The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-07-22

Atlanta today. For two days the con-
federate veterans and their friends
have been coming in, and a conserva-
tive estimate Of the people now in At
Ianta, to attend the eighth annual reun-
ion of the veterans is 40, 900. The rail-
roads are advised that several special
trains are on the way, and as the traf-
fc inward bound is still very heavy
these arrivals are expected to swell the
total number of visitors to the 80, 900
mark. Confederacy's ranks are well
represented, yet much disappointment
is expressed at the unavoidable alb
sence of Mrs. Jefferson Davis. Mrs.
Davis health is not good, and, fearing
that the journey from Richmond would
Overtax her, the first lady of the CON
federacy" has given up the trip. Miss
Winnie Davis, however, is expected to-
morrow morning. She will be met at
the depot by a reception committee and
escorted to the residence of Mrs. VIM.
M. Davis, on Washington street.
The names of Generals JOS. Wheeler
and ~FitZhugh Lee are on every lip, the
regret for their absence, hOWeVer being
SET dSluc ny the ldCL that jncy are no
bly, representing the south in the
struggle with Spain.
The interest of the day conferred in
the meeting of the veterans at the aud
itOrium in Piedmont park. There sur
founded by 10, 900 of his devoted fol-
lowers, General job B.. Gordon, COM
mander-in-chief Of the veterans, de-
livered an address which thrilled his
auditors and called forth a response in
terms which admit of no doubt as to
the generals place in the hearts of his
followers. The speeches of the. day
abOunded with praises of the heroic
deeds and achievements of the sons of
the south in the present war and the
names of HObSOn, Bagley, SChley and
Blue were Cheered to the echo. Cen
eraI Charles Hooker, of Mississippi the
orator of the day, was given a cordial
reception and his address was we'll re-
Ceived.
1t goes without saying that General
Gordon will be reelected as
der-in-Chief. He has held the place for
the past ten years. General Stephen D.
Lee, of Mississippi, and Adjutant Gen
eral Norman have been mentioned as
possibilities for the position of COM
mander-in-chief, but these gentlemen
realize that the first place belongs to
General Gordon and they unite in say
ing that he will be the leading spirit in
me VI SdIllHiCloH d. iOIS do TIC HNCo.
CONTEST FOR NEXT ENCAMP-
MENT.
A spirited contest is on for the next
encampment. Charleston has been ag-
gressiVe from the start, and with
claims which nave much weight, has
insisted that the next meeting place
belongs to them. The Kentucky dele
cation. however, has been using
smOkeIess powder and as the battle
stands tonight the chances seems to
favor Louisville. CharlestOn's admir-
erS say their state furnished twice as
many followers of the flag as Ken
lucky, they have the facilities for car
ing for the crowds, their city council
has appropriated a large sum of mon
ey for the entertainment of the veter-
ans; and, finally, that Louisville is out
of the way from a geographical
standpoint. Louisville, however, it de-
velOps. has the support in addition to
their own state, of Tennessee, GeOr-
gia, Louisiana. Mississippi, Missouri,
oklahoma, Alabama, and enough in
fact to practically aSSur them the
next encampment. The Charleston
contingent, supported by Texas and
Virginia. will fight it out, however, and
the contest will not be decided until
Friday.
Professor f. F. Andrews. director of
the CorCoran school of art at Washing
ton, the celebrated artist, who has
painted oil portraits hanging in the
East room of the White house at the
national holiday. OF solicitation OF
General John G.. Underwood, has
painted a magnificent full length mill
tary portrait of General Lee, to be
presented to the confederate memorial
association. The portrait will be I'M.
yelled at the auditorium Thursday
night. with appropriate ceremonies
the orator of the occasion being Mr.
Lucien Knight, the well known speak
er.
Receptions to the sponsors hav,
been the order of the day in social cir
cles. The Capital City tonight KEEP
open house in honor of the sponsors.
Ten thousand veterans and thei
friends filled to overlooking the hi!
auditorium at Piedmont park thi
morning and Cheered the living heroe
Of c~onfederaCy and the names of tn
dead. Glowing tributes were shower
ed on the records and achievements o
the sons of the south in the war witt
Spain.
When General John 3. Gordon enter
ed the hall the applause and cheering
were deafening. The general, whe,
he reached the platform walked fror
one side to the other bowling his ac
acknowledgements again and agair
There was no doubling his place i
the hearts of the veterans.
1t was one hour and a half after tn
time set for opening the cOnventio
when General Cary Evans, the com
mander of the Georgia delegation
called the a~ssemblage to order. On tn
stage grouped about General Gordo
were General Stephen d. Lee. Genera
Cabell of Texas, General "Tige" An
derson, General G. Hooker. the crate
of the day, General J. 1. Anderson, an
General Wilson of Florida, and Adju
tant General Norman of New Orlean!
In the first row or the stage were Gov
ernor Atkinson and ex-GOvernors But
Ter and Mcdaniel, Mayor Collier, Co
onel VIM. A. Hemphill and Genera
Asbury Coward.
Rev. DR.. j. William Jones, the chap
lain general of the confederates, ir
voked divine blessing upon the Assem-
3olage, and welcoming addresses wer