, 1888-05-31
A GREAT DAY.
An Unprecedented Celebration Yes
terday.
Memorial Day Observed as Never
Before.
About 1000 Men in Line in the
Parade.
Exercises at the Cemeteries and
Church Services.

Decoration day was observed with sol
emnity and celebrated with eclat. Let
one imagine the commingling oil several
thousand people, the martial tread Oh
hundreds OF uniformed men and the IN
spiring strains of half a dozen bands and
the mind picture gives the thinker a liant
idea of Memorial Day in Cheyenne. There
were two sides of the festival, however.
When the music hushed and the marchers
halted beside the grave of some departed
veteran the gay thoughts were chased
away by the gravity Of the moment, and
the associations vivldly brought to mind
by speculatious as to the earthly career of
he whose remains lay beneath the mound
on which his comrades who had survived
the struggle placed floral tokens. Heads
were barred when the post commander
read the memorial service and the salutes
fred sounded unlike the reports of ordi-
nary firearms. AS the rifles belched
forth the roar seemed to repeat and re-
echo the all pervading sentiment of the
decorators of the graves of the high and
low alike.
In the forenoon John f. Reynolds Post
G. A. r. and Select knights, Magic City
Legion No. /, L. o. y. F., and many
other citizens, boarded a special train and
visited Fort Russell. On arrival they
were treated to an unusually pretty sight.
The entire command, Col. Ofiey in
charge, was drawn up on the parade
ground in full dress.
The Veterans and the A. o. U. w.
formed near the depot, and on entering
the post fell in behind the troops, when
the entire column, with the splendid 18th
infantry band at the head, moved toward
the military cemetery. Here the graves
of about fifty veterans, for the most part
deceased members of the 9Th cavalry, were
decorated. Commander Fisher and other
q. a. r. officers conducted the regulation
services and the select squad fired a salute.
The families of the officers and all the
civilians employed about the post wit
0eSSeu Ine eAeTClSeS.
From half an hour after the moor hour
until 2:3O o'clock sightseers continually
jostled against uniformed men. 1t seemed
as though every able bodied citizen had
suddenly come to a deep realization of the
fact that it was his solemn duty to parade
with some society. After the veterans,
volunteer firemen predominated as a mat
ter of course. The flame fighters, espe-
cially the Alerts in their new habliments,
presented a very neat appearance. NJ
merous ho'semen rode about the streets
after the style OF cavalry officers, frighten-
ing women and children, and putting their
fiery steeds through their PAGES without
harming anyone. Music was heard in
every direction and the city bore a gala
appearance befUting the occasion.
The arrival of the troops from Fort
Russell ct LAS was a gratifying surprise
to all and particularly pleasing to the vet
Grams. With patriotism worthy the cause
they had marched from the post. After
making efforts the G.. A. R.
committee had failed to secure transport
alton for the troops and were inclined to
look upon the matter as rather discour-
aging. Gen. Miner and Col. Offley de-
termined that the citizens should not be
disappointed and at the last moment is
sued orners i%nsuring the presence of the
regulars, They invaded the city via Sew
enteenth street, halted with the head of
the column near the city hall and were
greeted with loud cheering. Several am
balances contained the ladies of the post.
The work of forming the parade was no
small task. Under the direction of Mar
shal Jeffrey it was accomplished in good
time without confusion. Each division
formed near the intersection of Eddy and
Seventeenth streets. So soon as any So
ciety was prepared to move the assistant
marshal in charge notified Chief of Staff
Stoll and the body was Immediately as
signed to a position. The marshal's aids
we're: w. r. Stoll, chief. NJ. p. Hanni-
fin, L. Bon, l. G. jerks. Jos. Granger,
Jr., and Herbert Moon. They were val
liable assistants
The lowest estimate made of the num-
Der in line does not fall below 1000.
When the column was swelled by the adj
dition of a myread of school children at
the Central building. The number exceed
the figures given.
Col. Jeffrey, marshal of the day, at.
tended by his staff, pilloted the pedestrl-