The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-03
SEVERAL UNIQUE FEATURES
TWO THOUSAND CHILDREN PLACED
so AS TO FORM A FLAG.
The Living, Waving, Singing "Old
Glory" Surprise to the March,
ers, Who Cheercd Wildly.

mated them in the old days when they
| marched through the South the victors
over those whom they now honor as com
rades in the new country that has grown
up since the days when brother was ar
rayed against brother in bitter sectional
! strife. The day was an ideal one for
marching, the warm rays of the sun being
| behind the clouds nearly all day and a
slight breeze making the tramp much easier
for those in line. The crowds had no fears
of possible showers, for they We're here to
| see the Grand Army parade and proposed
| to see it even though it did rain But the
showers held off and everything went off
| according to programme.
Seldom has SO large a parade come so
| near moving time as did this. The first
| departments We're directed to form at $50
O'Clock and to be prepared to move one
hour later. Not to exceed fifteen minutes
after the time set the commandments
and staff moved south on Western avenue
and the various divisions fell into line rap
idly. 1t was just 1880 o'clock when the
head of the parade reached the grand re-.
viewing stand at Smith Park and General
Walker took his place on the platform and
the first division, headed by the veteran
signal corps, passed in review. 1t was 2:35
this afternoon when the last post in the
big eighth division, containing Minnesota's
veterans, had passed, and there was scarce
ly noticeable break in the line, post fol-
lowing post and department coming after
department in almost endless succession.
The enlivening music of many bands and the
stirring martial sound of the veteran drum
corps Signaled the approach of each new
department, and the crowd showed prompt
appreciation of the appearance of various
favorites. Waves of applause went up and
down the crowd in the streets and at times
the veterans themselves took up the re-
frein, one of the favorite shouts being:
What's the matter with St. Paul? She's
all right For the old soldier realized,
even more than before, that the gateway
of the great Northwest was his. and the
bread basket of the earth was not too good
for him. Nothing was thought too good for
the marching men. AS they were lined up
on the side Streets waiting the signal to
start. the residents served ice water and
otherwise looked after their comfort
Taken altogether the parade was an I'M
qualified success, and the leading features
of it touched the soldier heart as it has
seldom been touched before.
FORMATION OF THE PARADE.
The various divisions formed on the
streets that cross Western avenue. When
the final gun was fired, shortly after 10
o'clock the parade began to move south
from Dayton and Western, moving south
to Summit, the various divisions falling in
the column passed. General Walker
and staff headed the parade, the first di-
vision, led by the veteran signal corps and
including the departments of Illinois, Wis
consin and Pennsylvania, following The
second division consisted of the depart
ments of Ohio and New York. In the third
division there were the departments of
Maine, California, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, the Potomac, Virginia and North
Carolina. The fourth division was made
up of the departments of Maryls nd, Ne
braska, Michigan, Iowa and Indiana. The
departments of Colorado, Wyoming, Kan
sas, Delaware. Missouri and Oregon We're
Dakota, Washington, Alaska, Arkansas,
New Mexico Utah and Tennessee. In the
Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Montana,
Idaho, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, North
pSe a. nd Indian Terri Tsrrtor S
parade, comprising the eighth division.
AS the head OF the parade turned down
the broad Summit avenue, the old veter-
ans Strengthened their shoulders and tried
to renew their youth. lining up as of old,
in straight line. The avenue was crowded
on both sides with spectators. who APP
plauded favortte posts or favorite leaders,
the fine appearance of some of the less
known posts. Opposite the residence of Col.
r. NJ. Newport many white-haired veterans
uncovered and saluted they recognized
the widow of their loved BLACK jack and
MIS-. j. 4: Logan caareIuily returned every
the avenue a group of pretty young girls
stepped out into the street and scattered
flowers before the veterans. who furtively
picked up the blossoms and proudly placed
them in their buttonholes. This scattering
of flowers in tribute of the bravery of the
n done bV tWenlV daughters
of Old soldiers, several of whom We're also
the descendants of the young girls who.
more than a century ago, scattered flow
ers before the feet of General Washington,
as he was route to New York to be in
United States. This linking of the hero Of
the first war of the Nation with the coun-
emphasized immediately after. when the
little children of the Thaddsus Maltby Chap
ter of the Children of the American Revo-
luton saluted the veterans with their way
ing flags and by singing song especially
written for the occasion by Mrs. ]. o.
Adams of st. Paul.
A LIVING FLAG.
The column swept down the avenue. past
the ladies headquarters, in front of the big
reception stand in Summit and under an
evergreen arch erected at the head of Sixth
street by the colored citizens of ST. Paul,
who thus neatly suggested that in their
hearts the loyal soldiers were remembered
The long column of Old veterans turned
down Sixth street past the numerous grand
stands with their many thousands and the
crowded sidewalks, the cheers of greeting
following along the line as the moro prom
inent leaders were recognized. At the
can't end of the square which is being
constructed the new government building
there had been put up grandstand for
two thousand children. whose red white
and blue toques were so arranged - 10
form a flag. The children h11 grown Il bit
restless, bat when the head of the pro-
cession appeared they were ready for TIER
part in the honoring of the old soldier.
They rose General Walker and staff
passed and the living flag burst into song
and activity that gave vigorous evidence
that the patriotic spirit was not dead in
the rising generation The swaying bodies
were kept in unison, well representing a
waving flag.
This living flag was the feature of the
day that most appealed to the marching
veterans and many touching scenes were
witnessed in front of the mammoth chorus
The children had been thoroughly trained
by Prof. G. H. congdon, of the city
schools. and were quick 10 respond TO his
every signal. AS the head of each depart
ment arrived the strains of their mingled
voices could be heard above the music of
the bands in patriotic greeting as they
sang some of the songs they had prepared
for such greeting. And the old soldiers as
they came past the corner and saw the