The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-10
CHARLESTON IN GALA ATTIRE.
VETERANS WILL OPEN THEIR RE-
UNION THERE TODAY.

THE Great Auditorium Where the
MEETINGS VIII be Held Was
Formally Dedicated Last Night.
Reception to the Raleigh Was
Fashioned Until TO-day-This VIII
Also Be Memorial Day in south
Carolina.
Charleston, S. c., May 9.-In gala dress
nj bunting and festoons of electric lights,
Charleston is tonight welcoming the vis-
uors and delegates to the ninth annual re-
union Of thesUnted Confederate Veterans.
All day the railroads have been empty
ing hundreds of the men who wore the
gray and their friends, and the little city
which heard the first hostile shot of the
war between the states is nobly under
taknE the task of caring for a crowd,
which by tomorrow threatens to tax its
every resource.
Facilities for 40c0O persons have been
provided and the prospect is that every
cot VIII be needed.
The principal streets are handsomely
decorated with bunting, the red. white
and red, of the Lost Cause" and the
STARS anu stripes iIltlSAluS lIdlCt MANY
side by side hutter Old Glory and st. An
drew's cross, while the white palmetto of
South Carolina gleauis everywhere from
its blue field.
Most of the more distinguished ex-Con-
Tolerate leaders are already in the city,
among them being Gems. Gordon, the
commander-in-chief of the association;
Stephen D. Lee, Wade Hampton, Clement
a Evans, Caben, George p. Harrison and
Gen. Harden. Gen. Wheeler will arrive
tomorrow
Reception for the Raleigh.
The reunion proper begins tomorrow,
the only official function scheduled for
to-day being the reception of the cruiser
Raleigh, which was postponed because of
the vessels accident in going aground
while coming up to the city this morning.
This portion of the programme however,
will be carried out tomorrow. The
cruiser will be met by a committee headed
by Mayor Smyth, who will deliver the
address of welcome, a state salute will
he fired from a battery manned by naval
reserves, and Capt. Coghlan and his Off
GERS will be entertained at luncheon by
the Carolina Yacht Club. Capt. Coghlan
has been invited to take formal part in
the memorial exercises.
Tonight the great auditorium erected
especially for this occasion, was formally
dedicated with impressive ceremonies. It's
seating capacity of 1900 persons was taxed
to hold the crowd. On the stage were seat
ed all of the distinguished visitors and
many of the leading citizens of the city.
A superb choir and orchestra furnished
the musical portion of the exercises, and
addresses were made by Mayor Smyth,
Gen Wade Hampton, Mai Theodore G.
Barker and Hon T. w. Bacot The pray
er was made by Rev. Ellison Capers,
bishop of South Carolina, and a brigadier
general in the Confederate army.
The Exercises To-day.
Tomorrow viii be the first day of the
reunion, and the occasion will be also an
Observance of South Carolina Memorial
day. The parade of the veterans will oc-
cur in the afternoon, at the conclusion of
which memorial exercises will be held in
the Auditorium. Gen. Gordon will preside
and deliver an address. The memorial
address will be made by Gen. George
Norman of New Orleans adjutant gen
eral of the Confederacy, and a salute will
be fired by veterans of the famous Wash
inston Artillery and Hart's Battery.
Probably no former reunion of the Con-
federate Veterans has attracted a more
general representation from the veterans
and larger crowd of visitors than
Charleston promises to have on its hands
tomorrow. For several days visitors
nave been coming in large numbers, while
the committee estimates that 1900 per-
sons arrived here tonight, and sixteen
special trains are scheduled to arrive be-
tween midnight and tomorrow morning.
Accommodations for visitors.
The private houses of the city have been
throWn open with true Southern hospital
''y' the hotels are packed, and for the ac-
ccmmodation of the veterans and those
VINO are unable to pay even the moderate
tanHs several large warehouses have
nave been equipped with cots and every
convenience, While the eating arrange
Heh's are equally complete.
Many social functions are in progress in
hoA"r of the distinguished visitors.
Among the arrivals to-day was Miss
Mamie Randolph Heth of Washington
"Ao succeeds Miss Winnie Davis as spon-
Soi oI The association, and her maids, Miss
OS%Hery Of Louisiana, Miss Peters Of
washington. Miss Wilcox and Miss AL