Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-09-13
The Veterans at Pittsburg.


Comrades and friends Aocked in
to Pittsburg all week, and took COM
plste possession. 1t was estimated that
one hundred Thousand visitors were in the
CITY on the eve of the encampment, and
each of the big days has seen nearly
half million strangers in the town.
4 copious shower fell on Sunday after
noon, clearing the atmosphere and temper
ing the heat so as to make pleasant
weather.
This had the affect OF crowding the
streets to an extent never before witness
ed in Pittsburg, which is rather stsld
old town, and noted for its quietude on
| the Sabbath. The saloons were closed Oh
course, but other business was transacted
| in a way which made the average citizen
| imagine that he was away from home visit
| ing some other place not so stiff in the OBJ
servance of the blue laws.
The universal comment Of the visitors
| regarding the decorations and display OF
patriotism, is that at no time in the past
has the encampment at Pittsburg been
eutdone. The display lavish, and in the
majority of cases neat and tidy.
AS the different visiting posts arrived
they were met by escorts detailed from the
local regiments of the National Guard, and
with flying colors and bands playing,
| were taken TO the places assigned them.
| cheered to the echo by the throngs on the
sidewalks. The work of the citizens com
miftee, though enormous, was transacted
in a soldier like way and the ground cover
| ed thoroughly.
A large number of Butler county people
took in the encampment, and oil pronoun-
| ced it All immen SO affair.
| Tuesday was beautiful, clear day, and
the great parade was success. The side
| walks If the streets that made the line oi
march from the Court House ia Pittsburg
to the Park in Allegheny were crowded,
| jammed-in some places it was impossi-
BILE to move on them, and the wires that
had been stretched along the curbs, pre-
vented people from occupying the streets.
Along Duquesne Way in Pittsburg, and
at other points, immense grand stands had
been erected, all of which were crowded,
the windows and house tops were full, and
all the girders Of the big Sixth st. bridge
were covered with boys. At least two
hundred thousand people Witnessed the
parade, and about forty thousand were in
line. The parade was too big. 1t began
lpsssing up Federal St. shortly after II
o'clock and was still passing when the 3. IL
train left the city. The most novel fea-
tzre of the parade was a Colonial Band
composed of old men,-some Of them very
old-who with their Continental Uniforms
and white cockades recalled the history
of the Revolution. They formed part Of
the New York division.
Illionois, Ohio and New York had i'm
mense delegations at the encampment and
in line, though of course none eqaslled
in sizs that of Pennsylvania, and the But.
Ter county Posts in line looked as well "a
any. 1t was the greatest day Pittsburg
has had since the war.
Wednesday was devoted to rsgimentsl
and brigade reunions at different places,
and to q great assembly in the Grand
Opera House which listened to speeches
by prominent men, and today and tomor-
row these assemblies and reunions and
esmpfres will continue.
On Wednesday the National Encsmp-
at Pittsburg held an executive session and
selected Louisville as the place Of the next
| encampment. The meeting was held in
the Grand Opera House, ..and was called to
| order by Commander John G. B. Adams,
who raped with his gavel on the table up
on which Grant wrote the terms for Lees
surrender.
At the Westinghouse Hall. that night,
great ball was held which was attended
by 1000 guests.
The foot races were held Wednesday.
j. z. Smith won the trophy offered by the
Dispatch in the time of SIG, which is very
good time for a mile considering every
thing
"Heaven was kind to rs in sending us
perfect day." said an invalid veteran, who
sat in chair on the steps Of fine house
on Irwin avenus.
"This will be the last meeting Of this
kind shall even attend, and am thank
ful have had such good view of the
parade"
'fNo, no, gran'pa, you viii see many
more of them" said O sweet-faced girl who
stood beside him.
mot at all likely, my dear. Ny dis
charge papers are made out and only need
the countersign Of the Great Commander.
But this is no time to talk about such
things. This is one Of the red letter days
in the life Of q soldier, and he ought to try
to enjoy it. II could only march as
did when we pushed up on the works in
front of Petersburg few days before the
surrender / would be the hsppiest man
aliye."
"Say, gran'ps, there's soldier moving
his hand at you. Don't you see him."
"Yes. IFS Ssrgt. Bill Scott. He and I
were messmates."
hat on his cane and waved it as vigorously
as his week arm would permit. And then
the boys in line cheered, and the pretty
girl clspped her hands with delight.
"God bless 'om all They haven't forgot
me, have they, dear" said the veteran,
his voice tremulous with emotion and his
eyes dim with tears.
His were not the only tesrs that fell.
Don't they look young" was one OF the
most common remarks heard from those
watching the parade.
AS rule they we're hardly, middle-aged
men, but for every one Of these there were
. score or more at home who were not
physically able to be present, or If in the
city were not strong enough to march. 1t
was well, on this occasion, not to stop and
think upon the ssddest part of the picture.
In the marching ranks we saw only those
who were fttest to SURVIVE. They went
into the service young and were fortunate
in escaping bullets and disease.
1t is safe to say that fully one half Of the
soldiers in the city were not in line, owing
to their inability to stand the march
Quiet Observer in Com. Gazette.
A WISE judge in Belgium. who deserves
to be held in grateful memory by all dog
lovers, has recently decided that if q ticket
Is bought for dog he is entitled TO fir st