The new North-west., 1888-09-28

DAAxl AODo11
! HE COLUMBUS ENCAMPIENf.
A Few Notes Of the Greatest Encampmen
Ever Held by the g. A.. R
| Stxty-hve thousand Veterans March to the Ok
Music Of the Union.
The greatest Military pageant ever seen OF
this Continent, was that in Washington City
In 1865, when the armed legtons Of Grant and
sherman, fresh from Appomatox and the
march to the Sea, passed in Grand Review
OF the Commanderin-C Chief and the grea,
Field Marshals Of the Republic, as peace
dawned again upon our great land after
the awful night of war. Its counterpart and
complement was that great civic pageant in
Columbus, September 11th, 1883, when &, 900
unarmed veterans, carrying the banners Of
Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, to the mus
| 10 OF 156 brass and martial bands, marched
twelve abreast through five miles of magni.
hcent avenues and streets decorated with
hags and bunting from kerb to flagstaff,
while 100000 spectators filled streets, side
walks, windows, balconys and house tops,
and shouted themselves hoarse as division
after division swept past with colors, en-
blems and banners that were recognized and
honored. It was glorious day. The Grand
Army Of the Republic had gathered in num-
oers unequalled before, and that it is believ-
cd, will never be equalled again. Ohio had
nine divisions of the seventeen in line, but
from Maine and California, from Montana,
New Mexico and Texas-from some thirty
States and Territories had come comrades
tojoin in this magnificent demonstration.
while least and last but cheered to the echo,
came three, comrades from Florida with q
crimson banner, clueched by the sacred Croc-
odile on which they had escaped the quaran-
tine.
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Columns and pages are inadequate to des-
cribe scene such as that presented The
heads Of Janus and the eyes of Argus could
not take in 1.-THE Of the points of interest
in the vast multitude, the magnificently dec
GRATED city, the notabilities or even the hu.
mors that could not be suppressed by the
boys in blue 1t was one of those great re-
union Of comrades, that one must be in and
a part of to realize, and that cannot be des.
cribed, unless with every line could be car
ried the vision Of old scenes, the music of old
times, the spirit Of cemradeship and the in
spiration Of an Army with banners.
=.
1t was truly grand parade. But it had its
sad features f0n. uho, II nFtnv l,oS
been traversed in march and countermarch,
when the old battle flags had received the
ovations they deserved, and the column pass
ed under review Of Commander-in-Chief
Rea, there stood by his side but one of the
old leaders-Sherman. Cheer after cheer
for five continuous hours, rent the air as his
venerable face was recognized on the stand.
Beside him we're Mrs. Logan, Ex-President
Hayes, Allen g. Thurman, Warner Miller,
General Alger, Governor Foraker, Fred
Grant, General Curtis, John A. Logan, Jr :,
General Crook, and a host of other notables
but the hearts of the boys saddened as they
noticed the absence Of all their other old
comrades but Sherman, and thought it might
be their last greeting even to him. The aver
age age of the members Of the Grand Army,
is nj w 81 yeats For the year ending March
81, 1881, >eut of a20,935 members there were
3,406 deaths; for the year ending March 81,
1888, out Of a membership of 3S5, ,966, there
were 4,443 deaths-a strong brigade going
down every year, a dozen every day and the
ratio rapidly increasing. Under the excite
ment of an occasion like this, the members
present marched more than three hours over
the long route, many of them on crutches
and with wooden legs, with but small pro-
portion dropping out, but the day is not far
distant when the parade will have to be
abandoned, unless like the New Mexico del.
!gation, they march in carriages. In this
connection, it is due the Montana contingent
to say, that they went into position, twelve
in number at $50 a. M, remained there un-
til 3:15, then marched over the entire line
under the command Of s. v. G. Henry Ro-
meyn, and had thirteen men in line when
dismissed-Comrade Kimball, of the Depart
ment of Utah, soliciting permission and be-
ing heartily accorded the right to fall in,
and march in review with the Montanians.
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The citizens of Columbus more than fulfill.
cd every promise made for them, when their
request was made at St. Louis for the En-
campment Of 1888. They opened every door
in the city to their guests and their hospital
ity was unbounded. With quarter of a
million strangers pouring into city of 120.
600 in 48 hours, there was lodging and plenty
for all and not a single act Of extortion was
reported all the week. Almost every resi-.
dence had prepared one or more rooms,
which were let at very reasonable figures.
Tent accommodations free, were provided for
100, 900 men and aside from hotels, restau.
rants, etc, the camp eating houses, whe re
abundant and good food was served, were
equipped to have fed thousands more than
applied. These camp hotels charged
50cts. per. meal, but so plentiful we're eatin &
facilities at lower rates, that the contractors
lost $27 900 on the project, advertised free
food for all needy residents, and supplied on
like terms all public institutions that would
accept the bounty.
The Railroads alone fell short of adequate
preparations for the vast multitude. En-
gines and cars, deemed amply adequate for
all the demands there would be had been con-
CenITdCeu, ,auu WeIo III pOSltlOu d. tuo dppOIHG-
ed time to receive and transport the crowd,
but when 10000 people demanded transpor-
tation in two days, within radius Of 1000
miles, when but 100000 were expected, IL
simply overwhelmed every road. Trains
ran gorged with every seat, aisle, platform
and step filed, with people sitting or stand
ing and many clambered on top Of the cars,
riding thus from "a to 30 hours rather than
miss the day of parade. Even then with
regular trains running in as many as eight
sections, and almost a continuous succession
of them, many thousands were unable to get
on. Railroad men were at their wits end.
Everything with wheels under it was press
ed into service from every available point,
and the best possible was done. After the
show, the eagerness to get home or off on
excursions was almost as great. 1t is scarce
" to be wondered at that nnder the circum-
stances there were q few accidents, or that
with 5000 pieces Of baggage being handled,
there was some delay in getting ones trunk.
But if one goes to circus they have to adapt
themselves to circus conditions, and what
ever happens, be thankful that it was no