Griggs courier., 1893-07-21
SPIRlTWoOD Lake.

resort was visited by q large number
of people last week, the North Dakota
Veterans Association holding its third
annual meeting ut that place. There
was not AS large crowd present as on
former occasions, nor had any special
effort been made to provide amuse.
ments for those pres ,nt, but everybody
was expected to amusc themselves, and
all seemed to carry out this part of the
programme. Spiritwood Lake is sur
sounded on all sides by timber and il.
different places could be seen the tents
of happy camping parties, who were
enjoying u few days OF quiet, social
visiting with the old veterans and
friends, and in fishing and boating on
the lake. There is always spirit of
good fellowship and jollty among the
old vets, and everybody that attends
their encampments come back home !
well pleased with their trip to Spirit
wood Lake The Cooperstown and
Hope delegations furnished large
part of the amusements. The Hope
boys are full of fun and always drew u
crowd. Capt Haskell caught the
largest fish in the Cooperstown crowd,
although some say he bought it from
so income else, but us there is no way to
prove it we shall have to take his word.
The fish was Il large eight pound pick
| .,rol ,,,l oa,rrrht Inv Gf Earn,
sene oil. The editor of the COURIER
was offered II life membership in the
Liars Association, being voted the big
gest liar in camp, but we denied the
allegation and refused the membership
on account of the presence OF Comrade
Vennum and Comrade Kurtz, who are
already life members. Camp fires were
held every evening and Il regular pro-
gramme, consisting of talks by The old
veterans and others, singing, recitations
and readings were given and after the
camp fire dancing was the order OF the
evening, and good time was had all
around. Tuesday afternoon the
Hope Kid ball club played the James
town L,ghtweights, the former winning
by score of 8 to 9. The boys put up u
good game Monday morning the
veterans elected officers for the next
year as fellows:
Geo. L. Kurtz, Commander.
VIM. Lang, Vice. Commander.
d. +. Siegfried, Quartermaster.
i D. r. Swartout, Adjutant.
In the evening the new commander
was duly installed with military honors
and was required to take the following
solemn obligauon, administered BY
Comradc Butler:
Comrade Kurtz, as the newly elected
commander of the North Dakota Veter-
an Association, you will b. called upon
to subscribe to :: most solemn and bind.
/ ing oath of Office Here under the stars
and stripes, and IN the presence of
these bronzcd and grizzled veterans
and our friends assembled you will hold
up your right hand and take your oath
of office. You solemnly swear by the
glorious an6 immortal American eagle
, that you will strive to maintain the
honor and dignity and glory Of your
Office; that you will always hail, for
ever conceal and never reveal any OF
the secrets of comrads or his wife;
that you will always be ready to steal
chickens when on the march; that you
will always be ready to assist all needy
comrades in tapping senmissary kegs
GU the sly, nor to ever fail to assist any
l poor or needy member of the ladies re-
f lief corps or daughter of veteran;
, never to walk when you can ride; nev-
er to keep awake when you can sleep;
never to take poor grub when you can
get good; never to drink water when
you can get anything else; never to be
seen on parade without women on
: your arm-provlded you can get one to
| 60 with you; never to stand crooked
when you can stand stright; never to
complain of the big head in the morn
ing, but to grin and bear it as becomes
man and a soldier; never to call a
r comrade in the morning until he wants
I ITO get up; never to disobey the orders
of your superior officers or your wife,
but to always strive to maintain the
honor and dignity of our great and
: glorious country, all of which you will
} most faithfully abide by SO help you
+ George Washington.
The new commander was then in
vested with his badge of office and
made speech. after which the meeting
broke up to give him chance 10 get
S into the duties of his Office by tapping
: q commissary keg.
,, Tuesday morning the ladies of the
Relief Corps organized society for the
purpose Of providing a,uusements Al
next encampment. The officers are al
L follows;