Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-08
A Gala Day and Old-Tirne Bnthusiasm-The

A Gala Day and Old-Time Bnthusiasm-The
 Diversions.
 Demopolis, Aug. 6.-(Special Core spondence.) )-Today has certainly been a gala day for Demopolis. The crowd and the enthusiasm savored of old times. For weeks we have been looking forward to this day. Posters had been distribu- ted all over the country announcing the fete and reunion of Camp Oracle and we expected to have a crowd. Early in the morning buggies and carriages began to come in. Indeed some of the veterans were here yesterday afternoon. About noon the streets looked like Christmas times, they were so filled with visitors. Promptly at noon Marshal Monnie, who had charge of the arrangements, fired off the cannon announcing that it was time to assemble in the armory of the Rifles. The Rifles had already preceded them there and were drawn up in line to receive them.
 Commander Webb called the meeting to order and announced it's purpose in neat speech in which he extended to them most hearty welcome. Following him Mayor Williams rose and on the part of the city welcomed all the veterans and visitors. His talk was as eloquent as usual which is saying no little thing as we all can attest who heard his address at the breaking dirt" ceremony Hon. G. w. Taylor was called upon to respond on the part of the veterans. His talk was very appropriate one. He inter- spersed it with some very amusing anec- dotes and "reminiscences of the Hate mis- understanding. After this speech the regular order of business was taken up and gone through with. It was nearly or quite o'clock when the meeting was over, and, with the Rifles in full uniform leading the way, followed by the fire company, who themselves came imme- diately ahead of the veterans the pro- cession marched down to the Webb ware house, where the dinner had been spread Well, you talk about dinner where ev- erything was excellently arranged Noth- ing quite so perfect as this was ever seen in this part of the state. The old veteran overseer of the pits, 'Marse" Will Strud- wick, with his two able assistants. John Strudwick and Dan Thompson, had been hard at it all night and cooked every thing to turn. "Rix' Monnier had charge of the tables and that is equal to saying that there could have been no im- provement in that line. But they were so far superior to the average barbecue table as to demand special mention Ev- cry plate was provided just as though they were at a hotel. Knifes and forks and even spoons were there.
 The people of the town had been very liberal in their contributions and in con sequence, to use a hackneyed phrase the tables fairly groaned under their weight of good things. As your correspondent went up the street after the dinner he was met by several visitors who stopped him and asked him to make special men, ton of the splendid arrangements. They all said that though they had been to every dinner given in this country since the war they had never seen one to equal this, and to H. A. Monnier and his abb corps of assistants belong the full crel. 4 for this praise
 In the afternoon a large crowd wen: out to Webbs park expecting to see a good game of ball between Demopolis and Uniontown. They were disappointed It was about the slowest game we have seen this year, as can be judged from the score, 34 to in favor of Demopolis. We wish to say, however, that Uniontown came down with a very much crippled team. Only one of their regular men was in it. Two players had to be borrowed from here. It is good thing for our boys that they were crippled, for if they had put up any sort of game we would have been beaten out of sight, for rocky is not the name for the playing they did. Rudisill on third made some awful err TOTS just from carelessness. Besides this he trified so much as to almost necessi- tate his removal from the game. He was guyed by the lookers-on unmerci- fully, and it is to be hoped it will do him some good. He is a good player when he ----t~ 10 be. hut this is at lnterva Is.