Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-07-02
yany Veterans and Others SPEED the
Eight In The Capitol Square.
Looked LIKE WAR TIMES AGAIN.
rhc old Soldiers Recalled Experi-
euces of Yenrs tgo-Coats Used Tor
putovs-scenes and Incidents OF
the Night.

a
went there because they knew Of no
where else 10 go Others. and there were
many Of them, sought the square ITO"
choice. They wanted to say when they re-
turned home that they had not only Deeh
70 the capital Of the Confedefacy anu
grasped the hands Of comrades Dut ,ha'
they had slept on the same spot that nsu
been their bed when they were Dat'ii'is
for the freedom OF the Southland.
one gray-haired veteran, dressed III 'ne
reyered gray. was found near the gate al
Tenth and Capitol streets. said ne: am
going TO sleep. young man, in the same
bed that l occupied part OF the time
that / was in Richmond during the war
am an old man now, ana IL may not uO
my rbeuuatiem any good, but l tod my
wife that II it took off year OF my hle
one night / would spend here.
Then the old man pulled a paper out
Of his pocket and spread IT on the ground
with the remark: This Is not as soit as
INV feather-bed but it's not the worst
,iac. TO sleep after all. The God in the
heavens Will protect me. He did IN the
elytles. and the stars that are above as
s,,r. me that He will see that no harm
.ccrros IN me tonight" Removing his
shoes and his coat he rolled up the latter
10 answer the purpose OF "a Pillow as 'he
= reporter bade him pleasant dreams anu
I departed Looking back the reporter sd"
The veteran kneel and turn his eyes TO the
stars. AS loyal a Christian soldier was he
ms ne had been 10 the COniederacy.
MANY PEOPLE SLEPT THERE.
Not only did veterans sleep in the park
last night. but also many visitors to the
city. The benches were not. ~ comfort
nbie as the green grass. ana fsN OF them
were occupied Some slept on blankets,
some on papers, the big reunion issues
coming in very nicely for this purpose
Not one took any trouble TO cover MN
self except with a sheet OF paper. coats
and vests we're removed by numerous
sleepers and made 10 do for Pillows, put
The majority were so tired that they threw
themselves on the grass and were SOUND
ssleep I'm a tricc. Some slept all hsh''
ana some but a few hours. Willing away
the remainder Of the night walking the
streets s..,,..
Never were treasure more carefully
guarded than were the veterans last
night. The Capitol police were ther
guardian angels and watch was KEPT ."
everyone who entered the park at an uh-
seemly hour to see that he did not molest
the sleepers
capitol Square was not the only place
that men slept with nothing between
them and the heavens. In all the PARKS
an roofs. on doorsteps. I'm yards, and even
I'm tho streets were sleepers. The police
ala not trouble any of them but they
we're watchful that none were roDpeu'
on the srandstand in Monroe PARK
many peonle spent the night and from
their sound slumbers IT was In evidence
that they felt no insecurity
The man who snored was to be heard
from everywhere He was in Capitol
Souare. and no doubt the squirrels were
ANNOYED by the sombre tune he was play
ing. -,
II is not because there were not accom-
modations for all that men slept Out
doors last night. The Reunion Committee
on Quarters could have supplied lodgings
for several thousand more persons than
sought them yesterday. They slept out
doors from preference. while some did not
know where to get quarters. and others
did not have the money to pay FOR them.
This has been an ideal week for bivouac-
tne. There has not been a drop of rain,
and the temperature is all that could be
desired. Nature surely is giving its sane
tion to the reunion by the most propitious
weather.
AT VETERAN QUARTERS.
Upwards Of 10000 Confederate veterans
slept on comfortable cots in this city ana
at the Exposition building last night
Many OF them had not been in Richmond
since it's fan. and their sleep was peace
ful The last time they were here they
were glad 10 sleep on the ground, and a
hard floor was a luxury. Then they went
20 bed with the chances largely In favor
Of their becoming targets for Yankee bull
let's and dreamed of bloody battle-helds
Last night they dreamed of meeting com
rades and of the grand time yet TO come
while In the city.
Last night they went 10 bed well fed
thirty-odd years ago they sought sleep
hungry. TO all OF them their greatest
lardships and their greatest peril came
early In life; now they are able TO enjoy
the good things of this mundane sphere,
though some are i'm humble stations Here
they are all comrades and brothers. and
all meet on an equal The rich man laid
down and slept contentedly beside the
poor man last night.
And what better sleeping quarters could
any one I'm this crowded city last night
have asked for than the veterans had?
Many visitors this reunion week would
have gone deep down in their pockets for
a quarter as much bed as they had at
home but the veteran quarters were eX-
clusiyely for veterans. As 10 the food
served them. 10 was Of he best-well COOK
ed and bountifully served
WITH THE MISSOURI BOYS.
Up at Murphy's Hotel are quartered the
Missouri veterans. There are now go of
these. They have very cosey quarters
clean, and comfortable Some of them
eat al the Broad-street veterans rostau-
rant Others pay for their meals There
are many Nirginians-born. who served the
cause OF the C0nfederacy. now in Mis-
souri, The Executive Committee men, |
q hers are chosen from the congressional |
districts, and OF the present body five |
members are natives OF this state They |
are; Messrs. W. 5. Mcintosh W. H. |
Balthis, G. T. Davis Robert McCulloch. |
and H. o. Williams The adjutant OF the |
Grand Camp Of Missouri is a native of /
Rockingham county His name Is II A |
Newman, and he Is here. Mr.. w II |
Sellers. also Of Rockingham county. is |
iere with the delegation.
The Missourians are very proud OF the |
ady delegation that has accompanied |
ihem. They tell a good story on a Vir-
ginian. At the Auditorium Yesterday
he was so smitten by the charms of the |
Missouri ladies that he made "A reouest
ior badge OF that State. Il was given |
him. and he paid an cxtravagant tribute
20 the ladies' Miss Shelby. daughter of
General shelby Miss Laura V. BaIthis.
and Miss Mary Stewart, maids OF honor |
70 the Missouri sponsor, are all Of Vir-
sinia parentaGe.
old Market Han will accommodat, 500 /
veterans. and many are sleeping there.
Across the street Is sign bearing the |
moro ieNas,' but the most Of the vete-
rams quariered there are Virginians..