Omaha daily bee., 1892-09-19
In POSSESSION OF VETERANS
Washing on Teeming with the Heroes of
the Late Civil War.
HOW THE OLD SOLDIERS ARE CARED FOR
War Times Recailed-A Description of the
Camps All Washington Give the
Boys who Wore the Blue
Welcome.

of tho Grand Army of tho Rcpub-
lie will be formally opened by
Vice President McCook, this city will
be througej. The multitude Is being
hourly augmented bv arriving trains, which
empty thousands of persons into the gates OF
the pational capital to witness what is pre-
uicted will be the most largely attended and
most successful meeting the organization has
ever had. BY tomorrow the city will proba-
bly, nave as its guests a crowd of nearly 2OJ,-
900 people. Unlike the days of inauguration,
this crowd does not come to stay day or
two, but for a week. Tonight the city Is
decked with bunting and every form of dec
oration that can be utilized to make attrac-
tive stands and public ana private buildings.
Decorators have been at work on tnany OF
the public buildings during the day and as u
result they are masses of brilliant banners,
streamers and bunting. in which the national
colors are conspicuous and embems CT
strength, power and prosperity are TO be
seen on every pillar and corner where 1t was
possible to tastefully wind some bright hue.
Huge flags and banners are floating auu slap
ping at every point, and every oGe OF the
streets seems imbued with feeling Tor the
occasion.
Beautiful Weather.
Today opened beautifully. The weather
which has been unusually clear for nearly a
week, was even more so today, with just
enough breeze blowing to keep the flags
standing proudly out from their poles and
cause the sides of the tents to quiver with
SOFT undulating motion. All visitors were
on the streets from early morning until even
ing Everyone was bent on seeing all there
was to be seen and their walks and rides
extended not Only through the city itself,
out TO Arlington, and every point of interest
in the vicinity. Many went down the Poto-
mae river to take n look once again at places
That were familiar to them during the war
The streets were alive with brass bands es-
corting arriving posts to their quarters and
down In their quarters, and down In
the white lot which VIII be the field
of attraction during the encampment, thous-
auds were gathered to welcome the arriving
guests to their quarters
Down the beautiful plateau near the river
front ana within the shadow Of The towering
shafts raised to the memory of Washington,
there Is n settlement, sprung up as if by
| magic which will be the abode of 100000
veterans during their temporary stay in the
city. Here they will be housed, cared for
and all the attention given to detail with re-
gard to comfort. From an eX animation of
the camp, the like OF which in size or gem
rral arrangement has seldom been attempted
at any previous encampment, 1t Will be seen
that nothing will oe left undone to provide
the soldiers n resting place almost approach
ing luxury, to while away their event ings and
dream of ays gone hy. Certainly no camp
could be moro perfectly situated from a
standpoint OF beauty ana accessibility TO the
city proper. The arrangements, both sani-
tary ana otherwise, show a care which could
hardly have been exceeded had IL been the
intention to make the camp an abiding place
of long duration, instead Of u temporary re-
treat OF hve or six days.
In the White Walled City.
Just north of this settlement and directly
south of the Presidents mansion, there is
another space OF ground, pu: this, unlike the
former, while also place where some 10000
| or l5 900 old veterans will be lodged and fed :
is beautiful in appearance. This is the camp
proper, with rows upon rows of t1eecy white
army tents, loaned by the War department
for the occasion, with here and there q tent
! of circus dimension, from which great flag
floats, telling that IL is the headquarters of
the post bearing the name OF some OF the late
war cheftains. more suitable plain, and
| a more level and appropriate piece of ground
could not be found Tor camp site. 1t is
near the presidents residence and consists
OF a circular plateau mile around, OF green
sward never before used for any purpose ex-
| cept the drills OF competing companies of
soldiers. Today IL is dotted from enu
to END and side TO side with hundreds
of tents. From Il huge flagstaff in the center
| floats the national colors over the grand
stand below where the dedication exercises
IL, u
every detail, stands the old war ship, Kear-
sarge. riding peacefully on terra frma, un-
hampered by anchor or chain, and dressed
from stem to stern, rainbow fashion, with
naval exactness.
The camp has been alive with sightseers
and soldiers all day. This reunion ground is
where many comrades will meet and tell of
past experiences.
Last night about 1000 soldiers were taken
care of the camp and barracks. The
mai
320xS0 feet, built with an l. extension, 260xS0
feet Under this immense roof there are
ii fly long rows of plank pine tables, capable
of seating 3, 400 persons. Around the outer
boundaries of the barracks are lunch stands
and places where soft drinks'' may be had,
so at any hour OF the day or night there is
little chance of anyone going hungry.
Every Accom- IN odation at Hand.
Camp Garfield, in the southeast portion of
the city and some distance away from the
headquarters OF activity and hustle, is
| equally woll supplied with barracks. cook
ing and eating places aud other arrange
| ments for the general welfare Of the old
soldier.
! 10 provide for the aolutions of this vast
horde of veterans there - another large
| building, which Is well supplied with all the
| necessary convenences Tor keeping one's
! self clean and tidy. Hundreds of bright,
new tin basins are arranged in rows on a
| long double-faced table, down the cen ter of
| which runs wafer pipe Win SDlgotS at con
| venient distances apart Nearby building
| Is provided with lockers and closets. where
blankets and clothes may be stored and
| checked by corps Of attendants. Board
| walks are all around the quarters and infor-
| nation bureaus and watchmen are stationed
at various points.
| The scene at the camp this morning was
p pirticularly enlvening and IL would not
| have been nard for one to imagine himself in
| barracks with regular soldiers, had it not
| been for the age of the veterans, as they
| tnronged the porticos smoking their pipes
| an reading the papers
| The ubiquitous vender Of medals aud put-
| tons and other Grand Army of the Republic
| devices was present everywhere and found
| ready buyers.
| Candidates for Chief.
The question Of who will be the next com
! mander-in-chief OF the Grand Army is one
! that is interesting a great number OF Grand
| Army men here. Tue candidates for the
| hoLor are in the field. They are: Hon
Charles c. Lincoln of Washington Colonel
| A. Il. Weisart of Wisconsin, General S.
| Hearst OF PENNSYLVANIA.
When Colonel Lincoln withdrew his name
In the fight last year, waving his ambitions
for the time, that his candidacy might not
| block Nashington's chances Tor the greater
homer Of entertaining the veterans, be- won
| friends.
Colonel Weiserts name was second in the
| DallOling for comm lnder-lp-ch ief at Detroit