The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-23
THE WICHITA REUNION.
The Estimate of a Visitor Who Saw it All


From the Atchison Champion
EDITOR CHAMPION: For the benefit OF
those comrades of the Grand Army, res
idents of this city and vicinity, who were
| unable to attend the state reunion at
Wichita, | ask a reasonable space IT
| you- paper to tel them what occurred
there and what a glorious time those
who were privileged TO attend had. In
the first place, the camp ground was one
of the best in the state, delightfully."- cool
and SHADY with an abundance OF dellc-
ious water for the use Of the thousands
of thirsty souls who thronged the en-
campment during its continuance. NO
joints of any description and no gam
ling devices, however innocent, were al
low d on the grounds (which were stu
ate. about a mile and a half from the
city,. a fact which contributed much to
the success and pleasure OF the visitors,
| and reflects much credit upon the coun-
Gil of administration and the committee
Of f~orty-four who had charge OF all ar
engagements.
The number of people who attended
| the reunion was variously estimated. but
a reasonable guess, which is all one can
w NtlGIe ID LO "dy "
! register visitors entering the gates, would
make it about thirty thousand. To &C
commodate this large c%oncourse the COM
mittee had provided a large number or
tents on the camp grounds for those who
wished to camp out. and the hotels ana
private houses were ample TO accommo-
date all the rest. The scene at the camp
ground was an animated and picturesque
one day and night, but especially at
night. Every variety OF harmless amuse-
ment, an abundance of things to eat and
drink, fakirs of every description, merry
go-rounds, striking machines, ltinerant
songsters and impromtu lecturers, all
tended to make the camp ground
lively from sunrise TO near the midnight
hour. The grounds were lighted by
electric lights and reached by electric
cars. The headquarters of the depart
ment were established in a large tent
furnished by the committee and the
Women's Relief Corps had similar ac-
commodations. Department Comman-
der A. r. Greene, ably assisted by his
staff, held informal receptions at head
quarters when not attending the exercises
in the big tent, while Mrs. Ida Moore, de-
partment president w. r. c., and Mrs.
Margaret a. Wilkins, national senior
vice. entertained in its Women's Relief
Corps tent. Quite a number OF post socle-
ties were present, and the greatest inter
est and enjoyment prevailed. The camp
fires in the biz tent were attended by at
least eight thousand people who were so
intensely interested in the speaking that
MANY would assemble long before the
hour fixed and sit patiently throughout
tn meeting, while hundreds stood up
around the edges of the tent Quite a
number of distinguished orators adj
dressed these meetings. Corporal Tan
ner made, perhaps, the most effective
address, but Hon. a. w. Smith, barney
Kelley, A. B. Campbell, a. X. Greene
and others struck the popular chord ana
made hosts of friends.
The ex-prisoners of the war held a
meeting on the grounds, and on WedneS-
day evening were addressed by A. w.
Smith, Comrade McNarry and others. 1t
is a remarkable fact that Hon. a. w.
Smith and Bob Moore, Republican candI-
dates for governor and lieutenant gov
ernor, Were both prisoners OF war and
starved at Andersonville. There was nc
lack of military music on this camp
ground, the bands and drum corps fur
nished plenty of that, but there was a
lack of vocal music caused by the failure
of the Cyclone club to materialize. De-
partment Chaplain j. E. Brant was
present and made several entertaining
talks. The specsular feature of the en-
campment was the parade which occur
red on Thursday morning. The field
| and staff in full uniform and mounted
presented a fine martial appearance, the
horses being unusually gentle; Bot
Campbell of Hutchinson and Ben Down.
ing sought to create a disturbance during
the procession by slyly prodding the
horses of the more unskillful riders, but
their efforts we're thwarted by the chap
lain, who mounted on a calico horse
| looked like the advance agent of a cir
Gus. Al Green loomed up ahead riding
with easy grace while A. R. Campbell
bestrode a gentle beast whose legs tum'
bled beneath his weight.
The boys turned out in large numbers
| and every post carried banners and flags,
The Wichita fire department followed
the Grand Army, and made a fine spec
tacle. The Woman's Relief corps in car
riages followed the department and were
| ItCtIN6u Win NbONAo btN
went.
The militia under General Murray My
| ers marched with precision and steadi
ness and was the military feature of thc
parade. The encampment and reunion
terminated with a sham battle and
splendid display of fireworks. Every one
who attended this reunion went home
satisfied, and the writer is under particu
lar obligations TO Ben Downing, Genera
Movers, Colonel Stewart and Mr.. Wilson
of the committee for their generous hos
pitality
On to Washington is now the cry, ant
we hope TO see as many Kansas com
rades in line as attended the Wichit;
reunion.
The handsome flag presented to thu
post having the largest number IN line
was secured by Joe Hooker post o.
| Hutchinson, which mustered sixty uni
/ formed members and over one hundred
in all. I. b. GEROw,
Dept. |. '. c.
~
Payne couutys indebtedness IS SIS, 226
50 and the county viii be asked to vot'
/ bonds tn cover the indebtedness.