The morning times., 1896-02-24

Grand Army Hall will be the scene to.
night OF the opening of the annual en-
campmentof the Department of the Potomac
G. A. r.
Early in the afternoon the delegates
from the different posts will gather and
by 6 O'Clock it is expected that all will be
present and Department Commader Ander-
son will tap the gavel as the hour strikes.
These yearly gatherings are of much
moment to the veterans and the present
occasion is of additional interest because
of the expected presence of Commander
in-chief Walker.
1t was understood that Commander Walk
er would reach this city yesterday after
noon and extensive preparations had been
made to welcome him. telegram was
received at headquarters on Saturday. how
ever. saving that he would be unavOidably
delayed and could not possibly reach the
city until today.
The commander will arrive in lime for
the meeting and will ne escorted from his
hotel TO G. A. R. Hall by the Old Guard
and the Mt. Pleasant Field Band.
BUSINESS OF IMPORTANCE.
Considerable preparation has been made
for this cncampment, and for the past month
or six weeks Mr.. James Z. McCabe, the
assistant quartermaster general, has been
, hard at work attending To the arrange
ments.
Decorators and furniture men have
made their presence known in the hall, and
| Of,
up for the occasion.
| All day yesterday the work was carried
| on and will be pushed rapidly To compile
tion this morning. Flags, banners, in
signals and greenery liue the walls and
ceiling of the hall and vast change has
! been worked in its appearance.
| The meeting tonight will be i'll the nature
of a preliminary, when routine business
will be transacted and the reports of COM
! mittees heard.
| In addition to the regular work. however.
! there will be addresses by several prominent
| people and by the comniander-in-chief and
| the department commander. II is expected
that a large number of Senators and Rep
resentatives will be present and among the
| invited guests will be Col. Marbury, the
! millionaire tobacco manufacturer of Bal
timore.
| TWO LEADING ADDRESSES.
| After organizing the meeting, Depart
| ment Commander Anderson viii deliver
| his address and Commander-in-ChiefW Walker
| will also speak to the veterans, then the
| nomination of Officers Will be taken up
| and an exciting session is expected.
1t is hoped to adjourn. however. by 8
| O'Clock, when the entire assemblage will
repair to the Ebbitt House. where an
ella borate banquet will be spread in honor
OF Gen. Walker.
The real test of the encampment will
come on Thursday night, when the election
| of officers will take place and Monday
nights candidates passed upon.
The positions vacated at the conclusion
of this encampment and which will be
filled on Thursday night by new incum-
bents are, department comma nder, senior
vice department commander, junior vice
department commander, chaplain. medical
director, aud delegates and alternates 70
the national encampment at ST. Paul next
September.
SOME OF THE CANDIDATES..
The principal candidates in the field at
present are for department commander,
John w McEroy. editor OF the National
Tribune. and Mr.. J. II. Howlett, the present
senior vice commander.
1t seems TO be the prevailing sentiment
that Editor McEroy will he elected, as
he has done much for the benefit Of the
department and is popular among the rank
and file of the posts. He was candidate
on previous occasion in 1898 and was
defeated by very small mai ajority.
For senior vice commander there seems
10 he but one candidate at the present time.
He is DR.. A ]. Huntoon of Post No. 5. and
appears to have u sure thing on the election.
For junior vice commander DR.. Rauh OF
Post No. IA is the only applicant so far
as is known, although Others may come
forward later on.
DIR. A. E. Johnson of Post No. 3 will
most likely be chosen as medical director
and for chaplain there are several ap
plicants in the field.
A UNIQUE feature of the encampment
will be the :"Prisoners of War banquet
which will be held on Wednesday evening
BANQUET OF PRISONERS.
On that evening all those who hav,
undergone the experience of confinement
in Confederate prison will celebrate ant
TeJOlCt jndJ JItS dltNe W Ten Va tuSl
experiences.
Among those who will gather arount
the board will be Commander Walker. De
partment Commander Anderson and Ma
L. Williams. These three gentlemen
were members of the same brigade durini
the war, and all three were captured ant
, confined in Libbey Prison at the same time
Col. Anderson succeeded in making hi
escape enc night, and enjoys the distinction
of being the first man TO escape from Libbe
; and reac, the Union lines. During the en-
5 campinent of the Department of the Potoma
: the VomaDs Relief Corps will also hol
their annual gathering.
This Las been the custom of the two OF
ganiZat,ons since their formation. On MOI
day night the ladies will hold meetin
similar tc. that of the men, and nomination
will be IN order for the offices of president
senior and junior vice president, and othe
positions.
FIVE PRISONERS ESCAPED.
Overpowered the Turnkey in an Ohi
County Jail.
, | Warren O.. Feb. 23.-Five prisoners e!