Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-11


ton Park Steamboat Company. was In
waiting to talfc them on a trip up the
Delaware as far as Tacony. The boat
was handsomely decorated with flags, in
Guiding the private signal OF Pickett's
brigade. which played such IN important
part at Gettysburg.
AT CRAMPS YARD.
While on the way up the sver members
of the party sang Dixie" and 1.-The
Star Soiangled Banner" The first stop
was made at Cramps ship-yard, where
the science OF modern ship-building was
illustrated to the party. After leaving
Cramps they steamed to Tacony, where
they were taken through Disstons saw
works, after which they went TO Wash
ington Park. During the river trip a
poem, composed by Mr.. A.. w. White
hurst. of Pittsburg, entitled "Picketts
Welcome to the Birthplace of Old Glory"
was read.
Luncheon was served on the boat at
noon and dinner at the park at 8 o'clock.
There were no formal exercises, but the
many attractions were well patronized,
and there were camp songs and war
stories OF the evergreen sort. A curious
thing about this so-called encampment
is, that though the veterans have chuted
the chute, ridden on the switchback.
hurled missiles at the Spanish dolls, as
cended towards Heaven on the Ferris
wheel, wandered through the tortuoas
mazes Of the illusion chamber, and con-
tributed to the prosperity Of other seduc-
tive entertainments at Washington Park.
they have never yet been under canvas.
Tomorrow is Grand Army-Day. Hith-
erto the veterans Of the North have been
-
were several men wearing the uniform
of the Grand Army at the Park to-day,
less than two hundred people altogether,
including women and children and large
delegation OF colored Sons of Veterans.
KEPT ALOOF.
The leading men in the Grand Army
have kept altogether aloof from this re-
union. Commander Patterson, of the De-
partment Of Pennsylvania, who lives in
Pittsburg, was invited to be present, but
declined, and no officer higher than a
post commander has been seen or heard.
General Wagner and General Beath, two
Of the leading men in the Grand Army in
America, and two Of the prominent citi-
zens of Philadelphia, declined to attend
the reunion. Both OF these men have
been COMMUNICATIVE Of the national
organization, and commanders of the
Pennsylvania Department. Assistant-Ad-
tutant-General Leiper, the highest paid
official Of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, who Is In charge of Grand Army
headquarters here; Assistant-Quarter
master-General Craig, General Mulhol-
land pension agent, and host Of others,
equally distinguished have remained
away The veterans have never been in
troduced at headquarters, and the pro-
moters of this reunion" seem TO have
carefully steered Pickett's men in other
directions The United Service Club,
which is composed Of leading veterans
and soldiers, is an undiscovered region.
One Of the gentlemen who spoke at the
informal gathering mentioned above said
TO your correspondent. this evening:
This seems TO be a pretty one-sided sort
OF a reunion. 1t looks more like bust
ness scheme and however anxious one
may be TO cast over 1t the mantle of
charity, its raw bones will still pro-
trude" 1t was stated In yesterdays Dis
patch that out Of forty-one posts In
Philadelphia only fifteen were represent
ed in this reunion. An official list shows
that there are thirty-six posts, thirteen
of which are represented at Washington
Park out Of the thirteen three are negro
organizations-truly, an unfiattering per-
centage.
THE KEYNOTE.
In Justice to the citizens OF Philadel-
Dhia. IT must be stated that had the re-
union been held under different circum-
stances. the result would have been
changed The city Is intensely loyal"
and the influence of the Grand Army
rules public opinion In such matters as
these. Mr.. G.. Harry Davis, promi-
nent lawyer and Grand Army man, and
a chosen orator on many important oc-
casions. touched the keynote Of a num-
her of interviews that your correspondent
has had during the past few days with
leading citizens and Grand Army men or
this community. He was asked by Mr..
Frazier 10 make the address Of welcome
in Independence Hall on Monday, but re,
fused to do so. saying that he would not
insult these men. whom he thought were
being outraged instead of being honored.
If they had been brought here for
genuine reunion, he would have felt II
Great honor to speak to them, but he did
not feel that they were being rightly
treated. -, -
Mrs. Pickett and Miss Terrence nave re-
turned to Washington. General. M MIS-
and Miss Hemphill left to-day Tor Get
tvsburg. Others who have left ars Mr.
and Mrs NOrthen Messrs; Loee eb,I S2ses
How Norrisette. Gibbs, Hattorf. Moore
robertson. Stevens, Tinsley, and Wachter'