on
Main street, facing north from Muller Post
hall. First came detachment of four po-
lcemen, next followed st. MichaePs Parish
Drum corps, consisting of eighteen boys.
They were followed by Company K, NJ. n.
g., forty strong; then came the members of
Muller post, G. A. r., some sixty strong.
and Immediately behind them came the
Sons of Herman, and they were followed by
carriages, while the streets were lined on
either side by those vending their way to
Fairview cemetery. The music by the drum
corps was excellent, and Maj. Foster may
well be proud of his boys.
On arriving at the cemetery, those taking
part in the exercises came to stand at the
east side of the grounds, where Myron
Sheppard, marshal of the day, took charge.
The Rev. Dr. Dunn offered a
most appropriate prayer, which
was listened to by thousands who
had assembled to witness the proceedings
Adjtant Taylor then read the different
orders for the calling of the assembly. The
quartet, consisting OF Mrs. L. s. Davis,
Miss Laura Dexter and MeSsrs. Haskell and
Masterman. then rendered in an excellent
manner ''COver with Blossoms Those Com
rades of Ours" Miss Agnes Greene then
gave recitation, You put One Flower on
Papa's Grave, which caused the mbidden
tears to rise from those who feared not the
bullets of the foe, and sobs were heard on
every side. Miss Greene won every heart Oh
the grounds by her pathetic appeal, to those
especially who had lost loved ones.
Comrade Rev. w. H. Harrington then
delivered the Grafton of the day. He took
as his theme Peace. He said that those who
were before him as veterans were every inch
soldiers during the time of war, and they
were now patriots in the time OF peace.
The questions now before us were similar
to those which had been before us in his
tory. The mission of the Abolitionist was
to liberate the slave. the patriots mission
was to emancipate the dOwntrOdden, to
unite capital and labor. He warned them
against political methods and dangers, and
closed with plea for peace-that disputes
between countries should not be settled by
war, but by fair discussion all such dis
puteS should be settled.
The uuartete then sang "America, +" and
the post proceeded to decorate the graves.
which owing to the number occupied con-
siderable time. The flowers were very
handsome, and those having friends in
tered in this beautiful resting place for the
dead had also shown their remembrance of
them, the graves being generally decorated.
Since last Decoration day two of the mem
5ers of Merrill post have been laid at rest,
William Smith and Stephen Fl. DanfOrth.
In the list of deceased comrades published
in Fridays GLOBE the name of Capt.
Thomas ST. Clair was omitted. The pro-
ceedngs passed off without single hitch,
and all were pleased with what they saw
and heard. The attendance at the ceme-
terry was very great, and in some cases the
post had difficulty to approach the graves.