The Portland daily press., 1894-05-31

Aho AaTdOe anu Exercises at Tue MOnu-
ment
Tuesday evening was discouraging. 1t
poured as it had all day. and as if it
would all the next day. 1t was there
fore delightful surprise to verybody
when Wednesday morning dawned
bright, and clear, and cool, and breezy,
drying the muddy streets in a few hours.
There was never better weather for
Decoration Day. The usual heat, and
dust, and thunder shower did not
trouble us. Everything was perfect.
THE FORENOON'S EXERCISES.
In the forenoon, Thatcher Post, with
detachment of Sons of Veterans, num-
bering in all about 20 men, under Com
mander Fred G. Runnells, marched first
to the Lincoln tree and decorated it.
Rev. W. S. Aver delivered prayer
TIL ey then marched to the Garfield
tree, where Rev. S. F. Pearson's was the
presiding minister. The graves at the
Eastern Cemetery, 81 in number, were
next decorated, and Rev. S. F. Pearson
also officiated there. The Cadet band
played dirge.
An incident occurred that caused the
following explanation. The different
posts put their names on the flags they
use, in order to prevent their being
stolen and sold. A woman whose hus-
band is buried in the Eastern cemetery
was the flag with the name of Thatcher
Post upon it. Her husband belonged
to Bosworth Post and she was very
much displeased at what she thought
was a mistake. But the situation was
explained to her and everything made
pleasant.
Thatcher Post used to decorate the
graves of the 20 veterans of the War of
1912 that are in no cemetery, but are
buried on the site of the old small pox
hospital on the Eastern Prom enade But
they abandoned that three years ago.
1t was no use. The flags were always
stolen or destroyed by boys before the
evening of Decoration Day.
Bosworth Post decorated the graves
in the Western and Calvary cemeteries.
A squad of 20, under Commander A.
M, Sawyer, rode out to the Western GEM
etery, and decorated 107 graves, Rev.
c. Everett Bean officiating as clergyman.
Another squad of 20, under Command
of Michael Sulliavn, rode out TO Calav-
ry Gem etery and decorated $50 graves
THE PROCESSION
formed early in the afternoon in front
of the Falmouth Hotel, under direction
of Chief Marshal George G. Hopkins, as
sisted by the following aids: William
H. Green of Bosworh Post, chief of staff;
John D. Williams of Thatchr Post. Yves
ley L. Gribben of Shepley Camp, Son
of Veterans, John E. Robinson, of the
Montgomery Guards. Leroy E. Dow, of
the High School Cadets, and Luther
Bradford of Bosworth Post
The precision, made up as previously
announced, consisted of:
Platoon of Police
Chief Marshal and Staff.
Battalion of the First Regiment National
Grard, State of Maine, under COM
mand of Captain l. 81. Baker.
Company B, Lieut.: Chae. Collins.
Company E, Capt. Thos. j. Hogan.
Company L, Capt. NJ E. Conley.
Company A, Capt. Geo. A. Dow.
Battalion of High school Cadets, under
command of Major S. G. Dillingham;.
Company A, Capt. Paul P. Gould.
Company B, Capt. Willis B. Moulton.
Bosworth Post, No. 2. G.. A. R., Department
of Maine, Commander Leroy It. Foley.
Thatcher Post, No. III, G. A. R.. Depart
ment of Maine, Commander Fred
G.. Runnells.
Shepley Camp No. 4, Sons of Veterans
Captain E. F. Golf.
Escorted by the procession were several
barges bearing disabled veterans and
the young ladies who had charge of the
large wreath for the monument.
The route Of the procession was from
Federal street to Franklin, Franklin to
Congress, Congress to Washington,
Washington to Cumberland, Cum ber-
land to High, High to Congress, Con-
gress to Monument square, was crowded
with respectful spectators, and marked
in many places by flags on private hous-
es
At the monument, the column was
massed about the enclosure, while the
Ladies' Relief Corps had their places
opposite the west face of the monument.
At the signal, two fair young ladies,
Miss Ella Kennard representing Bos.
worth Post, and Miss Maud Simpson
representing Thatcher, advanced and
placed the wreath upon the monument,
and the bands played dirge.
The column then marched by Con-
gress, Cum berland and Chestnut streets
to Elm, where it dispersed.
After the procession the work of
DECORATING THE GRAVES
at Evergreen and Forest City cemeteries
was begun.
In the forenoon 10Y graves had been
decorated at Calvary, so at Western,
and 81 at Eastern. There remained III
at Forest City and 404 graves at Ever
green. In all, 835 graves were decorated.
The greatest number, 404, at Evergreen,
constituted an extensive task but Com
rade Caleb Lang, who has been on
every decorating committee since 1868,
had made arrangements so that it
could be done expeditiously.
The services at Evergreen were con-
Quoted by Rev. Dwight N. Pratt,
and at Forest CITY by Rev s # Pearson