The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-05
MARCH AS In
THE DAYS Of 81
Veterans Gather at San
Diego to Go Into
Camp.
Two Thousand Heroes of the
War to Tenant a City
of White.
Camp Aba Lincoln" the Name
They Have Given Their
Tented Grounds.

SAN DIEGO, CAL, Aug. ALL dav to-
| morrow the city streets will resound with
the tramp, tramp. tramp of hundreds of
marching feet, and the heavy roll of drums
and shrill notes of the fife will make sweet
music for the 1000 old veterans who will
take military possession of the town under
''Old Glory" the flag for which they
fought.
The encampment is under the auspices
of the Southern California Veterans As
ISOLATION, EN- bracing the seven southern
counties OF Santa Barbara, Kern, Los
Angeles, Riverside. San Bernardino.
Orange and San Diego, and including a
population of 100000 people. of which
number fully one-third are either veterans
or mem bers of families of veterans of the
War of the Rebellion. This large percent
age Is accounted for by the fact that the
proportion OF American citizens is
larger in Southern California than in al
most any other part of the country. The
Southern California Veterans Associa-
ton, com prising all the Grand Army posts
If this district, has mem bership OF a bout
$500, and of this number fully 1900 Will be
registered at the encampment headquar-
ters before tomorrow nigh. A large
proportion of these have brought their
families and are here prepared TO remain
some time in camp after the camp regu-
larry dIsbands on August 10.
Camp Abraham Lincoln, as it has been
christened, is under the direct charge of
Commander A. J. Bell Of Ventura, assisted
by Chief of Staff Captain A. +. Dbl and
his score Of competent subordinates. Il
occupies an L-shaped area, running $50
feet on Twelfth street and 4oO feet east and
west on J, one block on Tenth and one
block facing on Eleventh, while the north
side of the camp is bounded by II street.
This gives an area of five acres of per-
fectIy level ground within half mile of
the center of the city and easily reached
by all streetcar lines. The sanitary ar
rangements of the camp are perfect.
No effort will be spared 10 make all
visitors com torta BILE and happy. Two
monster circular arches-one at the h
| street entrance. the other on E eventh
street-in the center OF the camp, are WISH
be from all parts of the city. The flag
pole which bears aloft the e N bIem Of this
country's greatness is tif.y-ive feet high.
! The entire camp IS divided into little
streets, squares and avenues named from
! famous battles OF the war. Among the
| most noted are: Pensacola, Port ROYAL,
Knoxville, Resaca, kenesaw, Athens. Pea
Ridge, Spottsylvanla, Franklin, North
| Ann and Cold Harbor. The main streets
running east and west are named in their
order: Peters burg, Fredericksburg and
&c ttysburg. The more important avenues
are: Mobile, Lexington, Chickamauga,
Chattanooga, fairfax, Manassas, Shiloh
and atlanta. On the east Appomattox
avenue runs the entire length of the
camp.
The regulation tents are very comfort
! able, being fitted up with cots and blan-
kets in way that would have seemed
palatial in 186465. There are ZIG of these
| tents, all the same re, 12x14 feet, cap
able of holding comfortably 1900 men.
The southeast block contains the big
social pavilion tent, 150x200 in size, with
q seating capacity of $500 people Here
the big gatherings, lectures, speeches and
other public meetings of the camp
will be held every night. South of
this tent is large block occupied
by those who have brought their own
| tents, with their wives and families. In
the southeast block is the flag square.
l00x1S0 feet, with the f1agpole in the GEN.
ter. Ad joining this on the east is Com
mander A. J. Bells big tent, surrounded
by those of mem bers of his staff. To the
south, and facing north on the flag square,
are the two big tents OF Heintzleman and
Datus Z. Coon Relief Corps. The north
east block contains the dancing PAVILION,
go feet square, with an excellent floor, and
a hrst-ClaSS orchestra VIII be In attend
ance every afternoon and evening.
Large delegations are already here from
every county in the district, and Stock
ION, San Jose, Sacramento and San Fran
cisco will also be represented. The cam
is gayly decorated with flags, banners and
steamers OF all nations. "Old Glory" pre-
dominating, and presents brilliant APP
pearance. The Illumination at night will
consist Of six large arc and 100 colored in
candescent lights. An laborate pro.
gramme of events has been arranged.