The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1893-05-27

GENERAL WESLEY MERRITT, Q, S. A..
ing together and the nearness of St.
Paul to Chicago and the fair will gather
a crowd of companions, perhaps the
largest ever known in the history Of the
order.
The sessions of the congress and the
reunion festivities will go on during the
same days, but will not conflict. The
congress will assemble in the hall of the
st. Paul chamber of commerce at 1C
o'clock on Wednesday, the 7th. On
Wednesday evening the visiting guests
will be honored with reunion or camp
ire meeting in the Metropolitan Opera
House. The military band Of the Third
United statesinfantry will furnish music,
and the members Of the order will speak
or sing song OF tell story, according
to their Individual gifts or humor. On
Thursday, at the close of the morning
session OF the congress, an excursion
party will leave St. Paul for Lake Min
netonka and enjoy q sail Of 30 miles on
the fairest, freshest and most picturesque
inland lake on the continent.
Thursday evening reception will be
given to visiting members at Hotel Ryan
by Minnesota commandery. Hotel Ryan
will be the headquarters of the Mime
sofa commandery during the reunion.
It is a fine hostelry. accommodat 1 600
luauo ny Uno lestulny uUuels III 81: Pttul
and Minneapolis, ranging from $3.50 to
$3.50 a day. Special railway rates have
also been granted
The veterans are not to be left wholly
to their own devices either in making a
pastime. The citizens Of ST. Paul will
celebrate the completion of the Great
Northern railway to the Pacific coast by
grand and novel parade on Wednes-
day, June 7, through handsomely deco
rated and illuminated streets. Socially
the city will keep open house to the Wis
itors. The Minnesota and Commerce..
clubs of ST. Paul and the Minneapolis
club of Minneapolis extend the courtesies
of their clubhouses during the reunion.
Outside attractions in addition to the
lake excursion are the falls of Minneha-
ha, made famous by Longfellow's poem
''Hiawatha," and Fort Smelling, one mile
from the falls. The falls are in the
beautiful park maintained by the state
for the soldiers home. The fort is on
high bluff at the junction of the Minneso.
ia and Mississippi rivers. The fort is very
old, and it's age and lofty site render il
exceedingly picturesque and well worth
visit. The government steamer Gen.
eral Barnard, belonging to the United
States army engineering department, il
to be at the disposal of the entertaining
committee for excursions to Fort Smell
ing and the falls. General Wesley Mer
ritt, commanding the military depart
ment of the northwest, with headquar
ters at St. Paul. is at the head of the
Minnesota celnmandery. He is chair
man of the reception and invitation com
1nittees for the reunion.
In Chicago, companions of the order
who visit the fair will be made welcome
at the rooms Of the Illinois commandery
in The Tribune building. The rooms will
be open during week days, with facilities
for registering the names of visitors ant
their places Of lodging; also for receiv
ing their mail.
The congress of the Loyal Legion il
not connected with the national body o.
the order known as the commandery il
chief. The congress is composed of !
body Of delegates elected by the state
communicates, three from each. Tht
delegates alone have seats in the con
gress, and they have the power to revise
the constitution.
The, national commandery in chief o
the Loya1 Legion meets annually. It'll
composed of the present and past com
manders, senior and Junior vice com
manders and the recorders Of the severa
communicates. The list Of commander
les and their membership is as follows
Pennsylvania, 1,097; New York, 1851
Maine, 141; Massachusetts,, 843; Caifor
MIA, 854; Wisconsin, 210; Illinois, 523
District of Columbia, COL; Ohio, 1872
Michigan, 266; Minnesota, S06; Oregon
81; Missouri, SO6; Nebraska, 1855; Kan
sas, 265; Iowa, 161; Colorado, 174; Ind
ana, $40; Washington, go; Vermont, 81.
The last commander in chief was Ger
eral Rutherford B. Hayes.
The acting commander in chief is tn
senior vice commander in chief, Adm
raj John Jay Almy. Admiral Aim
has been on the naval list, active and II
tired, over Ga years. His age is 70. Il
entered the service as midshipman at th
age of 15 and has cruised the wide worl
over. General Walker and the Nicars
qua fillibusters surrendered on board c
his ship in 1857. He was at the siege o
Vera Cruz and the capture Of Tuxpa1
in Mexico. During the civil war b
commanded the gunboat Connecticu
and distinguished himself by runnin
down and capturing four notorior