Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-06-11
THE REUNION.
A MOST COMPLETE SUCCESS.
Over Twelve Thousand People in
Attendance.
All Former Annual Meetings of the s.
W. Wis. Veteran Association Eclipsed.
4 GENERAL REPORT.

The seventh annual reunion of the
Southwestern Wisconsin Veteran asso-
citation has for the past two days kept
Mineral Point in blaze of martial
display. At the time of going to
press the reunion is almost thing of
the past. but it is safe to say that it is
the most successful the association has
yet had. On both Wednesday and
Thursday mornings crowded excur-
sion trains from Brodhead and Lancas-
ter brought many veterans and others.
and the wagon roads leading to the
city were crowed with teams Up to
noon of Wednesday upwards of 400
veterans belonging to regiments from
nearly every state in the union, had
registered at the headquarters tent.
and the adjutant and two assistants
were kept constantly busy registering
the names of new arrivals, and sup
plying them with badges.
The words Of resident of Milwau-
kee who was present, descriptive Of the
elaborate decorations, will serve better
than anything else to describe the
opinion expressed by outsiders upon
the decorations which We're displayed
on every hand: Il never saw ANYTHING
to equal it in my life, either in the
prOfuSeneSS Of the decorations or in
their effectiveness" The four cornered
arch at the intersection of High and
Chestnut streets was a marvel in de
sign and construction. From stands
set at the four corners stairwayS led
upward to a large center-stand near
the tops of the adjacent buildings.
The bands of music. of which there
were nearly dozen, from Mineral
Point, Dodgeville, Monroe. Lancaster,
Linden. BrOdhead, Gratiot and Spring
Green, and other places. occupied the
upper stand, and kept the, air lively
with martial strains.q
At noon a long procession Of vet
Grams fell into line at the signal and
marched to the mess hall on Chestnut
street, wher they We're provided with
an ample dinner. furnished and served
by the ladies of Mineral Point and
vicinity.
At the reunion of Go. 1, Second Wis
consin volunteers, held yesterday after
noon, there We're twenty members pres
ent. This company was formed in
Mineral Point in 1861, and its first
captain was the present Gen. T. :. Al
len, of Oshkosh. It was called the
Miners Guards" and contained lOl
members. The first reunion of the
company was held last year at Madison
during the Iron Brigad" reunion. The
survivors who are present now are:
Gen. r. :. Allen, Oshkosh; Capt Cor
nelius Wheeler. Milwaukee: Capt. Ed
Devlin. Sergt. Geo. .Jeuck, G.. j. Gold
thorp, J. b. Prideaux, NJ. W. Terrill. u.
Z. Beech, Geo Harris, G. Mauger, sam
uel Coker, all of Mineral Point; Sergt.
Jas. Gregory, Corp. Jno. Granville. r.
:. Jacobs, Linden: Philip Lawrence,
Arlington, Oak; VIM. LoUfborrow,
Darlington; Chris. keSSler. W. \. Ow-
ems, DodgevilIe; Geo. Wilkinson, Milf
film; VIM. Richards, Nebraska.
The afternoon was passed in social
manner, and in listening to the musical
strains that proceeded from the grand
arch, the different bands taking turns
i'll playing. After supper about 200
veterans, including a number of mem
bers of Iegate post who marched to-
gether, and the Monroe guards and
Darlington rifles, drew up in line and
were reviewed by Commander Steven
son. As soon as it became dark the
FIambeau Torch Club commenced a
procession about the principal streets
of the city. Not less than forty per
sons We're in procession, and from their
line of march proceeded a constant bat
terry of many-colored Roman candle
fire balls. The whole city was iilumi-
mated in a manner seldom equaled. for
brilliancy, and the scene as the club
marched up High street was one never
to be forgotten. Chinese lanterns were
swung from every available point, the
grand arch being perfectly wreathed
with them. Numerous sly-rockets
We're sent off from the arch, and the
beautiful scene was witnessed by an
immense throng,
About 9 o'clock the crowd was called
to order by Adjutant Thos. Priestley,
who introduced Capt. c. H. Baxter as
president of the evening. Mr.. Baxter
made a few remarks, and was followed
by Gen. T. ). Allen, Lieut.-Gov. John
/ c. Smith. of Illinois, Phil. Cheek. of
Baraboo, and others. The campfire
lasted until late at night. and even then
/ the crowd seemed unwilling to dis
perS2.
/ During the speech making a section
of the grand stand. which was crowded
with people, fell beneath their weight
and came near creating panic. Two
boys who were beneath the platform
were the only persons injured. and their
injuries Were slight.
Thursday morning was delightful as
to weather. and the crowds commenced
to gather early. At $50 O'Clock
occurred a grand parade and review OF
veterans and militia, after which eXer-
cises at the grand stand were com
. "a