The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-16

Wv AACAN ooI -NA1 SSSN
today, which shortly after noon gave
way to the Winnie Davis memorial ex-
e~rcises, at the conclusion of which an
adjournment until 10 O'Clock tomor-
row was taken The announcement
that General Joseph Wheeler was to
speak filed the auditorium and the
hero of two wars was given a rousing
reception by the immense audience.
The delegates and visitors devote
\ the afternoon to excursions to nearby
resorts, trips down the bay and social
functions, and tonight a concert was
given at the auditorium where a SUI
perb choir and orchestra rendered a
programme of southern war songs.
WE WILL CARE FOR GRAVES OF
OUR OWN DEAD.
The committee on resolutions to
which was referred GeneraI Lees reso-
luton accepting President McKinley's
proposal hat the federal government
should max provision for the care of
the graves of the confederate dead,
spent several hours discussing the mat
ter today and finally a compromise
resolution was framed and will be offer
ed as a substitute. The resolution is
to the effect that if the national gov
eminent desires to care for the graves,
the confederate veterans to not object
to it's taking charge of those in the
north and in the neighborhood OF the
old war prisons. The resolution will
state that the women of the south have
voluntarily undertaken to decorate and
properly preserve the graves in the
south, and the association does not feel
warranted in taking from them what
they have grown to regard as a duty.
Tn onnnra1 fhn rnCn1t1thnn 10 n1nnO the
lines of the speech made by Mr.. Bus
bee yesterday and who proposed the
substitute to the committee. The mOdi-
fled resolution has been submitted to
General Lee and he is understood to
have accepted it. The subcommittee
will report to the full committee to-
morrow morning hi the matter will
then be laid before the convention.
The election of officers will occur to-
morrow. General John B. Gordon a
no opposition to reelection as COM
mander-in-chief, n his election PROB
ably will be unanimous.
4 Perfect weather conditions continue
Y and the reunion is pronounced n of
hhe most enjoyable and successful of
Its eight predecessors. In spite
!, Of the crowd there nave been no disor-
ders or accidents and the police ar
rangements are in keeping with other
preparations made by the city for the
ICCCpIlOIl diIu entertainment " Tx NCl0
Grams.
SECOND DAYS SESSION.
The convention was slow in coming
to order, it being HOS O'Clock when the
gavel fell. 1t was opened with the Dox-
ology, followed by a prayer by the
Rev. DR.. Smith, of Stonewall Jackson's
staff. The prayer was a most apprO-
pirate one. He invoked the divine
blessing on the convention and it's rap
idly aging members. He asked Gods
blessing on the widows of the cause.
The recommendations of the mem
bers for the committee on credentials
and resolutions were called for. The
committees are as follows:
Committee on Resolutions-T. w.
Carwile, South Carolina; Colonel Ben
ton II. Young, Kentucky; General Geo.
Reise,' Florida; Colonel Boiling, Vir-
ginia; w. P. Talley, Tennessee; James
p. Coffin, Arkansas; Thomas S.. Plight,
Mississippi; r. w. Hunter, District of
Columbia; James R Grow, Alabama;
Colonel Davis Fable, louisiana; Colo
mel j. S. Sanders, Missouri; S. P. Green,
Texas; James A. Laffan, West Virg-
inia; G.. G.. Rainwater, Maryland; F. H.
Busbee, North Carolina
Committee on Observation-Disclosures J.
G.. Anderson, West Virginia; General
Charles c.. Beaver; Texas; Major F. T.
Blake, Maryland; J.. w. Noyes, Louis
lana; Colonel w. A. Gordon, District
Of Columbia; General Samuel Pryor,
Mississippi; T. F. Stanley, Arkansas;
General s. G. Hall, North Carolina;
IT. A. Hamilton, Alabama; Samuel P.
Claybrook, Tennessee; General Boiling,
Virginia; w. r. Cooper, Florida; Jas.
-. Hoyt, South Carolina; James w.
fBowles, Kentucky; General Joseph
Harding, Missouri.
The committee to wait upon the
"Sons of Veterans" was also appointed.
THE OVATION TO WHEELER.
After some further general bushes
the feature of today's session took
place. IL was General Wheeler's ad-
dress and the scene that attended his
introduction was one of frantic enthu.
.siasm.
Advancing to the front of the plat
form, General Gordon held up his hand
n absolute silence fell upon the vast
audience as he said:
Comrades, 1 have here a real treat
for you. If l Shoul tell this convention
there is here the hero of Santiago
General Gordon could get no further
A wild burst of applause thundered
forth, rebel yells split the air and
hats, canes and handkerchiefs were
waved as the great audience rose tl
it's feet. Finally securing quiet, Genera,
Gordon spoke of General Wheeler as
1.-The man who at Santiago held to the
front tn army n flag of America
Again the applause Numbered out, and
rising, the assemblage continued cheer.
ing until the scene was one of the wild.
est that has ever marked a reunion
Proceeding, General Gordon described
Wheeler as one of the widest wizard:
of the confederacy," and then repeated
the apochryphal story of the famou:
little cavalryman when at Santiago hi
exclaimed as the Spanish lines broke
Forward boys, the Yankees are run.
ming" and again the applause broke
y ont.
.GENERAL WHEELER'S ADDRESS
The audience rose Is General Wheel
Ter stepped forward, apparently much
affected. He wore a black rim AL
bers suit with badges on each lapel o.
his coat. He spoke deliberately, calml,
and clearly, the audience giving hin
close attention His reference to tn,
general sorrow caused by the death o