Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-05-07
A RoUsING OVATION.
The Pioneer City Pays a Handsome
Tribute to the Brave Boys
in Blue

Last l. lueSuay Will marx aT epOCl III
Clusters history. The occasion will be
remembered as one in which every
man, woman and child in the city unit
ed in doing honor to the first volunteer
company ever formed in the place to
battle for the country and the flag. 1t
was indeed stirring scene, the dupli-
cate of many transpiring in the cities
and towns throughout the country in
the early sixties, during the pendency
of the greatest war of history, and to
those of mature years most vividly re-
called the exciting scenes Of that his
torlc period.
For some time prior to the culmina-
ton Of this demonstration the matter Of
rendering the members of Company a
public demonstration of popular regard
was being contemplated, and was also
suggested by the CHRONICLE, but it was
not until after the order for their de
parture on Wednesday had been re-
ceiyed that any definite steps were
taken in this direction. The time for
preparation was short, but a single day
in which to perfect arrangements for an
affair of such elaborate character, and
yet, as plainly proven, it was ample. A
hundred willing hands and it is needless
to say that large majority were female
hands, came promptly to the rescue,
and the emergency was successfully met.
At 4:30 p m, the call of the bugle
brought out Company in full force in
front Of the armory, where they were
lined up in waiting for the G. A. r. and
the various civic societies to join them
in the grand parade. The G. A. r. soon
appeared upon the scene, followed by
the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen, etc,
when the parade was formed, the G. A.
r. acting as an escort. The parade,
which was one Of the largest eyer as
sembled in this place, took up the line
Of march at o'clock, headed by the
Custer band, and banners floating to the
breeze. The route was east on Custer
Avenue to Seventh street, north on
Seventh street to Crook, west on Crook
to Fourth, south on Fourth to Custer
Avenue, east on Custer Avenue to Sixth,
and south on Sixth TO the railroad
depot, where the column halted await
ing the arrival Of the south bound pas
senger. During the interim which
followed, c. l.. Wood, of Rapid City,
being present, was called upon for a
speech, and his eloquent and appropriate
response was in strict keeping with the
spirit of the occasion and received with
loud and hearty appliance. Lieut.. Wood,
of Company l, was then called upon,
and, mounting the platform, held the
closest attention Of the vast crowd until
the arrival of the train. After the de-
parture of the train the column marched
in regular order to Custer Avenue, and
after halting while the patriotic young
ladies' Of the city pinned an elegant
button hole boquet Of cut flowers upon
the lapel Of every blue coat in Company
l, the column disbanded.
Promptly at 7:30 o'clock, the column
was reformed, when it proceeded to the
opera house, where the largest Assem-
blage ever congregated in that spacious
building, were highly entertained by
addresses aboundinG in eloquence and
scintillatng with lofty patriotic SEN
timent. The speakers selected for this
occasion were w. G. Porter. B. r. Wood,
Judge McGee, Rev. Radford, Rev.
Kendall and w. f. Renedict, all Of
whom were listened to with marked at
tention to the close After the speeches,
which were interspersed with the
choicest vocal music by the Custer male
quartette, had been concluded, an ele
gait lunch was the next intervening
feature Of interest, and about five hun
dred waiting, willing hearts were made
glad by the display of the choice viands
displayed in such bounteous abundance
upon the long line of Gfoaning tables
upon which they were so invitingly
spread. During the time devoted to
lunch, the opera floor was cleard for the
dance which served as a pleasing climax
to the whole affair, and the lovers OF
the light fantastic continued to move in
the misty mazes" until Aurora's rising
dawn gilded the eastern horizon and
gave them pause.
Every feature of this grand ovation
was a success, and in the years that are
to come the occasion will mark bright
and pleasing page in the history of the
brave volunteers in whose honor it was
created, upon which it will ever be a
pleasure to dwell. Nor will it soon be
forgotten by those who took part in its
preparation, as to them the mead OF
praise is due for so pronounced an ex.
preston of our appreciation of the un-
swerving patriotism of the brave boys
who have so nobly asserted their readi.
ness to battle under the honored flag OF
the greatest, the grandest and freest
hnsx l. Al