The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-06-15
DECORATION DAY.
The Occasion Fittingly OBJ
served All Over the Union.
President Harrison Delivers a Me-
mortal Address at Rochester.

Decoration Day was observed all ovsr the
country by admirable military parades, by
the decoration Of heroes graves in various
cemeteries by special ceremonies and
memorial services. The whole country
placed flowers on the tonbs of her soldiers
Nobly did the metropolitan area about
New York respond to her duties to
the dead. In every spot where there is the
resting place Of q soldier could bs found
tokens of Nations thanks beside those OF
family's remembrance. Memorial Day has
not lost its hold on the hearts Of the people.
though the war was ended nearly thirty
years ago.
The great event of the day was the unveil.
ing of the Soldiers and Sailors monumene
which the President had come from Wash
ington to witness, and which had drawn
distinguished assemblage to Rochester from
all parts of the State.
Never before had the city been so crowded
and never before had it entertained 80 dis
tinpuished company. Public and private
business was suspended and everybody took
a holiday. 1t is estimated that fully $50 0oO
people took an active part in the various de.
monstrations. OF this number fully loo,ooo
came from the surrounding country.
ceived everywhere, and was compelled to
bow his Acknowledgements to almost con-
tinuous cheering. The weather was bright
and fair.
The exercises at the unveiliug Of the
monument were preceded by review, IN
which at least 5000 men and boys formed
into organized parties, participated. The frst
division was made up Of the veterans OF tne
Civil War as comprised in the posts OF the
Grand Army of the Republic and other
veteran organizations. Following tnese e
were succeeded by 2G00 children Of the
public and parochial schools. Next in line
was another division Of 1000, made up Of
various ORGANIZATIONS. The President Gov.
ernor Flower. and other distinguished men
visiting the city followed in carriages. The
reviewing stand, which was in front of the
Court House, was handsomely decorated,
the Presidents flag being prominent at the
front. This flag has never before been used
except on naval vessels so it was curiosity.
It shows the National coat Of arms on blue
field.
The exercises at Washington Fark began
as soon as the various bodies reached the
positions assigned them. Along the east
border Of the park was drawn up one COM
Dany Of the Naval Reserve, one OF the
National Guard, and the knights
Templar. On the west SIDE was
stationed the company of the Ma
tional Guard and OF the Naval Reserve
and the Roman Catholic Uniformed Union.
Directly facing the speakers stand at the
north end Of the Park were placed the Grand
Army Of the Republic posts and veteran
ORGANIZATIONS. On either side of the monu'
ment q camp Of the Sons Of Veterans was
stationed. The children Of the public
schools occupied q place in front of the
speakers stand to the right and the parochiai
school children q similar position TO tne
left. -.
The exercises at the unveiling of the monu-
ment were of the most imposing character.
They were preceded by music by the bands.
Ths opening prayer was made by the Rev.
T. M Foote. pastor Of the Spencer Ripley
Memorial Church. General Reynolds then
made q short Introductory address, at the
close of which the beautiful statue was un-
veiled by five young women. eaca OF Wnom
Is the daughter OF veteran belonging 20
one Of the five Grand Army posts IN tna6
city. The Grafton was then delivered by
President Hill. Of the Rochester University,
and the poem was real by Samuel d. Lowe
President Harrison then made his address.
He was followed BY Governor Flower, who
delivered a short speech. -,
The monument is q tall column of solid
granite, nine feet high, resting on granite
base, and carrying life-size. statue OF LIN
coin. The whole monument Is forty-tnree
feet high. On each corner OF the base IS a
statue representing some branch OF the navai
or military service. On the four sides OF tae
base are bronze pictures, in bas-reet, repre-
senting war scenes. The monument was
planned eleven years sgo. Its total cost has
been 500, 900.
In New York City the event Of the day was
the parade Of United States troops Natlonal
1Guardmen and members Of the Grand Army
of the Republic from Fifty-eighth street and
Fifth avenue past q reviewing stand oelo"
the Worth monument in Madison Square
IN which sat Mayor Grant ns.,- e. Gs1sist 'GS;si
Of the G. A. r. Jshu Palmer and
his staff, and many city officials and
noted persons. From the battery to the
Harlem and beyond, from the East River to
the Hudson, everywhere were to be seen the
National colors, half-masted from the poles
on the tops OF big buildings, fsstooned
about arches and pillars, flung from win.
dows and doorways, and gracefully twinej
about the statues in the public squares. busi-
ness in the Exchanges, public buildings, ana
most mercantile houses was suspended. Re
low Fourteenth street the usually 0Nsy
streets were comparatively deserted. In the
morning the Sons Of the Revolution deco.
rated the statue Of Washington before the
Sub-Troasury Building, the large monu-
ment to revolutionary heroes in
Trinity churchyard,, and the memorial
tablet to General Montgomery in
the wall Of st. PauPs. In the uptown
squares the statues Of Washington, Lincoln,
Lafayette, Farragut, and the Worth monu.
unent were decorated by the Grand Army
organizations. Ths statue Of Lincoln was
almost hidden from sight by pottet plants
and cut flowers. The Seventh Regiment
veterans made a pilgrimage to the Seventh
Regiment statue IN Central Park
in the morning. They were escorted
b. the Society OF War Veterans. The
parade, which was the most imposing seen
In years. was headed by a detachment Of
United States troops under command OF
Colonel William r. King. They comprised
e. battalion Of engineers, battalion OF infan-
try, Batteries D and L. First Artillery, from
Fort Wadsworth. Batteries H and NJ, First
Artillery, from Fort Columbus, and Bat
terry Il, Second Artillery, from Fort Schuy-
ler. The excellent appearance Of the men
and their marching, which, however, did not
excel that OF many Of the citizen soldiers,
created much enthusiasm. Mayor Grant re-
turned his first salute at thirty-hve minutes
past nine A. ". and for more than two hours
Jhenceforth he was hard at work recognizing
the courtesies Of some 500 men.
At General Grants tomb in Riverside
Park, New York City. the exercises were
impressive and appropriately simple. While
1000 people shouted General Horace Porter.
chief of staff Of General Grant, and
Colonel Charles Marshall, Of Baltimore, Nd,
chief OF staff Of General Lee, shook hsr Is
victor and yanquished stood there while the
rain came pattering down and the minute
guns Of the man-of-wsr jamestown in
the river beneath the bluff roared