The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-25
Nearly 100000 Visitors Expected to
View the Procession of EX-SOI-
diers and Ex-SaiIOrs.
MEETINGS OF ASSOCIATIONS
OFFICERS ELECTED BY EX-PRISON-
ERs AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
Banquet I'm Honor of the President, at
Which He Spoke on 'The COun-
try and Its Defenders"

BUFFALO, N. Y, Aug. 24.-From dawn
to darkness and twilight to midnight the
great gathering of the Grand Army of the
Republic waXed gre tier and grander. The
weather has been all that could be wished
for. The Grand Army has turned out more
men than ever before attended national
encampment and this is true also of the
ex-Prisoners of War Association, the Naval
Veterans and the woman's auxiliary bod
les. Just as the songs of victory tioated
up from the triumphant hosts of Sherman
as they marched to the sea, SO from the
old soldiers gathered in Buffalo, well up a
mighty mingling of thankfulness, of hap
piness and of joy. From early morning un-
til late at night Main street held a con-
tinuous procession of posts. Scores of them
brought bands and few indeed had no
music.
The features of the day were the arrival
Of President Mckinley, accompanied by
Secretary Alger and Governor Black of
New York; the banquet to the President
this evening and the parade of the naval
veterans and eX-prisoners of war this
morning. During the day there were more
than thirty corps brigade regimental and
company reunions. The naval veterans, ex-
prisoners of war, Ladies' of the G. A. r.
conventions and there We're many recep-
tions given by and to the ladies' auxil-
airy associations A trip to the lake. partici-
pated in by 1900 ladies, was one of the
pIeasantest of the many entertainments
This evening there were a number of camp
fires for the men and receptions and mus
ical entertainments for the ladies. Among
tho prominent arrivals to-day were Gen.
oil n6o in
chief, Thomas G.. LaWler.
AT the request of the citizens of Buffalo,
President Mckinley has consented to ride
at the head of the line in the G. A r.
parade tomorrow as far as the reviewing
stand, where he will take the seat prev
iously assigned to him and review the vet
Grams as they pass by. The President will
occupy carriage with General Rogers, of
Buffalo, N. Y, and will be escorted by
Commander-in-chiefC Clarkson and his staff.
From the moment that the train that
bore the President and his retinue to the
city arrived until he retired tonight there
was one glorious and spontaneous demon
stration. From the depot to the Niagara
Hotel a distance of two miles, the streets
were lined with people and at the hotel
in front of which there is a great square,
the police and soldiers from the nearby
barracks had difficult work to keep the null
titude in position. Even when, with Mrs
Mckinley and Governor Black, the Presi-
dent had entered the hotel and vanished
from sight there followed after him the
cheers of the people until he had to come
back to the balcony where after order had
been restored, he said:
II come to greet you and TO thank you
at tho same time for your generous well
come. The Grand Army of the Republic
seems to be on foot to-day but not carry
ing arms. Those were long since laid aside
and the Grand Army of the Republic is
to-day dedicated to peace (applause) and
the Union forever. l am glad to be in the
city OF Buffalo with my comrades Of 81
and 80 and my comrades now. l thank you
all and bid you good afternoon"