Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-08-25

CAMPFlRES.
Three Days Meeting Of the Otero
County Association Of the Blue
and the Gray.
The first meeting OF the association
was held Friday afternoon, presided over
by Comrade L. NJ, Campbell, G. G.
Wsshburn being secretary.
Comrades Burr, Russell, Green and
Feplason were appointed to distribute
tickets for the barbecue.
II was ordered that the wives and
daughters OF members and members OF
the w. r. G. be given seats at tho first
table.
Early Friday afternoon the fires were
started in the trenches where the beef
was to be barbecued under the direction
OF G. T. Gerbing. who has managed this
part Of the program for several years
with great success. E-
Friday evening was held the first
campfire OF the session. Short addresses
were made by blackburn, Mitchell
Washburn, DENIES, Campbell snd 9TH
ers.
Saturday mornings session was opened
with prayer by Rev. b. L. Mitchell.
The question OF changing the date OF
holding the encampment was discussed
and the time fixed Tor the Saturday pre-
ceediDg the third Sunday in June.
The election officers was by acclama.
| k.<,, n,,l roorlkoI So1In-as
@. w. Fenlason. president.
| Col. j. A. Lockhart, vice-president.
VIM. Green, secretary.
| NJ. Badger, quartermaster.
ID. L. McPhilimy OF Fowler, DR.. G. E.
Palmer Of Manzanola, j. II. Burr of
Rocky Ford and L. NJ. Campbell Of Bent
county, executive committee.
An adjournment was made for dinner
which was spread in the building dev0t-
ed to the Ladies' Department at the
Fair. The bill OF fare consisted OF roast
beef and mutton, done to q turn and
most delicious, Boston baked beans and
sundry other substantials, closing with
such pies and cakes as the veterans never
enjoyed during active service in the field.
| Excellent coffee wns served IN bright,
new tin cups. The dinner was thorough
" enjoyed by the veterans, their fami-
lies, members OF the W. r. @. and many
friends. As usual, however, the associa-
ton found some difficulty in restricting
the number Of the guests rs they desired.
The main speech Saturday afternoon
was made by Q. w. Fenlason and was Of
a high order of merit. Col. j. A. Lock
hart brought down the house by his
original poem prepared for the occasion,
which was as full Of good hits rs an egg
IS of meat. Following is the poem as
fper the copy sent us by Col. L. but from
which he has mOdestly suppressed sew
eral OF the best verses:
How Confederate Felt Morc'n Thir-
ty Years After the War.
never thought these eyes would see, nor yet
these cars would hear
The sights and sounds which light and I'LL
this summer atmosphere:
That fiaR which waves In graceful folds once
masked u hostile camp;
This crowd which cheers alternate airs OF
"Di1ie" and Tramp! Tramp!'
The blow which Spain 30 fouily dealt brings
forth a CLEAN of light s
And, North and South, both Yang and
'.Reb" make common cause of right.
Forgot is all pust difference. our brotherhood
supreme
Unitcs the nation In her might-the past is
but q dream.
More'n thirty years have slipped their notch
since quit wearing grey.
felt as though the sun must fade, cause We
had lost the day.
No love of country In my heart, but hatred
black as night
l brought back to the blackened walls which
marked the old homes site.
reckon II was providence, for 10 these fleet.
ing years
The changes that have come to me brought
more of JOY than tears.
My Oldest son, there, wears the blue where 1
once wore the grey,
And leads his lads us gallantly-as cugcr for
the fray.
Who'd ever thought that old Confeds, like
Bill and me and Gray 4
Would SO forget the cause we lost, and join
in this display.
How strange that thrills run through my
frame and make my blood course free.
As meath that grand old starry nag march
boys of Gray and me.
Tn getting weak and POTTERY" but tho old
wounds burn anew "A
To see the boys march forth in line to airs Of
grey and blue.
The Rebel yell, the Yankee cheer commingle
in the rUnr
Which echoes from the pines of Maine to ev-
cry southern shore.
Young Hobson comes from Georgia's stock,
bold Dewey sprang from Maine.
Joe Wheeler clad In Federal blue-we owe 1t
all to Spain.. -iia
In front of Santiago bay, along Manila's
beach,
The wrecks of battle ships our strength in
union teach.
McKinlcy's call for volunteers to guard our