The record-union., 1899-09-04

City.
PHILADELPHIA. Sept. 3. = The
thirty-third annual encampment of
the Grand Army of the Republic will
begin tomorrow. The vanguard Of
the veterans has reached the city and
found the people with outstretched
hands. Never again. perhaps, will
Philadelphia be the scene of a national
encampment of the G.. A. r. OF the
valiant men who defended the cause of
the Union there remains but a rem
nant and with the depletion of the
ranks the welcome is the more heart
felt and enthusiastic.
Admiral Sampson with his fleet of
fighting ships arrived here to-day and
this event marks the beginning of the
weeks celebration.
The city is crowded with strangers,
while the incoming trains from all sec
tions are bringing people to help swell
the throng. The city has borne its
share of the work and the citizens of
Philadelphia by contributions of cash
and in welcoming banners have shown
their interest in the reunion.
The route of the veterans 1arade,
which takes place on Tuesday is one
solid blaze of color and light. Not
building but has it's front incased in
the red, white and blue. The avenue
of Fame, which extends from Walnut
to Cherry street, on Broad, a distance
of five blocks. with the City Hall as the
center, is the most magnificent piece of
decoration ever attempted in this city.
There are two classes of columns The
larger and more ornate are about fifty
feet in hight and are placed at the
street corners. The smaller columns,
about twenty-five 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 gilded eagles
At the top az *
The columns are connected by fes-
toons of bunting and laurel and strings
Of incandescent lamps give a brilliant
effect at night.
The north and south fronts to the
City Hall will be Illuminated with
massive electric light pieces thirty feet
in length, representing the c.. A r.
badge.
Camp Sexton, near Belmont, in Fair
mount Park. contains sixteen hundred
tents 1t is intended to accommodate
those posts of the G. A r which pre-
fer to camp out rather than be quar-
tered in halls armories or private
houses
The tents will shelter 10000 veterans.
The big parade of Tuesday will be in
twelve divisions. Post No. 1, from
Rockford, H., the oldest post in the
Grand Army. will head the line. AS
the veterans pass around the City Hall
they viii be reviewed by President Nc
Kinley, who is expected to arrive here
Monday night accompanied by Secre-
taries Root and Gage and Postmaster
General Smith There will be over
42,0O0 men in line.
A feature of Tuesdays events wiz
be the chorus Of 1900 school children.
who will occupy a portion of the grand
stand on the north side of the City Hall.
As the parade p9Ats this point, the
children viii sing patriotic airs.
OF all the military organizations to
attend the encampment, probably none
will attract more attention than Boyd's
Girl Cadets of Topeka. Kansas. These
young ladies are the daughters of vet
Grams and are commanded by H. N.
Boyd. who was sergeant of Company
L, Seventh Illinois Cavalry, during the
Civil war
A question of absorbing interest to
G. A. r. veterans. which will be de-
cided during the encampment is the
election of a commander-in chief and
other officers Two candidates promi-
nent in the field are Albert D. Shaw,
of Joe Spratt Post, Watertown, n. y,
and Judge Leo Rassieur of St. Louis.
Private" James L. DalzeT of Company
H, 11Gth Ohio. is also a candidate.
The naval veterans will enjoy the
distinction Of giving the first street pa
rade during the encampment Theirs
will take place tomorrow afternoon
and will be an unique feature of the
demonstration. The old volunteers who
fought under Farragut will tramp
shoulder to shoulder with the younger
veterans of the Spanish American war
Next Friday the naval parade will
take place. Admiral SIMPSONS fleet
will be anchored in the Delaware River.
opposite the city and a long line of yes
sells will pass around the fighting ships.
President Mckinley and cabinet officers
enue cutter Gresham. Members of the
Commission of the Imperial Russian
navy. stationed here experimenting
the building of battleship and crui-
ser, viii participate in the naval pa
geant.
Although this was Sunday the entire
day was given to sightseeing by the
citizens and visitors. There were three
great centers of interest to which the
people fiocked by the tens of thou
sands. The greatest crowd gathered
along the Delaware River front to
watch the arrival of the warships. The
North Atlantic Squadron, composed of
the flagship New York. cruiser Brook
1vn, battleships Indiana, Massachusetts,
and Texas. under command of Rear
Admiral Sampson arrived off the CEN
ter OF the city at 1:30 this afternoon.
The feet, which anchored at Bombay
Hook, about - miles down the river
last night, weighed anchor at o'clock
this morning and proceeded up the
river. A Reception Committee, COM
posed of Mayor Ashbridge, the local c.