Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-09-06
The Thirty-Third Annual En-
campment Opened in the Qua
ker City Monday.
VETS MET With CORDIAL GREETING.
Adm. Sampson, With His Fleet of
Fighting Vessels, Arrived Sum
day and viii Take Part.
The Avenue of Fame, Which Extends for
rive Blocks, Is the Most Magnificent
Piece of Decoration Ever At
tempted in Philadolphia.

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. with the ar
rival from, Cincinnati Monday OF Act
ing Commander-in-Chief johnson, the
SD national encampment of the grand
army of the republic was formally in
augurated. Col. johnson was accom-
panied by the posts of Cincinnati and
several bands of music. A large recep-
tion committee headed by Gen. Louis
Wagner chairman of the local executive
committee, met the commander at the
railway station and escorted him 10 his
headquarters at the Continental hotel.
Every incoming train is bringing its
quota of veterans and visitors and the
streets are thronged. The weather is
ideal, with bright autul nal sun and
a cooling breeze, rendering sightseeing
enjoyable. Indications point to con-
tinuance of fair weather and those in
terested in the encampment are corre-
spondingly happy.
Adm. Sampson, with his fleet of
fighting ships, arrived here Sunday,
and this event marks the beginning of
the weeks celebration.
The route of the veterans parade,
which takes place on Tuesday, is one
solid blaze of color and light. Not u
building but has its front incased in
the red, white and blue, The avenue
of fame, which extends from Walnut
to Cherry street on Broad, distance
of five blocks, with the city hall as the
center, is the most magnificent piece
of decoration ever attempted in tins
city. There are two classes of columns.
The larger and more ornate are about
so feet in height and are
placed at the street corners,
The smaller columns, about 25
feet high stand on each side of Broad
street between the larger columns.
The corner pillars are massive, but
graceful and at the base of each are,
| alternately, in heroic size, two soldiers
and two sailors. Numerous circles of
electric lights decorate the piles from
the base to the golden eagles at the
top The columns are connected by
festoons of bunting and laurel, and
strings of incandescent lamps give a
brilliant effect at night.
The big parade Of Tuesday will be in
twelve divisions. Post No, /, from
Rockford, H., the oldest post in the
Grand Army, will head the line. As
the veterans pass around the City Hall
they will be reviewed by President Nc
Kinley, who is expected to arrive here
Monday night, accompanied by Secre-
tares Root and Gage and Postmaster
General Smith. There viii be over
AZ, 900 men in line. A feature of Tues
days events will be the chorus Of 8, 600
school children, who will occupy por-
tion of the grand stand on the north
side of the city hall. AS the parade
passes this point the children will sing
patriotic airs.
A question of absorbing interest to
G. a. r.. veterans which will be decided
during the encampment is the
election of u commander-in.c chic +
and other officers. Two candidates in
the field are Albert d. Shaw, of Joe
Spratt post, Watertown, N. Y, and
Judge George Rassieur, of st, Louis.
"Private" James L. Dalzell, of Com
pany II. 10th Ohio, is also candidate.
Others urged by their friends are Col.
w. c. johnson, of Cincinnati, acting
commander-in-chief, and Brig. Gen.
Charles Miller. of Venango, Pa.