The National tribune., 1893-01-26
SPEaKinGIN THE DARK.
What Happened While Gen. Hayes was Pre-
siding at the Reunion last September.


An episode in the life Of ex- President Hayes
that occurred during the late Encampment Of
the GAR. in Washington will doubt
interest the friends Of the ex-President, es.
pecially his comrades of the GAR. Your cor
respondent the Chairman Of the Eighth
Corps and Armies Of West Virginia on Corps
Reunions, which was held at Grand Army
Place. in the Grant Tent on Tuesday. Sept. 20.
In consideration of his distinguished service as
soldier statesman. and President. having COM
manded division in 1864 in the Eighth Corps;
as Chairman it was my duty 10 preside at the
afore named Reunion, but prevailing upon Gen.
Hayes he consented to preside. Accordingly
presented him TO audience OF 5000 old
veterans, who were acc0n panied by their wives
and daughters The General was making one
of his characteristic. eloquent speeches, and
while his audience was wild in it's demon
strations of applause the electric light went
out, aud that vast audience were in midnight
darkness. The General continued his speech,
thinking the light would soon reappear but the
machinery which controlled tho light was dis
abled, and conid not be readily repaired. So
the General notified his audience that he would
be compelled TO discontinue his remarks and
dismiss the audience; but the response. loud
and long. came back for him TO proceed. Yield
| ing to their opportunities, he did finish his
| speech. Again lie announced that he would
| have to adjourn, aud stated his regrets at tho
| unfortunate condition OF affairs, and said that
| there were several distinguished speakers
present whom he wished to present. and
named Gen. Rosecrans. 1T the mention of
! Gen. Roseeranss name deafeniBg res rnse
| came back: Speech. speech, Let rs hear d."
| So Gen. Rosecrans was led in darkness To the
| front. He had only began his remarks when a
voice from the audience called: Light q
| match We want to sec his face" match was
| lighted and held near his face, when the large
tent fairly trenbled with the yelling of the
| multitude. When quiet was restored, the
| General continued in a half-hour speech
| Again Gen Hayes suggested adiourning, but
| the audience called for more, when Gen.
| Powell, the noted West Virginia cavalry officer
was insroduced followed by ex- Governor of
| West Virginia Francis P. Pierpont. both gen.
| tlemen making excellent speeches, and, as in
the case of Gen. Rosecraus, both had to submit
to the ordeal of lighting their faces with a
match
This ceremony in the dark, lasting nearly
three hours, was indeed q novel experience.
As Gen. Hayes was my guest for the time,
very naturally felt keenly this mishap of the
electricity, and after the meeting / was
eloquent in apologies to the General for the
| failure of our meeting; but he assured me it
was no failure but grand success. l was
| stubborn, and refused TO be comforted. Last
month / again met Gen. Hayes in Baltimore,
aud renewed my apologies, when he frankly,
| and with much warmth, assured me that in all
| his life and his extensive experience in soldier
| Reunions. he had had no such substantial COM
| pliment paid to him, and that the episode was
one Of the brightest experiences of his life that
/ when 5000 men and women would sit three
hours in the dark and wildly applaud the
| speeches made, showed an appreciation that
| had never before been accorded to hlm.-THEo-
| DoRE +. LANG.