The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-03
VETERANS ON PARADE,
The Grand Army's Grand Reoep-
tion to st. Paul.
NEARLY FORTY THoUsANDIN LINE
Che Contest for Comma err Chief BE-
tween Rear Admiral Meade, Major
iGlarkson and COmrade Linehar-Buflalo
n WilI Got the Next Encampment.

tween Rear Admiral Meade, Major
Nlarkson and Comrade Linehan-BuGalo
h VIII Got the Next Encampment.
! er PAUL, Sept. 3-Nearly 10000. voto
rams tramped the streets Of st. Paul for
ssyeral hours yesterday, renewing the as
pooiations Of their youth and feeling in
their veins the martial spirit that animated
shem In tho old days The wind was an
Ideal one for marching tho warm rays OF
she sun being behind the clouds nearly all
DAY and slight breeze making the tramp
much easier for those In line The crowds
had no fears Of possible showers for they
were here to see the Grand Army parade
and proposed to see 1t even though it did
rain But the showers held off and every.
thing went of according to program.
Seldom has so large parade como 20
near moving on time. Departments were
directed to form at $3.50 o'clock, and to be
prepared to move an hour later. Not to
exceed fifteen minutes later the com.
mander-in-chief removed south on West.
ern avenue and the various divisions fell
into line rapidly. 1t WIS II 80 when the
head of tho parade reached tho grand re.
viewing stand at Smith Park and General
Walker took his place on tho platform
and the first division passed in review.
1t was 2 2:S5 In the afternoon when the
last post In the big Eighth division, con.
taining Minnesota's veterans, had passed,
and there was scarcely noticeable break
in the line, post following post and de.
partment coming after department in al.
most endless succession The enlivening
mn, 10 nd tha CT ppiy kia1 nf
the veteran drum corps signaled tho ap.
proach of each now department, and the
crowds showed prompt appreciation of the
appearance Of various favorites. Waves Of
applause went up and down the crowded
streets, and at times tho veterans them
selves took up the refrain, one of tho
favorite shouts being "What is the matter
with St. Paul? She's all right"
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 other
wise looked after their comfort. Taken
altogether the parade was an unqualified
success, and the leading features of it have
touched the soldier heart as 1t has seldom
been touched before.
Tho living flng 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 Professor G. H. Congdon, OF tho city
schools, and were quick to respond to his
every signal.
General Sickels Of New York and De.
partment Commander William Shakes.
peare of Michigan were allowed to appear
In carriages and both were chcered as they
were recognized. General Russell A. AL.
ger, past commander-in-chief, and many
other individuals who marched with
the rank and file were singled out for
applause. Brigadier General Il. G. Ma.
son, U. S. A., retired, president Of the
st. Paul citizens committee, was given
hearty greeting all along tho line, cspec.
Tally by the veterans themselves who saw
in him the present representative Of st.
Pauls hospitality.
The candidates for commander-ln-chief
arc still being urged by their friends, tho
leaders being Rear Admiral Meade, Major
T. S. Clarkson, and New Hampshire's
candidate, Comrade Linehan. 1t seems
to be diving between the east and west
and the fact that Buffalo will surely get
the next encampment may affect the ro
snlt, as the sections are somewhat jealous
Of tho honors There are other candidates
who will have strong support, but those
mentioned arc the leaders. The other Of
fcers will depend to considerable extent
on the result for commander in.chief, so
that while tho clcctonecring is going on
OF fairly lively, rate it is minor affair to
most of the delegates