The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-09-13
ST. PAUL STILL LEADS
IN THE RACE FOR THE NEXT G. A..
r.. ENGAGEMENT.
louisville Is After 1t Hard, but the
Minnesota City VIII Probably
Win Forty Thousand Veterans
March Through Pittsburg's Streets

Pittsburg, Sept. 12The great pa
fade of veterans has occurred, and now
the business portion of the encampment
begins. The fight over the election Of
commander-in-chief is warm but it is
nothing compared to the struggle for
the honor OF entertaining the next en-
camDment. st. Paul and Louisville
were the only candidates, but Kansas
City has entered the race, which makes
the contest more exciting. Kansas
City, however, is not seriously consid-
cred and the actual fight is between
ST. Paul and Louisville, with the odds
still in favor Of the Minnesota city. If
Louisville wins it will be because Kan
sas City entered the race -...'a
Forty thousand men who fought to
save the Union marched through the
streets of Pittsburg and Allegheny.
The old familiar war tunes, to which
they and their comrades rushed to
victory or to death, filled the air and
echoed back from the surrounding hills.
The music made their hearts beat as
in the stirring times thirty years ago,
and brought the flush of patriotism and
courage to their cheeks. But, while
they stepped out boldly and bravely,
they could not straighten their bent
furrowed cheeks. They carried no
heavy rifles with glitterng bayonets,
but aided their aged limbs with walk
ing canes, while here and there in the
line of blue came a cOmrade Oh
crutches. They marched no more be-
meath the yawning muzzles of frOWn-
ing cannon, but passed battery after
battery of bright eyes, while their fair
enemy waived white handkerchiefs and
applauded with shrill, sweet voices.
On every street corner and vacant lot
rose tier after tier of human faces,
and as the veterans passed cheer after
cheer greeted them. Every window
alang the route, the fire escapes and
roof tops were crowded, while the
sidewalks were packed solidly from the
building line to the wire ropes stretched
along the curbs. The parade started
from historic Monongahela house, on
the banks Of the river from which it
takes it's name.
First came Company A, Second bat
talon naval reserves, N. G. P, guard
of honor to Commander-in-C AID
ANS. Then followed the departments
of the G. A. r. in the following order
Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York
Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jer
and New Hampshire, Vermont, Poto
manc, Virginia and North Carolina
Maryland, Nebraska, Michigan, Iowa
Colorado and Wyoming; Kansas, Del
aware, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon
Kentucky, West Virginia, South Da
kota, Washington and Alaska; Arkan
sas, New Mexico, Utah, Tennessee
Louisiana and mississippi; Florida
Montana, Texas, Idaho, Arizona
Georgia, Alabama, North Dakota, Ok
lahoma, Indian Territory, Indiana an(
Pennsylvania.
The de corations of the two cities
were most lavish. 1t was stated b.
men who attended many previous en-
campmentS that, while individual dis
plays may have been excelled in othe
cities, they had never seen decoration
on such generous and general scale
Hardly dwelling, no matter hoy
poor, nor how far from the route o
49, the parade, but at least had a flag, ant
usually a display of bunting as well
while the business houses in every par
OF the cities made a gorgeous showing
This was not the only manner il
which the gratitude, pride and patriot
ism of the citizens were displayed
They gave more certain evidence b,
the manner in which they turned on
to greet the old soldiers. It is impos
sible to form any accurate estimate o
the spectators. Every available inc]
along the route was packed. Ever.
side street was damned full of peopl
for hundred yards, and the housetop
for blocks away were hidden b.
masses of enthusiastic applauders.
A rough estimate is that betwee
100000 anG 100000 people saw the pa
ra1p