The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-05-23
WILD OVER WINNIE
Ex-Confederates Give Jeff Davis
Daughter an Ovation.
Shout So Loudly That They
Drown the Band.
ALMOST CRUSH HER.
Eager Men Crowd to Shake Her
by the Hand.
ALMOST CRUSH HER.

HOUSTON, Tex, May 23-Rain married
the pleasures of the day and caused an
entire change in the programme for
the first day of the confederate veteran
reunion. The meeting was to have be-
gun at 9 o'clock, but it was after II
o'clock when Col. w. D. Cleveland
opened the ceremonies. After prayer
by DR.. J. William Jones. of Virginia,
chaplain general, Gov. Culberson was
introduced, and he welcomed the vet
Grams to Texas in five-minute address.
Mayor Brown followed with few
brief words of welcome, and then Col.
Cleveland introduced Gen. John B.
Gordon, commander-in-chief q. G. V.
There were 5000 people in the Audi
torium, and as many outside unable to
gain admittance. The jam was ter
rife. When Gen. Gordon rose to speak
the band struck up Dixie but its
strains could NOT be heard, so great
was the din raised by the vocal demon
stration given the beloved chieftain.
Gen. Gordon, when quiet had been par
TALLY restored, delivered an address.
At the conclusion of his address com
mittees on credentials were appointed.
Then Gen. S. D. Lee, as chairman of
the historical committee, read his re-
port, which, among other things, says:
''The true cause of the war between
the states was the dignified withdrawal
of the southern states from the union
to avoid the continued breaches of
that domestic tranquility guaranteed
but not consummated by the consti-
tuition, and not the high moral purpose
of the north to destroy slavery, which
followed incidentally after as a war
measure. AS to the war itself and the
results of the war, the children of the
future would be astonished that a peo-
pie fought so hard and so long with so
little to fight for, judging from what
thev gather from histories now in use,
prepared by writer's from the north.
They are utterly destitute of infOrma-
ton as to the events leading to the
war. Their accounts of the numbers
engaged, courage displayed, sacrifices
endured, hardships encountered, and
barbarity practiced upon an almost de-
fenseles people, whose shear
ing population was in the army, are in
correct in every way
At the conclusion of this report so
great was the din that adjournment
was had until 7:3O p. m, and then Miss
| Winnie Davis, the daughter of the
! Confederacy, was introduced. A wild
shout went up that fairly made the
enormous building tremble. Never
was there seen such a demonstration.
Hats were flying in the air, gray
haired men were cheering and yelling,
completely drowning the music made
by the band, which was playing the
Bonnie Blue Flag
1t had been intended that Miss Davis
| should greet each veteran by a hand
shake, but the utter ability
| Of this feature was soon manifest. The
masses of old veterans were so over
come with enthusiasm that wild rush
was made for the place where Miss
! Davis stood, and in an instant she was
surrounded by mass of men, all push
ing peH NELL to grasp her hand and
show how happy they were to meet
| her.
Realizing the danger of such a crush,
! Gov. Lowry and several others came to
the rescue, eXtricated Miss Davis from
the crowd, and placed her where she
could be seen by all and bow her ac-
acknowledgements. This seemed to sug-
gest to the enthusiastic throng that it
was a physical impossibility for Miss
Davis to go through two hours of hand
shaking and a royal shout greeted her
appearance, drowning her utterances
but indicating that the children of JEFF
ferson Davis are dear to the hearts Of
sOutherners, particularly those who
for four years followed the stars and
bars. At the conclusion of the ovation,
the crowd dispersed and Miss Davis
was driven to the residence of Judge
| Masterson.