The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-04-05
THE GREAT REUNION.
Charleston Plans to Care for the Con-
federate Veterans.

CHARLESTON, S. C., April 1.-Prcpa-
rations for the Confederate Veterans
reunion have now entered upon the
!. detail stage, but six weeks remaining
before the big occasion. The executive
committee and the subcommittee have
4 been ut work for several months laying
out plans with great care, and these thSe;s
are now being putintO execution: Ile
prospects are that the affair will be eX-
| cellcntly managed and that the Charles
ton reunion will be markeda as the most
successful and enjoyable OF these. Ia
NOUS gatherings yet held. The task OF
entertaining the vast numbers that are
expected is no light one for Charleston.
4 When it is considered that at least 40.
900 people, and probably more, will
visit this city, and that the white pop.
ulation of Charleston is fal. short OF
that number, an idea of the undertak-
ing can be grasped. -
The question OF accommodation for
this great crowd has been the most
serious problem presented, but1t IS pc
licyed that it has been solved. The
housing and feeding of the visitors will
be accomplished chiefly by the citizens
generally throwing open their houses
to the visitors, all residences beng Tor
the time turned into public hostelries.
The committee in charge of this feature
has made thorough canvass OF the
4 city and has induced nearly every
householder to undertake the enter
tainment of as many visitors as can be
slowed away. The response has been
generous, because tits appreciated that
in no other way can the crowds be
handled and the people are Wiling
to sacrifice their personal convenience
10 sustain the reputation OF the city.
! 1t is believed, therefore, that the ma,
jority Of visitors will flnd.bcd. anu
board at reasonable rates IN private
families. The overflow will be pro
! yided for at public dOrmltones to De
administered by the committee, tie
various school buildings; public halls
4 and warehouses having been secured
for the purpose and now beng ntteu
ND for use. Charleston IS particularly, J,
well equipped with warehouses suited
for these needs, having many cEten-
siye buildings along the water front,
4 where sanitary arrangements can read
ily be attached. :.
The Confederate Hotels for indi,
gent veterans unable to pay Doaro VIII
Z be established on the water front, near
the principal streets Of the city, but
sufficiently remote to accord privacy.
COmmissary arrangements nave Deen
made and the veterans will be excel
lently cared for.
THE AUDITORIUM.
The auditorium in which the conven-
tion will hold its sessions is rapidly ap-
nroaching completion. tits a very large
and an extremely handsome building
The exterior is finished, except the roof,
which is now being laid, and the IN
terror work has been started.
building will accommodate about 1000
people. 1t will be formally dedicated
on the evening OF May 8, the day be-
fore the reunion opens, a program OF
special services having been arransed
4 for the occasion. The auditorium will
s be used for a big reception to the spon-
sors and for a Confederate song service
on different evenings during the re-
union, and possibly a series of war tab
leaux will be given there. 1t is adm1-
rably adapted for all these purposes.
OPENING TIE REUNION.
The reunion will be opened formally
on MAY 10. The veterans will be
formed in line OF parade ut the corner
4 of Broad and Meeting streets, IN front
8 of the historic ST. NIichacls church, and
will march in procession to the audi
torillm, in departmental formation.
Thc procession will be reviewed by
4 General Gordon as it passes Marion
square. General C. I. Walker, com-
manding the South Carolina division,
u. C. V, has been appointed by Cen
eral Gordon chief marshal of the pa
rade.
The convention will be called to
order by General Walker. He will in
troducc first Hon. r. b. Gary, speaker
of tl.e South Carolina house ofrcprc-
sentatiycs, who will read the rcsolll-
tions passed ut the last session OF the
general assembly inviting the veterans
to Charleston in the name OF the State.
General Walker will then present the
governor OF South Carolina to welcome
the veterans on behalfof the State. 1T
is feared that Governor Ellcrbc, be-
cause of his i'll health, will not be able
to attend and discharge this duty, anu
Lieutenant Governor NJ. Is. McSwccny
will probably act in his stead. Mayor
J. Adger Smyth will extend the city,;
welcome, and General Walker VIII
speak for the veterans. The cOnyen-
& ton will then be turned over to Gene
raj Gordon.
ENTERTAINING TIE VISITORS.
Besides the official receptions and
: the reunions of various commands dur
ing the reunion, there will be much to
! entertain the visitors, both veterans
and others. Charleston affords great
interest FROM Il historical view, the
surrounding country, the bay with It's
forts and batteries being rich III mem
& orablc scenes a committee has been
charged with marking the battlctieldSS
s around the city, and those points will
be visited by many who bore AN active
part upon them in the great defense OF
Charleston under Bcarregarl, Leo and
Ripley. Fort sumter will be open to
E visitors, a special order from the sccrc-
tary OF war having been secured where
by the usual military rule barring vlsl-
$ tors from forts is suspended. i Is cX7 {,
pcctcd that one or more warsll!ps VIII
be in the bay during the reunion. the
secretary of the navy having promised
tO detail any available vessels to the