Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-24
THE GRAYS BANQUET
COMPANY "kD HAS A SPLENDID
TWENTY-sEcoNo CELEBRATION.
Prominent Military Men Present-Musicai
PrOgramme--Good supper and
speeches--Salute Fired.

Richmond has scarcely ever hhV"n
more quiet observance of Washingtons
birthday than that Of yesterday.
The city offices were open for the trans
action of business and the public schools
were in ses sion as usual.
At the Capitol the Offices were all closed
and the flags flying from the poles on the
roof gave notice that ii was holiday. The
custom-house was not open to the public
and at the post-ofiiee Sunday hours were
kept.
and the closing Of the banks little OF no
sign of its being more than an ordinary
Monday were given.
FIRED SALUTE.
Early in the morning one Of Richmond,s
most respected citizens, MIR. John furceil'
suggested to Captain MOSby, OF u Compa-
ny, that it was a shame that no soldiers
we're going TO turn out and that ne ought
10 parade his company.
At this Captain Mosby wrote to Colonel
Jones and obtained permission TO order
| out his command and notices to that enect
were posted on the Dispatch and other oul-
| letin-bOards. -
About O'Clock in the afternoon Cap
| tain Mosby marched his company TO the
Capitol Square. and forming ii around the
| base of the Washington monument, salute
of ten rounds was fred. With such pre-
cision was the firing done that nearly al
Of those who heard the yolleys took II 10
| be from artillery instead of infantry. In
reality it sounded like one large gun.
The Grays Banquet at Burke's.
The Washington-birthd banquet of the
| Richmond Grays GA" Company. First
! regiment at Burke's last night was well
worthy of the occasion IL commemorated.
At $3.50 o'clock the invited guests, which
included some thirty or more ladies', gath
cred in the front parlOrs.
| Among those present were Governor
Mckinney. Mayor Ellyson, President Dick
erson. of the Board of Aldermen tan old
| Gray): Captain Sol. Cutchins. of the Blues; /;
| Captain L. L. Christian, of b Company;
| Captain w. r. Mosby, OF q Company;
| Captain f. Leslie Spence, of Il Company;
| Major c. OBJ. Cowardin, Lieutenant
Colonel A. L. Phillips. Colonel Joseph Bid
good, Captain f. A. Shepherd, MAJOR
! James +. Phillips, Captain 4. W. Gun
ningham, Major w. NJ. Evans, Captain w.
Fred. Peasants Captain Edgerton Rogers,
| and Captain Cyrus Bosseux.
The following veterans of the company
were the especially honored guests OF the
| evening Cyrus Bossieux, CIV. Libby, John
Pitt. Thomas $. Riddick, II. Leslie Spence
| william Gibson, James l.. Phillips, Miles
L. Phillips, and James L. Vaughan.
THE EXERCISES OFENED.
Captain G. Gray Bossieux opened the
exercises with q few remarks OF appro-
| pirate character. He also read letters OF
| regret from General Charles J. Anderson,
| Chaplain M. ID. Hoge. and Colonel Henry
c. Jones, the latter of whom was at home
sick.
Miss Lula Bethel sang in her sweetest
manner I'm Old Madrid" and was follow
ed by Miss Lily Phillips, who rendered
nicely Dear Heart
Captain Frank w. Cunningham gave
"By the Sad Sea Waves" as only he can
sing it.
| try. of the Stdte) was next introduced, and
| read q poem Of his own composition, IN
| which he maintained that the mantle OF
veracity worn so nObly by Washington
had fallen upon his shoulders.
| Mr.. Gentry's verses also alluded appro-
| priately to the day celebrated and former
members of the company VINO are low no
more.
MR.. GENTBYs VERSES.
These three were especially well en-
joyed:
Now in these piping times Of peace the Garrison
| Ia bold and true,
And though We hayo no Indians hero
| We have a Gray BO5s-SiouX.
Your priyates, too, are hard TO beat
| Than whom there are no better
Though some have names hard 20 repeat,
Like Gipperich and Ramstetter.
MORE SONGS.
Misses Bethel and Phillips next gave the
beautiful duet Waiting in the Wood.
land" The closing musical number was
! by Captain Frank Cunningham.
Al m O'clock the Marty pTOppQdpd 10 the
| supper-table, Governor Mckinney and
| Mayor EllysOn leading, followed by the
| officers according TO rank, who IN turn
| preceded the veterans and members Ot
the company. A special table was pro-
vided for the ladies' and their escorts.
Once in the banquet hall all present at
once began 10 enjoy the good things set
| before them.
THEY SPOKE.
A little over hnlf an hour was spent in
eating, at the end of which time Captain
Bossieux introduced Governor Mckinney.
The Governor declared that such pro-
ceeding was a surprise TO him and that he
had no idea of speaking. He believed the
Captain had just done il 10 have chance
TO spread himself, so he would make way
for him.
MAYOR ELLYsos.
Being the next one called upon to speak,
Mayor Ellyson said it was too late for such
a thing, but he would remind all that the
best place at such time was home.
Colonel j. V. BidgOod was the third
speaker He said he did not know what
his theme was, so he would touch little
upon all subjects.
Major c. OBJ. Cowardin responded for
the brigade staff. He related en incident
which occurred in Mayor Mayo's court du-
ring the palmlest days of that gentleman.
In closing beautiful tribute was paid to
southern women.
LIKE THE GBAYs.
Captain Cutchins, Of the Blues, declared
that the one ambition of his company Is "a
equal the Grays In the excellence and pre-
cision of their drin. He gave notice that
the Blues were in earnest and were going
to gave the Grays hard pull.
Captain Hutcheson, of the HowitZers
also complimented the Grays highly.
Captain +. Leslie Spence. of h Company
said he felt that he was entitled to be pres
ent from three considerations-hrst as an
honorary member of the Grays; second, as
veteran Of the company, and third, as
captain OF 4 company. He told an amusing
incident of how he was accused of having
stolen a chicken during the war. 1t was
not so, for he bought it, and if i was true
didn't Jim Phillips clean it and hang 1t up,
and didn't Joe Dickerson sleep all around
the tree to keep any one from taking 1t
As the last and most cherished speaker
of the evening Captain BOssleux asserted
that he had reserved Mr.. Joseph @. Dicker
son, of the veteran Grays.
Mr.. DickersoD spoke well and teelingly
and said it made the old Grays feel happy
TO think that their children would keep az