Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-10-15
A GREAT GATH RING
THE blue AVID THE GRAY Al
-ERNON.
Four Thousand Visitors Were Pres
ent and the Occasion Celebrated
with Great Enthusiasm.

Vernon, Tex, Oct. A-(speeial.)-The
three days reunion Of the blues and
grays closed Friday night.tIt was three
days OF uninterrupted pleasure and
enjoyment. Wednesday morning was
ushered in by the booming OF anvils.
and the stars and stripes foated In the
gentle autumn breeze, kissed by the
first rays Of the rising sun from the
Flagstaff at the dome OF the court
house. The weather was all that the
people could desire. The committees
were stirring early and everything
was made ready to welcome the city's
invited guests. The first day was de-
voted to the registration of the blues
and grays.
Wednesday night Hon d. A. Hol-
man of Seymour delivered a happy ad-
dress. which was well received by the
vast number which filed the large and
beautifully decorated district court
room to Its utmost capacity. Thurs
day morning was welcomed. as was the
morning of Wednesday. AT 10 o'clock
n. m, Hon. S. L. Hun of this city. de-
livered an address of welcome, which
was responded to by Hon. j. NJ. Ba-
shaw of this city on the part of the
old veterans. Then dinner was an
nounced And such a dinner Cords
OF sweet, Juicy, well-cooked barbecued
meats with bread and coffee, supple
mented by well filled baskets of every
thing nice. prepared by hospitable
ladies'. Right royalty did the assem-
bled hosts do justice to the inner man.
At o'clock p. m. Hon. s. w T. Lam
ham OF Weatherford delivered one
OF the finest addresses ever heard In
Vernon. For two hours he held the
vast audience spellbound by his mas
terly oratory, logic and wit, and en-
shrined himself In the hearts of the
blues and grays and every one who
heard him. After the speech was over
the old soldiers formed a procession
on Main street. headed by the officers
of the day on horseback, among whom
was Col. Lanham, and the band OF
martial music. Another band was
then heard coming. II was the Vernon
cornet band at the head OF 500 school
children and the teachers OF the public
schools who fell in the rear of the
marching soldiers. and the parade
passed through the principal streets
of the city. 1t was the most impress
slve scene ever witnessed in Vernon.
AS the procession marched through the
multitude OF people who filled the
streets on either side cheer after cheer
rent the air. When the procession
at last halted south OF the courthouse
the school children marched between
them. AS the procession OF children
passed out from between the time-worn
and battle-scarred veterans the old
soldiers gave three heroic cheers for
the public schools of Vernon. which
were taken up by the little ones. and
500 chlldren's voices cheered the old
soldiers: the cheering became contag-
ious and everybody cheered At
o'clock p. m. the courtroom was again
packer to Its utmost capacity, and the
people were entertained by Mr.. W. y.
Banks Of Greer county. who had been
Federal soldier, and by Capt. T. ].
Pollard OF Greer county, who gave an
account OF his encounters with the In
dams. Cant Pollard was with ex-Gov-
ernor Ross when they captured Gym
thiana Parker on Mule creek, In what
is now Ford county. near the little
town OF Margaret
Friday morning came with the boom
ing OF anvlls and as bright a sun as
ever shone on this beautiful country.
The old soldiers met and selected
Crowell. the county seat OF Ford
county. ~ their Mace NJ meeting next
year. and elected the following officers:
Col II. NJ, Mccforey OF Ford county;
lieutenant colonel. j. Wltherspoon OF
Ford county: adjutant, II. W. Martin;
major, J. 4. Pollard: secretary and
treasurer. John Wesley OF Ford county;
chaplain, q. #. I.eClere; surgeon, DR..
]. +. Dodson or Vernon.
A resolution asking CONGRESS to Rck-