The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-01-21
PA. PRISONERS OF WAR.
Second Annual Meeting OF the Iackawanna Ass0-
ciation-Lecture and Banquet.


Whoever labors under the idea that all the
energy and goahcadativeness in the country is
to be found in the newborn States of the great
West will be undeccived by visit to the
thriving city of Scranton, in the heart of the
coal regions Of Pennsylvania Here is a
place that in 1853 was little mountain
village. In 1860 it had grown to be small
city of 10000 inhabitants. Ten years later
it had begun to put on real metropolitan airs
with population of $4,000, and now it boasts
moro than double that number. The 10000
that it claims BOW are as active, energetic men
and women as can be found anywhere under
the shadow of the flag. The city fairly huns
with industry, and wherever one goes about its
streets he finds men and women at work with
a will. The secret of the success lin addition to
the enterprise and industry of the people, are
its magnificent coal fields, which are not
surpassed anywhere in the world, and
the industries which depend upon an
abundant supply of excellent fuel flourish
there like the traditional bay tree. OF course
in such a community one expects to find COM
rades of the GAR. in The fore front and thor
oughly imbued with the spirit of the day. Such
is the case in Scranton. Nowhere can be found
any more wide-awake men than Comrades
Ezra III. Ripple, Frederick s. Amsden, j. Y. G..
Department Of Pennsylvania, E. L. Buck, and
others. These are successful business men,
and fully abreast of any competitors and in
slant in season and out of season in everything
that will promote the welfare Of the city
in which they feel so much pride. Two
years ago the Ex-Prisouers of War of the
County and neighborhood organized themselves
into an association, which has gained in num-
bers and rapidly strengthened the bond of COM
radeship among its members. The second an
nual meeting was held on the 14th inst, with
a large attendance. The officers for the pre-
ceding year were reelected, to wit:
President-Halsey Lathrop, Archibald.
-Presidents-Robert NJ. Ennis, Wilkes
Barre; Capt. Samuel E. Bryant, Carbondale.
Secretary-Ezra III. Ripple, Scranton.
Treasurer-S S. Hayer, Sand Cut.
Chaplain-W. J. Scott, Belbend.
Standard DEMONSTRATION Mcfarland, Scran-
ton; Maj. O. 4. Parsons, Parsons.
Executive Committee-Capt. G. W. Simpson,
Nanticoke; Geo. Hudson, Carbondale; e. l..
Mercereau, Scranton.
Among those present was Gen. E. L. Dana, n
veteran who bore an honorable TGrt in two
wars. In the Mexican war he commanded
battery Of artillery from the Wyoming Valley,
and in the rebellion went out III command of
the I43d Pa. At the first days fight at Get
tysburg when his brigade commander was
stricken down he took command OF the brigade
and commanded it splendidlyduriDg the engage
ment, and for large portion of the time until
he was taken prisoner during the Wilderness
campaign. he IS held IN high esteem by the
old soldiers Of the country, and has been re-
peatedly elected to the Bench by the people.
He has now retired from the Bench, and feels
that his life work is fairly DONE but he retains
all the vigor of mind that distinguished him
during the days of his splendid usefulness in
the field.
On the evening of the 14th, John McElroy,
of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, delivered lecture
on Andersonville to a tair-sized audience in the
Opera House. After the lecture banquet was
held in the elegant dining rooms of the Wyom-
ing House, and attended by all the comrades
with their wives and in some instances their
sons and daughters. Gen. E. l.. Dana responded
to the first toast, "The Union and Constitution,
one and indivisible, now and forever" and
made an admirable little speech to it. Rev. S.
c. Logan who had large experience during
the war as Chaplain and agent Of the Govern
ment in various important commissions, re-
sponded to 1.-The brave men who laid down
their lives in defense of it," Rev. n. T. Stahl
responded to The noble women who made its
preservation possible by their loyal support and
heroic sacrifices" Comrade F. J. Arnsden re-
sponded in happy manner to the Grand
Army of the Republic in general and the De-
partment of Pennsylvania in particular"
Other speeches were made by Comrades P. ID.
Tracy, Ripple, r. n. Ennes, and Lothrop, and
the meeting did not break up until between
and clock in the morning.