The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-03-14
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
CONNECTICUT

CONNECTICUT
The 2sth Department Encampment Of the
! State of Connecticut was held in Bridgeport,
Feb. 10 and 90
The Y. NJ. C. A. very generously presented
the Executive Committee its hall and adjoin-
| ing rooms for the business meetings and enter
tainmeut purposes and in the banquet hall .
free table of refreshments was open to all
GAR. men during the two days, and was well
patronized and appreciated. Commander-in-
Chief Lawler and staff were present, and adj
dressed the Encampment in the afternoon of
the 18th; and in the evening Campfire was
held in Park City Theater to which the pub
lie was invited.
Gov Coffin and staff, in full uniform Mayor
Bostwick, with City Council and other city
officials and prominent citizens, TO the number
of about $50, occupied the stage, which was
deliberately arranged for the occasion; every
seat in the theater was occupied and all the
available standing-roo while hundreds had
10 go away disappointed.
Past Department Commander A. b. Beers
presided, and Past Chaplain Henry ID. Miller
invoked the Divine supervision; a double
male quartet, under the professional leader
ship of Past Commander Thomas l.. Bartholo-
NEW. furnished the music of the evening, in
Guiding two solos by the leader, his son Frank
being accompanist The Mayor was first in
! troduced, and in a beautifully worded speech
| of welcome, rendered the freedom of the city
| TO the visitors
Gov. Coffin is well known as the soldiers
friend, and he was in no way 10th to publicly
admit 1T. His modest speech WAS we'll received
and heartily applauded. Commander-in-Chief
Lawler convinced his audience that the GA r.
had made no mistake when they chose him
TO the highest Office in the Order. He is
typical Western man Of the Logan stamp, rely
ing on natural ability rather than polished
futility, and substituting common sense for
/ spread-eagle eloquence. Department Com
mander Selah g. Brakeman was full of praise
| for his loyal Department, who so heartily sup
! ported him through such trying year as the
past has been. and hoped always to merit the
esteem in which il now held him. Mrs. Char
lotte E. Wright, of the W.R.C, when called
upon. read an address showing the work of
| that Order.
Judge David Terrence, an eloquent iurist
and well-known comrade, was The orator of
the evening" and his address was a feast of
good things TO all who were fortunate enough
to be present. He concluded by calling De-
partment Commander Brakeman to his feet
and, in beautiful tribute of words, presented
him with q Past Department Commanders
badge. ornamented with settings Of precious
stones. the gift of his comrades, who assured
him Of their love and esteem; that they re-
Parded him az their captive, and would put
him down into the dungeon in the round
tower of their hearts. aud there they would
keep him forever-yes, forever and day
till the walls would crumble to ruin and molder
to dust through decay; that he was ordered to
resume his seat and no word of thanks would
be tolerated.
Corp'l Tanner was the last speaker, and in
rak ing after the cart he raked both right and
left; and his rake would have been harrow.
could he have made ii such. to the souls of
those who had ii in their keeping to prosecute
md hair &c
rebukes were scathing. and his critcsm8 as
sarcastic only Corp'l Tanner could make
them. dc deprecated the wasting influence of
knife and saw on his own anatomy since last
meeting Bridgeport audience, and his pros
pect of having to skirmish around lively on
resurrection morning TO collect the scattered
items. He referred the matter a subject of
thought, to the clergymen then present in
referring TO Judge Longs case. which will
ultimately come 10 the Supreme Bench, and
in which he acted a conspicuous part as Com
missioner of Pensions. he exonerated himself,
denounced some, aud ridiculed Others, princi-
rally the Assistant Attorney General, who he
said. was not even a "bridegroom's hope"
when Judge Long was fighting the battles of
his country
In every respect the Campfire was a great
success the audience was a select one, princ-
pally by ticket, and was deeply attentive ex-
cepting an occasional oufburst or applause,
feelings as a safety valve does TO steam boiler.
In conclusion, all joined in singing America"
and were dismissed. having been in audience
over three hours.
At the Atlantic House, where Headquarters
had been established, the scene beggars descrip-
ton, the house was theirs for the time being.
and the night of the 18th Notification was
at It's highest; The wee small hours" on the
quarter dial of the clock were exhausted before
sleep or slumber came TO the eyeids Of the
jewellers.
The Encampment closed early In the after
noon of the Doth. There were about $50 pres
ent representing membership OF about 1000.
The best Of order prevailed. and just before the
close Past Department Commander Taintor
presented Past Department Commander Beers
with beautifully engrossed testimonial in
recognition of the early aud late service he had
rendered the Department, especially in its in
fsnthood.
The visitors were pleased with Bridgeport
and Bridgeport was proud of its visitors, who
with Past Commander James III. Smith, Assist
ant lnspector-General, escort, visited various
places Of interest Old Glory also honored its
brave defenders and shook out every fold as ii |
waved triumrhantly from every masthead. |
This oasis in the desert of our life will long be
remembered. and the old soldier has won the adj
miration Of the people Of this city.
INDIANA
The 10th annual Encampment will convene
at Wysor's Grand Opera House, Muncie, March
"a. Comrades X. NJ. Smock, Assistant Adiu-
tant-General; H. II. Ragon. jr., Vice Depart
ment Com mander; Charles II. SowIe, Depart
ment Inspector; A. F. Spaulding, Chief Mus
tering Officer; Jasper T. Lewis, Lucien A.
Foote and John w. Tingle, members of the
Council Of Administration, are appointed Com
mittee on Credentials This committee will
meet at the Kirby House. on March 26 1885, at
o'clock D. M, for the purpose of issuing ere.
dentisls 10 the delegates.
The following Posts have not reported the
names Of the new Adjutants: Posts 4, I6, 81,
IS. So ll3 l25, $50. l6l. $50. 205 254, 277, 3l9
800, 326, s02 445. SD, 53l, 536. Unless these
names are sent to Headquarters at once they
will not be printed in the roster, which is now
being prepared for the printer.
u. w. III. kemper, Commander, Post 7S Nun
Gle, writes; " Recently there was sent out from |
this city TO the press several reports purporting
TO give accounts of certain disgraceful proceed.
ings said TO have transpired nj meeting of Will
liams Post In this city on Monday evening, Feb |
y. The members Of the Post felt disposed TO pass
the matter in silent contempt, but at a regular
meeting held on Monday evening, March 4. il |
was learned that comrades and others az a dis
lance bad been misled by said publications, and
that denial would be proper. We desire,
therefore to say TO our comrades that the re-
ports sent out and published are malicious false
hoods. Our Post is harmonious body. work.