The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-08-18
TIE HUTCHINSON REUNION.
A Great Success--Ihe Parade. the Flag Contest
and Other Incidents

Kansas.
When the last department. encampment
decided to hold the reunion in Hutchinson
it did wise thing; no better place could
have been selected. The camp was in a
beautiful grove, and was laid out on both
sides of main thoroug hfare, easily ac-
cessible to everybody, even on foot, while
street cars ran every few minutes to the
grounds. There was plenty of water and
plenty of shade if it had been needed.
but it wasn't; the sky was ciouded
and the soft rain fell in small
quantities during the afternoon. This laid
the dust and that added to the comfort Of
the old Vets, but it did not cool the at
mosphere much, and this caused the afore-
said Vets, to breathe calumny on Kansas
weather. Tents were in profusion on the
grounds, and all who wished could camp
without money and without price A very
| large tent was provided for the speaking
and was unequal to the demand made
| upon it.
Tuesday night our Judge Campbell, the
commander of Garfield post, responded to
the address of welcome made TO the visit
| ors by Joe Hooker post OF that city. OF
course he acquitted himself creditably to
himself and to the post he commands. The
department commander honored him with
an invitation to talk again yesterday
afternoon but he gracefully declined in
favor of others from abroad who wanted
TO speak.
The parade yesterday did not move on
time, parades never do. 1t was twenty
minutes to IL o'clock when the band be-
longing to the Second regiment Kansas
National Guards, appeared on the camp
ground aud moved out into the main
street, followed by department commander
Bernard Kelley and his entire staff.
Comrade Kelley marched, on foot, bare
headed. the rebel bullet he carries in his
limb making him tremble with pain
at every step. Soon 1t began
to rain; gently. like the dews Of heaven 1t
fell on the great throng OF those who, IN
the years agone, offered their lives, their
fortunes and their sacred honor, willing
sacrifice on the altar of liberty. The line
OF march was south on Main street about
one mile and a half: and counter march to
the Santa Fe house. There the column
was massed and the parade dismissed.
The column was a typical one. 1t would
be impossible to form column of ex-
soldiers without suggestions of a thousand
different things presenting themselves. "A
squad of "Sherman's bummers." must ap-
pear somewhere in the line, What regl-
ment is this ?'' Where is uns going ?"
How far is it to water Z" OH Joe,
here's your mule" and a hundred
Others nonseDsical terms, but all dear the
heart of the ''old boys" will be heard as
the column passes. And it all makes up
a feast Of interest to the spectators. One
thousand men, exclusive of bands and
drum corps, participated in the parade,
l2S mem bers of the Woman's Relif corps.
81 members of the Ladies Of the Grand
| Army of the Republic, and % members OF
the Ladies Aid society and about 80 mem
| bers of the Sons of Veterans. making
! go persons. exclusive of the bands and
companies of the Kansas National Guards,
acting as escort. in the marching
column. 1t was a fine parade,
and was viewed by the whole
town from sidewalks, from windows,
| from house tops, from wagons, from bug
gies, from everywhere, ana gave great sat-
isfaction to the people of Hutchinson.
| There were bands and bands, one OF
| which deserves more than a passing notice.
! 1t was IA drum CORPS from Benton, But
| Ter county, composed of five members of
one family: j. E. Bradfed, u son of a
veteran, who plays fife, his little
daughter, Maggie, who beats snare
drum, another daughter, Lille, who beats
the bass drum, ana his little boy. Willie,
who beats the snare drum, and his brother
Frank, who plays the fife. twas II pretty
sight, and they marched proudly
down the street at the head of Garfield
post, it elected loud hurrahs from
the spectators at frequent intervals along
the route. Ten posts took part as posts in
the parade.
The contest for the silk flag offered by
the department for the largest post of uni
formed men appearing III line, resulted III
/ doubt to the committee, and it will be de-
cided this afternoon.
! At o'clock the visitors and citizens
generally repaired to the camp-grounds,
where Major E. y. Morrill, made the first
address in sweltaring atmosphere under
a tent. 1t must have taken more courage
than it did for the major to face rebel
| bullets in southwest Missouri and Arkan-
sas thirty years ago. He made Il good
address, and was frequently applauded.
lie was followed by Major j. X. Hudson,
! Captain j. d. Barker and General Powell,
Of Belleville, ILL., General Pavey seemed
to best stir old memories. His description
| of all the incidents of camp life, OF boys
going out behind the tent to read letters
from home, where they could cry unseen.
aud other like recollections brought back
so vividlv that he was applauded again
and again.
At O'Clock the Santa Fs train pulled
/ into the depot and Senator Ingalls, alight-
ed therefrom and stepped across the street
to the hotel, where he was quietly greeted
| by few personal admirers. How different
| from the greeting he was wont to receive
| from Kansas people He WAS to speak
after supper, and at s o'clock he faced an
audience that his soul. as it had been
often before and by just snch an au-
dience-one composed OF men who had
stood by their country in its death grapple
with treason. Comrade kelly's inUroduc-
| ton of him was characteristic. There was
| a death-like stillness, aud then as he be-
gan TO speak and string his words to-
! gether like pearls on golden thread, the
vast audience were dazed by his meteoric
mental musings. delighted with his reason
and rhetoric, charmed by his polish and
! pathos. If there is one in this vast audi
ence who can deny this. let him speak; for
| him have | offended"
There is but one Ingalls,, and he was
| himself again.
Other speakers followed the ex-senator.
| and late at night thecampfire ended.
REUNION NOTES.