Daily Republican., 1889-05-31
OUR DEAD COMRADES.
"sTREw YE BRAVE THEIR
GRAVES WITH FLoWERs.n
A Grand Pagent of Respect to the Dead
But Not Forgotten Soldiers-FIowers
Strewn on Their Graves = FIutter-
Ing In Flngs-Inoidents.

corating the sold ers graves per formed
with more earnestness and depth OF SEN
timent than yesterday, and the grand
parade that was witnessed by many
thousands was worthy OF the occasion.
Time has soitened the asperitles of the
partisan and now all can unite heartily
In what has become not exactly senti-
mental custom but solemn duty.
a pleasing and commendable lnnova
Ton upon Decoration Day usages was the
strewing OF flowers not only upon the
graves OF soldiers, but the graves OF
parents, brethers and sisters, acknowl-
edglng that there were brave md patr-
oli5 le.-.a that did not and could not 90
10 the held Of strife with the b,ave aud
heartier boys that wore the blue, and,
shall we say iti-yes, We will say it, the
Time has come when 1t must be said.
those. too, that wore the gray. 1t looks
now rs II Decoration Day was growing
into greater importance than the Fourth
Of July.
The day opened with low erlng clouds,
but that W, uld not have damped the
ardor of the veterans. The graves OF
their fallen comrades from the humblest
man In the ranks to the highest In
shoulder straps would have received its
chaplet Of flowers amid torrents of rain.
As If In recognition of the solemn and
holy purposes OF the day, about o o'clock
the Clouds lifted and the sun shOse out
with resplendent lustre, and IN the after
noon only the occasional sprinkle divert
cd the attention OF the assembled thou
sands. From early morning the veterans
had the day, and they moved around to
the music of fife and drum with great
celerity In visiting the outlying cemeteries
wherever there were soldiers graves TO
bedeck. There was something for all the
Grand Army Posts to do. AS has already
been stated DUPONT Ptst, about 115
strong, left in the $50 train on the W. q
n. Railroad for DUPONT station. Tie
houses at the station were handsomely
decorated, and as the veterans debarked
from the cars and formed in line they
were greeted with the strains OF patriotic
music. The strains came from the resi-
dence of David w. Whitcrait, whose ~
year Old daughter was paying the "Star
spangled Banner" upon piano.
From here the veterans proceeded to
the old DUPONT Cemetery, over mile
distant, where reposed the remains ol
the dead Admiral.
After the Ieterans had grouped them.
eelves around the grave prayer was
| offered by Post Chaplain Mccoy.
The following letter was then read By
| Post Commander Joseph Duly:
headquarters of The Naval Post, No.
400 Philadelphia, May 81, 1850.
Commander, Officers and Comrades,
DUPONT Post, No. 9, Department OF
i Delaware, G. A. R.:
"The Naval Post, No. 400, Depart
ment of Pennsylvania, have forwarded
| to your address a naval decoration fol
| Admiral huPnnt'o grave, which rIeI
you TO place upon his last resting place
AS memorial OF our remembrance OF
line oilicer, true gentleman and q mar
who loved his Leighbor as hiunself
"Yours iu +. e. and L.,
THE NAVAL PosT, No, 400
"Per JouN +. MACKENsIE."
key. X. G. JOINTS, ex-Post Chaplain
then delivered an eloquent and patriotic
Grafton.
Tne beautiful anchor and cross. the
gifts OF Naval Post, were then placed on
the tomb. The bugler then played ''taps, ii
after which salute of three shots was
fired over the grave
The line was again FORMED and moved
to the large woods at tue end of the road
where table 200 feet long was laden
with refreshments.
j. h. kilmer, who WAS along with tha
party with his photographlng parapher-
nalia, at various times took views OF the
scene. Alter refreshments had been
served, the post divided up into firing
partiee, one going to Green Hill, another
TO St. Joseph's, and still another to Mt.
Salem cemeteries, where flowers were
strewn upon oil the soldiers graves and
the customary salutes were fled. A little
diversion from paying honors to the dead,
the post paid its respects to the living,
too, by calling and paying their respects
to their veteran comrade, John Q. Stir
ling, alter which the post took the train
and returned to the city.
In the meantime the posts left In he
city were Kept busy, detachments going
out to various cemeteries and streWinp
the soldiers graves with flowers.
bmyth Post divided up into firing par
ties and visited Old Swedns, Asbury and
Riverview cemeties, and GARFIELD Camp,
No. 2, Sons oi Veterans, out for the first
time In their ratty new uniforms, with
guns furnished by the State, looking
every Inch the soldier, visited Mt. Salem
and Rlverview cemeteries, where they
left floral offerings upon the graves oil
veterans.
Sumner Post, not less patriotic than
their white brother veterans, visited the
colo!ed cemeteries and placed floral
mementoes upon the graves OF colored
soldiers.
Grant Post visited Cathedral cemetery
at Sllverbrook aud performed the dccora-
ton ceremonies IN that cemetery.
Mre. Ida McCann, assisted by Misses
Sa.lie, Josephine and Natalie Pickles
ornamented the soldiers and sailors
monument at Delaware avenue and
BToome street with flowers ard flags,
and u delegation OF ladies and soldiers
from smyth Post went out to the Viii
mingion and Brandywine Cemetery and
prepared place on General Smyth' =
grave for the reception OF the floral
monument presented by !. Hamburger IL
| Sons, No. 2U0 Market street. This about
| fnisE ed up the rk Tor the forenoon.
| The decoration OF the graves in the viii
mington and Brandywine and the Old
Catholic Cemeteries, lying side by side,
was reserved for all the Posts Tor the
afternoon.
Iu the meantime busy preparations
were made for the afternoons grand
demonstration. Citizens along the route
OF parade hung out their banners and
laes to the outer walls. Net only along
the route, but all over the city llags were
flying. From the humblest dwelling in
the by-streets ioated the little Tag de-
noting that some brave heart had been
offered upon the altar OF their country q
devotion.
| Market street was In perfect autter OF
flags, and bunting streamed irom the
first floor to the tops OF many of the high
est buildings. The centre of attractitn
was In front OF /. Hamburger Il Sons
/ al lTat