The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-31
THE SLEEPING HEROES
Who Counted not their Lives
Dear unto Them
REMEMBERED BY THE LIVING.

a INLMLuDEAEb III 14AL Ia 4ANS
q Impressive Observance of Mcmoria
d Day Yesterday-Graves of thci
Dead Soldiers strcwn with
J. Springs Fragrant Flowers.
: As Memorial Day recurs each year,
I is source of growing satisfaction tina
,, the anniversary is observed and thos
who gave their lives for their countr,
. are honored as they should be. Their,
} was time when patriotic citizens o
, Wheeling with shame observed the day
go by unheeded. OF recent years the
city and the veterans have redeemed
themselves, and as II to atone for thu
past, have striven to make each Memo
rial Days observance more worthy anC
|, more memorable than the last.
Not since the day on which the Sol
diers' Monument was dedicated has
Wheeling seen more fitting or more
impressive observance OF the day than
yesterdays, and the interest was well
attested by the crowds who braved the
prospects Of rain and gathered in the
! City Hall Square to witness the public
services OF the Grand Army.
In the forenoon the different posts
met, and laden with flowers proceeded
in detachments to the different cemete-
ries in which lie buried their dead COM
rades, where the graves were strewn
with the fresh blossom OF spring, fit
emblems OF the peoples gratitude and OF
their living comrades undyinglove. At
each cemetery appropriate brief exer-
Cises were held.
DECORATING TIE GRAVES.
Z. W. Stephens Post had charge OF the
decoration ceremonies at Mt. Zion ceme-
terry, and also at the Red Mems grave
yard, detachment strewing flowers on
the small number Of soldiers graves in
the latter burial ground. At Mt. Zion,
besides the decoration ceremonies, there
were some pleasant exercises, including
an address by Capt. S. L. Brice, which
is spoken OF as one OF the best ever heard
here on similar occasion. There was
also music, declamations and the ritual
service OF the G. A. r. Willie L. Brice
read the memorial poem and Miss Mary
Ray read an appropriate poem.
At Greenwood cemetery Mr.. William
P. Hubbard did thoughtful and timely
thing, sending wagon load OF flowers
neatly arranged in baskets, which were
very acceptable to the veterans. At this
cemetery the services were held over the
grave OF Bickel Lukens, brave boy OF
Co. A, LIST w. Va. V. l., who fell ut
Snicker's Ford while fighting shoulder
to shoulder with @. E. Irwin, who MS
Post Commander Of Post SO, conducted
these services. Vice Commander Rich
ard Robertson had charge OF the detail
at Mt. Calvary, where the services were
conducted over the grave OF Nicholas
Ehrman, late OF Co. K. lst W. Va. Cav.
At Mt. Wood, Post Commander ]. A.
Faris, Chaplain Gilbreath anda detail OF
thirty members OF Holiday Post con-
Quoted the services at the grave OF Col.
Joseph Thoburn, and at the Peninsular
cemetery Lieut.. Feiber and Chaplain
Seeley otIiciated, with a large body OF
veterans.
THE PUBLIC EXERCISES.
AT each cemetery crowds of people
witnessed the ceremonies, and in the
afternoon an immense audience gathered
at the west front Of the Public Building,
where after the posts Of the G. A. r.,
Sons OF Veterans and other old soldiers
had marched over the route laid out in
yesterdays lNTELLIGENCRR, the formal
memorial exercises were held. Chaplain
Andrew Ray made the opening prayer,
after a patriotic medley by Kramer's
band, which added much to the sue.
cess of the occasion by its
appropriate music throughout. Prof. F.
II. Crago read the general orders from
the National and State headquarters, and
the services prescribed by the G. A. r.
ritual were then conducted by Comman-
der G. Z. Irwin, Senior Vice Commander
Oscar Seeley, Junior Vice Commander
w. S. Meek, Adjutant F. II. Crogo and
Chaplain Andrew Ray.
Following this Mr.. Frank Hennig
read the fine Memorial Day poem,
"Cover them Over with Beautiful Flow
ers." He read it impressively and well,
showing that he is thorough elocu-
zionist.
The band played Nearer, My God, to
Thee" and Mr.. A. w. Campbell, the
orator Of the day, was introduced.
MR.. cAMPBELL's ADDRESS.
Ftllow Cnisens Of he Grand army Of tic Republic,
Ladies' and Gentlemen:
This is the day set apart for commem.
orative exercises in honor OF those who
gave their lives for their country in the
great civil war that ended twenty.three
years ago, and in honor OF their many
comrades who surviving the dangers OF
the war have passed away since its ter
mination.
The observance OF this day began soon
after the closing OF the conflict by the
voluntary action Of the people them.
selves in all the loyal States OF the I'm.
ion. Their sympathy for the cause and
their affection and reverence for the
dead suggested the appropriateness OF
such commemorative exercises.
At a later day the Congress OF the
United States made this day a National
holiday and decreed in its honor that the
Executive departments OF the Govern
ment should be closed and their en-.
ployes afforded the opportunity to unite
with the people in honoring the memory
Of the defenders and preservers OF the
Union.
For this purpose then, fellow citizens,
we have assembled here this afternoon,
10 supplement the more important and
distinctive and impressive ceremonies
that have taken place earlier in the day,
when flowers were strewn by kind and
reverent hands on the graves Of the pa
triotic dead who sleep their last sleep in
our midst.
Notwithstanding the lapse OF time
that has occurred since the close OF the
war we are yet so near 10 it in the mem.
ory OF so many thousands who took part
in it, and Of the still greater number
who were then OF mature years, to whom
all its leading features and incidents are
90 familiar, that aspeaker called to take
part in these exercises may well ask
| ~. 90 l.. Al