The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-09-19
THE BIG ENCAMPMENT
Formal Opening of the G. A. r.
Reunion at the Ma
tional Capital.
CITY FAST FILLING WITH VISITORS.

Attendance -- Inc DECORATIONS MOST
Elaborate President Harrison Cannot
Be Preseut-The Great Parade To-ms.i- !
row Programme of Events.
WASHINGTON, Sep. 19.-Every train that
enters the city is simply packed with vet
Grams and visitors who have come to be
present at the 26th annual Encampmen5
of the Grand Army of the Republic The
city presents a more attractive appear
ance than ever before in its history.
The first thing to attract the attention
of the incoming Grand Army visitors is
the waving Stars and Stripes. No mat
ter which way they move the glorious en-
blem of the United States and bunting of
all colors meet their eyes.
The decorations all over the city are
elaborate and artistic, business houses
and private dwellings being well orna-
mented. The government buildings, how
ever, show the most prominent speoi-
mems of the decorators art. The State,
War and Navy building is elaborately
decorated with the national flag arranged
in mary artistic ways
The Executive Mansion Is handsomely
decorated. From the roof of the porte
cochere hang festoons of bunting, while
from the shield in the centre, red, white
and blue streamers are drawn to the base
Of the supporting pillars, on each of
which is a shield bearing an emblem of
one of the army corps.
The numerous columns Of the Treasury
look very bright, each being wrapped
with large United States flag. Each
apex of the cornices bears military de-
-, II. ,eWfn lfgrlaf a,I nk
either entrance stands column draped
in the national colors The Department
of Justice is prettily decorated, numerous
flags being festooned on its front.
Another very handsome bit of decora-
tion is seen in the Pension Hall, where
the Grand Army encampment is to be
entertained Thursday night. This build
ing while from the exterior one of the
ugliest ever designed by architects, is
very handsome within and susceptible of
very effective decorations The building
incloses an immense court, rooted over
with skylights and side lights, with
| fountain in the centre and rows of inn
mense columns on the four sides of
square supporting the balconies above.
/ These columns rise to the roof, where
| they are joined by small arches. These
/ columns below the first balcony are each
/ decorated with a shield surrounded by
/ flags, and similar decoration is placed
about each column from balcony to bal
| cony The shields on the first floor bear
the names of prominent officers of the
war, and above the first balcony the
names of famous battles Across the
front Of the balconies, connecting the cen
tral figures of the decorations, are fes-
| toous Of rcd, white and blue.
No decorations extend across Penn
sylvania avenue, the purpose being to
leave that broad street clear from all OBJ
structions to the view But at the cross
ings of each side street where it enters
Pennsylvania avenue there are hung
elaborate decorations of flags and shields.
The public buildings are draped from
column to column and across the win
dows with immense American flags, aud
some bit of redy white and blue is dis
played from every available spot along
the great public thoroughfare Wires
have been strung on both sides of Penn
sylvania avenue from the Capitol to
Washington Circle, past the White
House, and at short intervals electric
lights will illuminate the surroundings.
The grand stands for the President and
the Commander-in Chief of the Grand
Army are of artistic design and are very
elaborately and beautifully decorated.
The stand for the Commander in-C Chief
of the Grand Army is in front of the War
Department, and is larger and more mas
sive in appearance than that provided for
the President. In a modified way it rep
resents a fortress, with embellishments.
The structure is in a solid color, having
the appearance Of heavy grey stone, and
the decoration of flags is hung about il
in such a manner as to distinguish the
decorations from the structure, making
the effect more artistic and impressive.
There will also be shields, pennants and
emblems.
Indications are apparent to-day that
the number of visitors to the Encamp-
ment will not be quite so large as was an
ticipated but there will be enough here
TO easily make good the claim of the
committees that it will be the largest re-
union of old soldiers and their friends
held in this country since the war. The
falling off in the attendance is as
cribed to the fear of danger from run
ming the gauntlet of cholera in New
York, as it is most noticeable from the
North and East
This morning occurred the parade pre-
ceding the dedication of Grand Army
Place. 1t was reviewed by the Vice
President and other officials.
The programme for the remainder OF
the day Isl
1890 p. m.--Dedication of Grand Army
Place (Whire lot), with addresses by Vice
President Morton and Grand Commander
in Chief Palmer
2p. m. Meeting of Department Com
manders; meeting of Board of Directors
National Womens Relief Corps.
p. m.-Drill by National Fencibles,
prize winners at the Omaha encamp-
ment.
Up. m.-Meeting of Council of Admin.
istration.
8p. m.-Camp fire of Sheridan posts,
G. A. R.; reunion of the Twelfth, Four
teenth and Twenty-seeond Corps and
quartermasteTs.
$3.50 to 1880 p. m.-Reception to w. c.
. r., ladies of the G. A. r., and other or.
ganizations Of patriotic women, by the
ladies of the Department of the Potomac,
headed by Mrs. John A. Logan. For
this affair the rotunda of the Capitol
has been gorgeously decorated.
The work of the encampment-t Is,