The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-31

srtsta DtSBgteh 10 tae lniclIJeaceE
GRAFroN, W. Va, May 3OD-Decora-
ton day here ia the ono great holiday
OF the year for Grafton, and tho history
OF its celebration today surpasssa that
Of all previous years, Last year "the
stranger within our gates" was man.
moth in his numerical proportions, but
thls yoar the opinion WAS expressed
everywhere on the streets that no such
crowd had ever before been seen in
Grafton The town truly assumed a
cosmopolitan air, tinged with a rustic
hue, given 1t by tho vast throng OF
people who ilocked here from the val.
leys and hills OF all the neighborlng
counties, and from points remote. Five
or six excursion trains, in addition to
the regular trains, and all literally
packed with mass OF sight.SeerR,
brought the main body OF the visitors OF
the day And what an apparently de-
l,ghttul time every individual in the
great crowd seemed to have, 1t is true
inc wanderinga Of the crowd all the
forenoon seemed aimless as to any fixed
PURPOSE, except TO aee and be seen, and
the bustling and the elbowing OF the
crowd seemed to have an eXhilarating
effect on all The ono special amuse.
mOnt OF the day, which gave definite
purpose to pleasurcsceking, was af-
iordOl in the races OF tho afternoon,
given under the auspices OF the Taylor
county fair association.
While it is true that the masses OF the
people were bent on pleasure. the chief
significance Of Decoration Day, US com.
momorative Of the valor Of the Ameri.
eau soldier, was upheld in this year as
in the past, and TO those especially in
torested in the day as memorial oG-
Caaion tho observanCes were as grateful
as ever. The ranks OF the old veterans
Of the war for the union arc dopietod
every year by the hand Of death, and
while the attendance this year showed
some little decrease, there werq many
visiting G.. A. Il. posts represented, and
the numbers present were gratifying,
The formal exercises OF the day were
divided into two parts, the morning be-
ing devoted to the decoration Of the
graves and tho afternoon to the ad.
dresses. In pursuance with this plan
in the forenoon the u. A. X. representa-.
tives present, under the special escort Of
Reno Post, OF Grafton, in company with
the Woman's Relief Corps, aud attended
by number Of bands, marched over to
the national cemetery. There, with
revorOut hands and patriotic inspira.
ton, flowers were strewn over the graves
OF the departed heroes who sleep in the
quiet cells beneath the sod, and minia-
turO emblems Of the flag under which
they had fought we're placed at the head
OF each grave in silent watch over tho
dead.
Company O. Of the National Guards,
under the command ofCapt Il. Il, Price,
was In attendance, and tired salute OF
three rounds, preliminary to the deco.
ration Of the graves.
Colonel Romeo II. Freer was the ora
tor Of the day, and his oration was one
Of his most brilliant efforts. Colonel
Froer spoke for an hour, and received
the closest attention from his immense
audience throughout He brought his
address to toRconclusion in an eloquent
perOration made up OF the loftiest SEN
timonts that could appeal to American
citizenship.