The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-03
ANNIVERSARY OF. SEDAN
Germans Of Scranton Celebrated the
Event 10 an Appropriate Nay.
PROCESSION IN THE EVENING
Over q thousand Mem We're In Line.
Celebration st Central Park. Whore
Speakers Told About tho Great Vie.
tory OF Franco. o.Prussian war.

German citizens OF Scranton and
their wives. sons and daughters yester-
day at Central Park celebrated In an
elaborate manner the twenty-fourth
anniversary Of the capture Of Sedan.
that decisive and never-to-be forgot
ten victory of the Franco-P Prussian war
at which $4,000 French troops and the
Emperor Napoleon fell into the hands
OF the victorious Germans. This cele-
bration took place on monumental
scale In Germany yesterday. The date
Of the battle OF Sedan was Sept Q, 1871.
There was a monster celebration at
Berlin, In which the emperor and en-
press participated. The emperor him
self donated 5000 marks from his per-
sOnal fortune for the illumination Of
the Schloss. The whole of Berlin was
blaze OF light and color. A company
of 81, 900 school children participated
In the day parade, and thousands OF
troops took part In the military man
euvers
The actuating spirit OF the Germans
In the celebration Of the notable event
has not even tinge Of prejudice
toward the French people nor even the
slightest desire to gloat over the great
victory Their rejoicing Is merely an
evidence Of German-American patriot
the fortunes Of war which assured the
unification of the German empire.
The anniversary means the same to
the Germans or they look upon 1t In
the same light the American people re-
gard the Fourth Of July. and in every
city OF the United States yesterday
wherever there are German residents
they celebrated with the fullest meas
ure Of rejoicing.
The Event In Scranton.
In this city the celebration did not
come until nightfall. Then the civic and
military German societies assembled
on the West Side at Turner hall and
formed In line for marching. There
were no less than 1000 men In the pa
rade. City Controller Fred ]. Wild
mayer was grand marshal. There were
two divisions made up of four brigades.
the first division In command Of Frank
Moeller. the second In command OF
the South Side.
The celebrat ton was under the espe-
cial auspices Of the Scranton veterans
Of the Franco-Prussian war. The whole
command moved at 8 o'clock. The first
division formed on West Lackawanna
avenue, near Seventh street, and the
second division on Seventh street. AS
the procession moved along across the
bridge and up I.ackawanna avenue an
imposing spectacle was presented.
Torches burned brightly and lit up the
ranks. revealing the old veterans and
the membership Of the civic societies In
uniform.
The American flag graced the head of
the column. Guth's band discoursed
lively martial strains between the Stars
and Stripes forward and a large Ger
man flag behind, beaming down on the
veterans of the war. The German vet
Grams of Wilkes-Bar united with their
comrades in Scranton, and they had the
next position. Then came the Saen-
gerrunde and the German Smokers
club Of the South Side. the Bavarian
Benevolent association, the Germania
band, the Gruetli Verein, st. Joseph's
society. st. Peters society. st. Plus So
ciety, the German Federation, Alliance
lodge, No. $40, and Resdenz lodge. No.
513, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Societies Of the Second Division.
The second division was led by a
0and. and then the societies came as
follows: The Turner's. the Llederkranz.
Lodge Of d. o. H., Bavarian society.
Carpenters union, Bristol band, Au-
gusta castle, No. 33S, Knights of the
Golden Eagle; Castle No. 26S, knights
Of the Golden Eagle, and German Pro-
gressive union.
The parade passed from Lackawanna
avenue to Mates street. to Cedar ave-
nu\ to Alder street. to Pittston avenue,
to Maple street, to Cedar, to Elm, to
South Washington avenue. to the park.
where ranks were broken and all en-
tered into the spirit Of festivtty.
The speechmaking began about an
hour after arrival at the picnic ground.
Frank Moeller welcomed the visitors.
The main address was given by Rev.
August Lange, Of the South Side. He
graphically pictured the hcroism Of the
German soldiery In the war that ended
with such a grand and magnificent VIC
tory. Frank Luethner spoke also. The
park was crowded with no less than
s, 900 people. and throughout the cele-
bration was conducted with especial
grandeur.