The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-17
Charleston and the Reunion.

left Anderson for Charleston to attend
the ninth annual reunion of the United
Confederate Veterans. Although q
Large crowd of Anderson and Walhalla
people veterans and visitors-had left
on Monday, the cars were full, and
when our train arrived at the pretty
town of Belton, we met the special
train which had started from Green
vile, and to which several of our
coaches were attached. At almost
every depot other cars were added, and
when we reached Columbia our inn
mensef train was cut into two or three
sections and carried on to Charleston.
Those in the first trains to leave
reached the city early, but those in the
last to leave Columbia did not arrive
until about one o'clock, as we We're in
formed.
Nothing Of special interest occurred
until we reached Columbia, where
| three or four of our good people had
their pockets picked, evidently the
work Of professional pick-pockets, as
one or two Of them were arrested and
they were strangers to the people of
Columbia. Weare told that these ras-
calls come from all the large cities Of
the United States, and that they sys-
tematically work in: all the great gath
erings in this country. They rob rich
and poor alike, one poor, one-legged
Confederate soldier being among the
number robbed in Columbia. No man
need claim that heais too smart to have
his pocket picked, for these rascals
make their living in this way and have
reduced the whole thing to a science.
On arri7alin Charleston we found
the city gaily decorated with flags,
both Confederate and Onion, and the
vast crowd was soon on its way to find
board and lodging. Committees were
at all the depots to give information.
and direct the people to quarters, and
soon every one had home. The ar
rangements for handling the crowd
after its arrival in the city was decld-
edly better than at either Richmond OF
Atlanta, as we were present ut both,
and know whereof we speak. Those
veterans who were to be entertained
entirely by the city were carried to
their quarters-several large ware
houses near the bay-where they fonnd
plenty of the very best food to eat, and
clean, nice cots on which to sleep, and
to the everlasting credit OF Charleston
we did not hear single man express
other than praise at the manner in
which he had been entertained, and we
made it point to inquire at every op-
portunity. Those who were able and
expected to pay their own expenses
were loud in their expressions OF praise
for the people Of the city. All charges
were veSy reasonable, and we heard OF
not single case OF extortion.
1t was very hard to estimate the
number OF visitors and veterans in the
city, as there were so many places OF
interest that at no one time was the
crowd assembled at one place, although
on one or two occasions the Auditorium
was full, which was said to seat $500.
1t is estimated by the railroads that
they carried into the city about $4,000
people. The number in attendanc at
this reunion was probably not as great
as at Richmond or Atlanta; then you
must remember that Charleston is not
as large as either. and that she should
eclipse both in her unbounded hospi-
tally IS something which should make
the whole State Of South Carolina feel
prond. It is fashionable in some quar-
tcrs to abuse Charleston, but when it
Genes to u matter Of hospitality her
good people can give lessons that arc
not soon forgotten.
Now, as to the proceedings proper OF
the meeting of tho Confederate Veto
rams we hardly know what to say, as
there is so much VIC could write about
VIC do not know where to bcgin or
where to leave of. Tho meeting was
highly interesting throughout. Speech
cs were made by several old heroes Of
the e.Lost Cause'-Hampton, Wheeler