The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-09-02
A GREAT GATHERING 0F VETERANS,
The Reunion at Greenville.
Sixteen Hundred Survivors Re-
spond to Roll Call.
An Enthusiastic and Harmonious
Convention.
MONUMENT TO THE WOMEN WILL Be BUILT.
Charleston
the Next
Meeting.
The Greatest Picnic Ever Seen in the State---The
Sponsors Reception Grand Success.
from The Grecnville NJ Mountainccr.

From The Grecnvllle NOuntainCcr. NJ
Grecnvillc has been the mecca of the
Confederate veterans this week, and
from all sections OF the State thoy
have come to join in tho largest and
NEST successful reunion that has yet
been held in South Carolina. Moro
than sixteen hundred survivors were
enrolled at headquarters in tho club
rooms, and every one was en-, on hav-
ing good time. For threo days and
nights the throng upon our streets
continued without iutermission except
when the tired out happy veteran
sought a lew hours OF ropOso and slum-
bcr, but be was awake with the dawn
and never grow weary of greeting his
old comrades, with whom ho exchanged
tales of tho long ago and recalled
tho times when thcy faced dangers
and endured privations together.
The convention hall was beautifully
decorated with Confederate flags and
palmetto, and many Of the designs
wero most artistic and attractive.
Elegant portraits Of Loe and Hampton
were on the wall in the rear OF the
stage, intcrtwincd with tho palmetto
and battlcllags, and the old soldiers
gazed with reverence and admiration
upon the familiar features Of these
grcat leaders Of the infantry and caval
ry. Seats wero provided for six hun
drcd delegates, but these were alto
Onthnr f0 ~
and the hall was packed at every scs
sion so long as there was standing
room. Not moro than nc-half Of the
veterans enjoyed tho privilege at any
one time of witnessing and participating
In tho proceedings but they would put
on q relief now and thon, and In some
way they would manage to make
themselves contcntcd with tho situa-
t0n. On the streets and in tho hall
they wore invariably good-humorcd,
satisfaction was heard during tho
week.
Grccnville has reason to be proud Of
the results The homes Of the citizens
were thrown open to our visitors, and
it is estimated that three thousand
persons were entertained during tho
convention. Not u ripple OF discord
was heard from any quarter, and our
visitors graciously awarded the palm
to Grccnville for largc-hcartcd hospi-
tality and complete arrangements for
their comfort and satisfaction. Tho
big pic mic at the city park was the
CROW ming evidence Of u lavish hospi-
tality, whom between five and six
thousand persons wcrc bountifulIy
supplied with tho choicest and most
dainty OF cdibles. Our country friends
generously supplemented the efforts OF
tho city, and brought their capacious
baskets In large numbers to help feed
tho immense crowd
At 10 q. M, after the last strains OF
"Dixic' had died away, tho convcn-
ti0n OF the Confederate Veterans was
called TO order by Col. James A. Hoyt,
who said ut becomes my duty,
comrades, as commander OF the Groom
vile County Regiment, u. G.. ", to
call this convention to order. IL is
J usual on such occasions to have
speeches OF welcome and salutatiOn,
and Grcenvillc is not disposed to break
the record. Before, however, proceed
ing any further we will invoke the
divine blessing upon our meeting.
The chaplain OF the Division will lead
us in praycr.' Tho chaplain Rev
S., +. Fl. Elwcll, then invoked God's
guidance.
Col. Hoyt then introduced Hon. w
i. NJ Mauldin, chairman Of the committed
OF arrangements, who in appropriate
words welcomed tho veterans to Green
vile, saying: You arc welcome Il
our hearts and homes now, and forever
Itgives me great pleasure to extend tt
you u most cordial and alfoctonatt
Welcome, and / thank you for tho grca
honor that you have conferred upol
us bY holding YOur annual reunion O