The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-15
THE VETERANS AT ACTON
GENEI dARRIsON's OLD REGI-
MI HOLDS A CAMP FIRE.
GENEI
A Smaller Attendance Than UsuaI--In-
cidents of Yesterday at the Re-
igious Tenting Ground.

Indiana Gem
eral Harrison's old regiment. The old vet
Grams came by train and other conveyance.
and before the assembling for the campfire
at night their number reached sixty or
seventy-ive. In honor of the coming the
campers profusely decorated their cottages,
and flags and bunting were everywhere
displayed. A bright sun assisted in height
ening the happy effect produced.
Pending the arrival OF the main body OF
veterans who not expected until the
evening trains, the park presented scene
of repose and quietude broken only by an
occasional late eomers eXertions to police
his quarters. Nearly all the cottagers had
completed their cleaning up and were TAX
ing the first taste of that delightful ex-
istence where conventonalites and cares
are banished and where merely to live
seems supremest joy The young ladies.
of whom there are a large colony, expend-
ed their time in sewing and other praise
worthy pursuits, while the children, also
numerous. played upon the campus.
During the afternoon Fred Bartlett, who
assaulted G. NJ. Gpe, the hotel proprietor,
was brought before the country justice at
Acton village and trial of interest to
students of sociology and peculiar notions
was had George Wright, one of the mem
for Mr. Gipe. while the able lawyer for
the defense was a storekeeper at the viii
lage. After the argument and the evidence
was in the justice pondered for a long time,
and at last. at the suggestion of Mr..
Wright conclude to wait until to-day to
make his decision. The whole village and
surrounding country were at the trial,
which was held in a dilapidated upstairs
room furnished with a few tables made of
undresed lumber and a number of old bar
rels for the spectators TO sit on. Some fear
is expressed by members of the associa-
ton lest the case will develop a feeling OF
hostility against the camp in the surround
ing community. and therefore they are
hoping for merely a fine by the country
Justice If the assailant IS bound over to
the grand jury and he receives severe pun
ishment there is no telling what sort Of
revenge his friends may attempt. Years
ago, during the war, the association in
Cured the i'll will of the farmers by offer
ing the use of the grounds to the Governor
for hospital purposes for the army, but be-
fore he could accept the proffered offer the
cottages were burned to the ground. Some
of the members of the association argue
from this that it pays to be at peace
with ones neiBhbors.
A NEW RULE AS TO RENTING.
The campers are discussing the making of
rule that renters be allowed to lease cot
tages only up to the last day of the assem-
bly, Quite a number of people whose Gre
dentials are unknown have been taking adj
vantage of the cheap rents to live on the
grounds all summer, and after the cottage
owners go home there is no one to properly
watch the grounds Thu loss of many ar
ticles, from stoves to silver ware, is openly
attributed to loose precautions in renting
to outsiders. and at the meeting of the
association next week a new rule may be
adopted
DR.. J. w. Dashiell the president of the
association, went TO indianapolis during the
day and secured an organ tor the audi
forum. Miss Laura Jennings, OF Moores
Hill, who is teacher of muse at Law
Ienceburg, will be the organist. DIR. Dash
ielF also announced the result of his
trip that Emil Wulschner, with the Roberts
Park choir of sixty voices, will sing on
The arrival of the evening trains was the
signal for great activity about the hotel.
The Seventeen Regiment was recruited
from the central counties of the State. and
although many of the survivors have drifted
over the country, yet a large number of
them still live in the vicinity of the homes
they occupied before the war Many of
them, therefore, were enabled to attend the
reunion by driving in from the farms and
surrounding villages, although the larger
number necessarily came by train. OF the
1890 that the regiment mustered in during
the war about five hundred are now on the
rolls of the association, and the usual at
tendance at reunions is from 125 to 200.
The present reunion, however, for various
reasons, is smaller than usual. In order
to secure the attendance of General Harri-
son the officers of the association asked
him to name the date when he could adj
dress them, and the general fixed upon
July - The reunion was consequently
called a month earlier than usual, and the
announcement that after all, on account
of the illness of Miss Harrison, the gen.
eral could not be with them, well as
many of the members being busy with their
harvesting, caused a decided falling OFF in
the usual attendance. However. this did
not prevent those who did attend from
spending a happy day reviving old friend
ships and narraling for the hundredth time
the personal exploits and anecdotes of
lighting days with which their minds are
tesming. At least one member present had
never attended reunion. although TINS
the association has held. j. Gregory OF
Keokuk, Ia, was the stranger and he was
MADE the object of much attention.
THE CAMPFIRE AT NIGHT.
The campfire at night was the first meet
ing in the great auditorium. The cottagers
in general attended, and, with the veterans,
the audience numbered fully five hundred.
The building was gaily decorated and was
well lighted, while the floor had been car
Peted thickly with straw.
Judge G. w. Grubbs, or Major Grubbs, as
he is known by his comrades, presided,
| and, after an impressive prayer by Rev. d.
| A. Robertson, of Southport, briefly adj
| dressed the great gathering. He SAID that
| the reunion was not for the purpose OF glo-
| rifying the regiment, but had for its ann the
| reViVng of war memories ana the renewal
! of old friendships. II also was Tor the
! purpose or increasing the spirit or patrloL-
| ism and for considering the blessings whlch
| a united country assured TO all. lie re-
! ferred to the programme as merely pro-
| gramme on paper and in deprecatory IAN
| guage called attention to the peculiar TACT
! that of all the orators whose names were
| printed thereon not one had put IN an
! appearance. He said: Il have sort OF
| protest enter against the superior at
| fractions of the Adirondacks, and ! wish TO
! voice a jealousy for the baby and hos
| tility TO the weather that made the abb
| sence of General Harrison, wife ana BABY
| so conspicuous
| finder the adverse circumstances of hav-
! ing to make up new programme al the
| last minute the campfire was necessarily
! given up to the singing of patriotic songs
and TO imprOmptu efforts on the part or
| those who were courageous enough to face
| the audience. Had the members of the
association been by themselves no great
| trouble in filling up the time would have
! been encountered, but as IL was the even
/ ing proved very enjoyable. ID. NJ. RanSdel
! delivered the leading address and the Kin
! nick family furnished some stirring songs
| Little Blanche Scales, OF ShelbyVllle,
! dressed in white with pink sash, recited
! Needs of the Army" and did it in very
! taking manner
! Before the meeting adjourned various
committees were appointed on the election
| of officers. resolutions, place of next meet
| ing and other matters, and this morning the
| reports of the committees will be received.
! Rev j. w Dashiell Will deliver an address
! of welcome, and the annual address will
! be made by James G. Bennett.
| Among the members of the association
| present yesterday were: Major q. W.
! Grubbs. of Martinsvile; r. NJ, Smock, D.