The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-01-08
GOLD VETS" BANQUET.
R. P. Cummins Post, G. A. R., Celebrate
the Advent Of 1898.


one of the most enjoyable events ever
celebrated by that association of veterans.
Invitations had been previously issued
To every member of the Post and 10 com
rades in different parts of the county,
and notwithstanding the storm that pre-
vailed throughout the day, almost an
even hundred of the, ''old vets
were on hand at the appointed hour. 4
special Post meeting was held in the Post
room at 10 A. NJ, when Quartermaster j.
NJ. Cook read his annual report and op-
portunity was given a number of visit
ing comrades to make short addresses.
While the meeting was in progress in
the Post room the wives and widows and
other close relatives of the "boys'' were
busily at work in the Opera House pre-
pairing the annual .'spread" of good
things, and at II o'clock it was thought
the fortified tables were strong enough
to withstand an attack and a challenge
was accordingly forwarded TO the hostile
camp.
wild rush on the part of the boys to
head the column, which resulted in COM
rades William Huston, William NJ.
Hochstetler, Jacob Heinbaugh and Jonas
NJ. Cook, all sufferers from dyspepsia
since the days when their daily fare con-
sisted of bean soup, hard tack and m ess
pork, with an occasional confiscated
Johnny cake" reaching the coveted
places. They were closely followed by
comrades Amos Knepper, A. c. Davis,
Ephraim Minor and Zach" Snyder,
who seemed determined TO have a place
at the table no matter whether the fare
consisted of hard tack or jelly cake; and
they were crowded forward by the other
members of the Post and invited guests,
all of whom seemed to instinctively re-
alize that there was something good for
the inner man to be had at the Opera
House. The newspaper contingent dis
counted the maneuvers of the ''old sol
diers" and executed a master stroke
which landed them upon the scene a
short time before the assaulting party ar
rived.
Four long tables, covered with snow
white linen and weighted down with
roast turkey, roast chicken, salads of va
rious kinds, sandwiches, cakes nd pas
try, led from the stage. In one corner of
the room a cooking stove, surmOunted
by a pair of huge boilers, in which oys-
tiers and coffee were steaming, had been
rugged up. Ladies were running hither
and thither putting the last touches on the
table and adding a bit of seasoning here
and bit of spice there. The post OF
honor was, by unanimous consent, given
TO the widow of the gallant Colonel Cum
Minis, and afterwards there was "A touch
OF pathos in the voices of the soldier
boys when they grasped her hand in
theirs and whispered a word of the pleas
ure it afforded them To again meet the
wife of Brave Colonel Bob"
A halt war called before the advancing
army reached the well provisioned camp,
when Commander Saylor advanced un-
der n flag of truce. He WAS very posi-
tive in demanding unconditional surrcn-
der, and when his terms were scceded to,
instead of telling the occupants OF the
captured camp to return to their homes
and firesides, he directed them to wait
upon his troops, who had already rushed
into the Opera House and seated them
selves around the tables, y rapid fire
upon tue edibles was at once begun and
continued without interruption for a full
half hour. oysters in every style were
lost to view, as were the dozen other
dishes prepared TO tickle the palates OF
the soldier boys. The ladies were all at
tention and if their good offices had not
heen repulsed finally considerable num-
Der of the banqueters would have been
fit subjects for the hospital. After the
good ladies themselves had dined, the ia
bles were cleared and Commander Say
lor, in a brief address, felicitated the
comrades upon their being permitted to
assemble again together. He referred
feelingly TO the deaths that had occur
red in the Post during the year,
and expressed his satisfaction at
the excellent financial condition
of X. 7. Cummins Post at the pres
ent time. Before concluding, he intro
duced comrade a. W. Knepper, the new
ly elected Commander. Comrade knep-
per returned thanks to the comrades for
the honor conferred and promised to dis
charge the duties If his office to the best
Of his ability. Rev. j. S. Harkey spoke
briefly of the mission of the army chap
lain and related several touching incl
dents connected with the ehaplain's duty
4 I'll Id
| Harkey was private soldier in an Illi-
nsis regiment during the war. J. f.
Beachey, was the next speaker. He was
| followed by Congressman J. II. Hicks,
who spoke with great earnestness upon
the pension question. Mr., Hicks oX-
pressed himself as being in favor of PEN
sioning every Union soldier who has an
honorable discharge and in favor of abol-
| fishing boards of examining surgeons.
| In conclusion he said that so far a. his
knowledge extends II. p. Cummins Post
is the only organization of old soldiers i'm
the country that celebrates each recur-
ring New Year's-day with an annual
banquet. lie thinks the object most
commendable and worthy Of emulation
by other G.. \. A. Posts throughout the
county.
w. NJ. Hochstetler followed with a
brief recital of his experiences and obser-
vations at the Louisville encampment
and Chauncey Dickey spoke on "The
Army of the Potomac" Capt. w. IL
Sanner was assigned 10 speak on "OlC
Glory and in doing so he gave the
Lions tail" several vigorous twists thai
aroused the enthusiasm of his hearers tc
point where it was clearly manifest tha
X. u. Cummins Post q. A. X. will tax.
up arms against John Bull'' as soon a
their country asks it.
A. this point the progam had TO h'
abandoned for reasons unnecessary t.
STATE. The hanque; was voted an un
qualified success and the old soldier
and their guests retired TO their home
feeling that it had been good for them t.
be there.
Reuben Ferner Post G. A. R. Banquet.
New Year's-day was celebrated here il