Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-05-23
ENTHUSIASTIC GOAFEnERA1ts.
FILL HOUSTON FROM END TO
END WITH GLORY.
MISS WINNIE DAVIS REoETvEs
AN OVATION FROM THE MEN
WHO FOLLOWED HER FATHER.
GEN. GoRDoN's sPEEcH-rHE
WEATHER uNpRoPIrIouS



Despite the rain and slush and mud
that reminded some of The old vets o.
the march Stonewall Jackson made in
the Valley Of the Shenandoah In the
winter of 1862, or the swamps of the
Chickahominy. the second day OF the
great reunion viii be remembered by
every one OF the thousands who are
here. The rain fell all day in torrents,
necessitating an abandonment of
Camp Culberson. Abandoning things
unless Bob Lee said so was not ex-
aotly agreeable to these Scared relies
OF the Lost Cause" but they Were per-
fectly willing to come into the city to-
day. Besides they wanted to see John
b. Gordon and Miss Winnie Davis. who
are here.
After all had come from the camp
great crowds thronged In the audito-
rum. Charley Culberson was never
more eloquent in all his life than to-
day when he gave these modest and
battle-scarred followers of a crimson
cross. that went to defeat but never to
shame, the latch key and heart OF all
Texas. on behalf OF Houston Mayor
Brown, under flag of truce, carried
the agreement to. an unconditional sur
render Both were cheered to the echo.
After the applause following their re-
marks had subsidized, John B. Gordon,
the tall Georgia pine, the idol of his
state and the hero of the "unrecon-
structed rebels" looking Just az proud
and glorious as when he led the charge
that made him famous, that almost
obliterated his command. that swept
over Hancock's legions and saved the
army of Northern Virginia from ruin
on that May morning In the wilderness
little over thirty-one years ago. arose
to reply. Then what a scenel Hats,
umbrellas, ribbons, flowers and hand
chiefs were thrown in the air The
old rebel yell OF Hoods Texans came
from 10000 throats In a grand, wild
melody like the surge of q stormy sea
on rockbound coast. 1t staggered the
old warrior more than a shower Of
iron hail. He looked abashed. and had
there been any way to escape, would
probably have lodged facing the
crowd. But he pulled himself together
and commenced. Gordon's fame would
be great even Il he didn't have such a
| glorious war record-he is an orator as
| well as a fighter.
| No one who heard his eloquent words
| today will ever forget them. He re-
| minded the old soldiers of the ravages
time was making upon their thinning
ranks; what Missionary Ridge and
| Chlckamauga had not done; what
| Camps Chase and Douglass had failed
to accomplish was being completed by
the ravages of time. Each year theil
| numbers were growing less; each yea
the lone survivors were being hurried
to the beginning of that path up which
every individual must come In Gods
appointed time Thank God. they
could look behind them without bring
ing a blush OF shame to mantle theil
cheeks. They did their duty as they
conceived It; they had lost but now M
living American would shed his bloot
in defense of the stars and stripes
quicker than they who turned sorrow
fully away from Appomattox,
When he concluded there was an
other ovation, II was as great tri
umph as John B. Gordon ever had. un
less It was on the day he was electe'
United States senator and enthusiastic
members OF the legislature carried
him over Atlanta on their shoulders.
And Miss Winnie Davisl Why tn
crowd paid great deal more homag
to her than the most loyal Britishe
ever accorded Victoria. She was queer
of the day and The love the children o
pixie" felt for her Industrious fathe
was never better eNemplihed. Next L
Gordon she is the observed of all oh
servers. The reception rendered he
was attended by 5000 people.
The Fort Worth delegation is enjoy
ing IL Immensely, and the Loyds am
l5cnclbles are attracting great dea
of attention.
About 5000 veterans assembled at tn
auditorium tonight to attend the even
ing session. After the committee o.
credentials reported the committee o
constitution reported and the debat
which followed occupied the entlr
time of the session. The constltutlo
ndopted at Birmingham last year wa
act aside by motion and camps 'hr
working under the old one. The fol
lowing committees were appointed I
draw up a new instrument; Alabama
W, u. Mikels; Arkansas. John NJ. Boi
roid; Georgia, f, A. Evansi Floridt
! Frank Phillips; Virginia, Major &c,
, L. Christian; Louisiana j, =. cn ,rIs
son: Tennessee, Jno. p Hickman; TeS
as A. Il. Watts; North Carolina, +
d, Hill; South Carolina, b. II. league
indian Territory. Jno. l.. Gault; MIS-
souri,. 10 Shelby. This committee WI
,a-II mi. lnnanrrnM and report te