The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-09-18
WAS A GREAT EVENT.
First Annual Bean Boil of the Eighth Aiii-
nOis Yesterday.

First Annual Bean DOL OF Inc A>iShSA AAAA
nOis Yesterday.
There was lawn social down at the
Cottage Grocery yesterday that was a
''cracker-jack'' and all who were there
will swear to it. 1t was great event.
II was the first annual reunion and
''bean-boil'' of the Eighth Illinois
Cavalry association.
The four shady lots OF the Cottage
Grocery was alive with old soldires and
old glory hung on every tree and kissed
the breezes that drifted from the rip
ping waves of the Great Arkansas.
A long table was set on the lawn and
covered by an assortment OF canvass
that turned the glistening rays Of old
Sol back into his own face.
Near by was a rail supported by two
sticks and from it hung a camp kettle
that WED with the ace of spades in
blackness.
over this kettle, in the midst of frag-
rant steam, stood Comrade Henry w.
Hart stirring up it's contents like some
dark magician read of in the lore OF
witchcraft. And, in passing, let 1t be
said that this same Henry can boil a
dish of beans that General Grant him
self might leave his grave to sample.
At IL o'clock the official bugler call
ed the veterans from reveries of the
stirring scenes of the past to the boil
ing beans of the present and Comrade
Hawiey turned the Cottage Grocery
with it's wealth of watermellOnS, Sau-
sage, rope, baking powder and miscel-
laneous and farenaceous contents over
10 his subordinates to be run the bal
ance of the day as it suited them best.
When the last note Of the bugle had
died away over the maple street bridge
Z 11.,1 No.
ing to order and Captain ]. o. Hawley
stated the object with touching and pa
thetic eloQuence as he thought of the
tolls and victories of the gallant Eighth
Illinois.
Rev. Frank Stanton responded TO the
speech of Comrade Hawley in speech
fun OF Wit and wisdom.
Then that superb cook. Henry Hart.
wiped away the PRECIPITATION from his
honest brow with his finger and filled
up a score Of tin plates and tin cups
with the finest boiled beans and black
coffee that the tongue Of man ever tast-
ed. There was hard tack, pickles, yell
low sugar and ripe tomatoes. too. that
a foraging party brought in with them.
When ali had sat down 20 the ample
feast the face of ex-Confederate Bat.
billiard was seen peeping from behind
a dozen voices and Hilliard was yanked
up 10 the table like a culprit with his
hat dangling in his hand. He was told
10 eat heartily for he had to bring some
wood into camp and the poor fellow ate
his beans and drank his coffee like he
had net seen any provisions for a
month.
After dinner was over he grabbed his
hat again and flew through the woods
for all the world like a prisoner of war
escaping. He was not recaptured.
While the veterans were smoking two
or three punches of cherotes Lieutenant
Former suggested that a permanent
organization be established with the
veterans Of the Eighth Illinois as the
parent lodge in order 20 have reunions
and "hean-boils" in Wichita every year.
All the old soldiers OF Wichita and
southern Kansas have been asked TO CO.
operate and the little affair yesterday
4 [ the Cottage Grocery may yet develop
into an annual melting Of great magni-
tude.
The following officers were elected: 7.
c. EdminstOn. president: J. O. Hawley,
vice president: J. s. Backwith. secre-
tary and treasurer. Rev. Frank Stan
ton, chaplain and Lee W. Helena, off,
cial busler.
Speeches were made by Comrades
Story. Beard. FORMER. Eawley, Stan
ton. Paul Murray and ". T. Dando.
Those who could not make speech
Were either compelled TO sing a song
or tell q whopping big lie. but as Com
rade Nedrow could not do either he
was compelled 70 carry a rail. CoTnrade
Hynes played the banjo and social chat
and war stories wound Up the great
meeting.