Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1894-09-14
ST. PAUL STILL LEADS
IN THE RACE For THE NEXT G. A.
n. ENCAMPMENT.
Louisville IL After 1t Hard, but the
MinnesOta City Will Probably
Win - Forty Thousand Veterans
March Through PittsburE's Streets

Pittsburg, Sept. 12.-The great pa
rade 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-
campment. 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.
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
forms nor conceal their gray hairs and
furrowed cheeks. They carried no
heavy rifles with glittering 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 handkcrchiefs 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 We're crowded, while the
sidewalks were packed solidly from the
building line 10 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. 6. p, guard
Of honor to Commander-in-Chie Ad-
ans. Then followed the departments
of the G. A. f. in the following order:
Illinois. Wisconsin, Ohio, New York,
Connecticut, Massachusetts,, New Jer-
sry. Maine, California, Rhode Island
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, Sout, Da-
kota, Washington and Alaska; Arkan-
sas, New Mexico, Utah, Tennessee,
Louisiana and Mississippi; Florida,
Montana, Texas, Idaho, Arizona,
Georgia, Alabama, North Dakota, Ok
lahona, IEdian Territory, Indiana and
Pennsylvania.
The de decorations of the two cities
were most lavish. 1t was stated by
men Who attended many previous en-
campments that, while individual dis
plays may have been excelled in other
cities, they had never seen decorations
on such generous and general scale
Hardly a dwelling, no matter how
poor, nor how far from the route of
the parade, but at least had flag, and
usually display of bunting as well,
while the business houses in every part
of the cities made 4 gorgeous showing.
This was not the only manner in
which the gratitude, pride and patriot
ism OF the citizens were displayed.
They gave more certain evidence by
the manner in which they turned out
to greet the cid soldiers. It is impos-
sible to form any accurate estimate Of
The spectators. Every available inch
along the route was packed. Every
side street was iammed full Of people
for hundred yards, and the housetops
for blocks away We're hidden by
masses of enthusiastic applauders.
A rough estimate is that between
SOC, 900 anG 100000 people saw the pa
rade.