The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-09-20
City Hall, and sang patriotic airs as th

City Hall, and sang patriotic airs as the
veterans passed. Post No. l, from Rock
ford, ILL.,, the oldest post In the Grand
Army, headed the line. General James W.
Latta, OF this city, was Chief Marshal.
The President made visit to the war.
ships OF Rear Admiral SIMPSONS squadron
and went aboard FIVE OF them. The visit
of the President to the squadron proved to
be the greatest marine spectacle ever seen
here. Tue President was the first to step
on board OF the flagship from the steep
ladder that hangs over the New York's
side, and as he did 80 the entire squadron
fred the Presidents salute OF twenty-one
guns or 1926 guns In all. The bands on all
the ships simultaneously played "Hail to
the Chief."
Wherever President Mckinley appeared
he received tremendous ovation, partic.
ularly at the Academy OF Music, where the
Grand Army was officially welcomed to the
city and State by Mayor Ashbrldge and
Governor Stone. The President was intro
duced as "Comrads" Mckinley.
The Presidential party, with Admiral
Simpson and his staff, left the Academy OF
Music, and proceeded to Odd Fellows Hall,
where President Mckinley vas the guest OF
honor at banquet rendered w George Il.
Meade Post, the Lafayette Post OF New
York and the Kingsley Post Of Boston.
When the Chief Executive entered the ban
quoting hall, all present rose and cheered.
When the President was Introduced by the
toastmaster to the diners he said:
"It has given me great pleasure to be as
sociated with you to-day. I have been
deeply touched by many OF the scenes
which oil OF us have witnessed. With the
ioyous side OF the glad reunion OF old COM
rades who fought side by side in common
cause and for a common country, there was
the other sad side, that so many OF our
comrades who two years ago had marched
proudly with you through the City OF Duf-
falo are no longer in the ranks.
"The blue and the gray march under
one aag-we've got but one flag now-the
same that our grandfathers lifted up, the
same our fathers bore, and that flag which
you kept stainless and made triumphant
forevermore.
II may be pardoned for saying in this
presence that this has been one ofthe hap
piest days OF my life, looking In the faces
Of my comrades. They are getting little
too old for war, but they are oil right.
That during last year and this summer we
were able to convene 250,0GO OF the best
young men in the United Stutes was dueto
the example OF your patriotism aud the In
splration OF your example,"
The members OF the Presidential party
afterward retired from the hall and drove
to the Pennsylvania Railroad station,
where they boarded special train and
left for Washington at 1l.30 o'clock.
Senior Vice.Commander William G.
Johnson, of Cincinnati, was elected Com
mander. Chief for the unexpired term Of
James A. Sexton, deceased, which enied
with the election OF the new Commander
in-Chiet for the ensuing year The en-
campment will meet next year in Chicago.
These statistics were given In the report
OF the senior vIce-commander: Members In
good standing. June 80, 1898, a05, ,6O3; gain
by muster, 7542; gain by transfer, 371s;
gain by. reinstatement, 12,257; gain from
aggregate, S33, 1856. Loss by death, 1894;
loss by honorable discharge, 1854; loss by
transfer, 1866; loss by suspension, 20, ,952;
| loss by dishonorable discharge, 107; loss by
delinquent reports, 1856; loss by surrender