Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-10
Seventeen Thousand Persons Reached
the City Last Night.
DEDICATION OF THE AUDITORIUM.
Reunion Proper Begins To-Day
South Carolina Nemorial-Day Ex-
ercises-Mnny Social Functions in
Honor of DISTINGUISHED Visitors.

CHARLESTON, S. C., May 9.-In gala
dress OF bunting and festoons OF electric
lights, Charleston is tonight welcoming
the visitors and delegates to the ninth
annual reunion of the United Confede-
rate Veterans. All day trains have been
emptying 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 un-
dertaking the task of caring for crowd
which by tomorrow threatens TO tax It's
every resource.
Facilities for 1000 persons nave been
provided. and the prospect Is that every
cot will be needed.
The principal streets are handsomely
decorated with bunting, the red, white,
and red of the Lost Cause" and the
Stars and Stripes mingling fraternally.
Side by side hutter "Old Glory and ST.
Andrews cross. while the white palmetto
OF South Carolina CLEANS everywhere
from its blue field. Most Of the more dis
tinguished ex-Confederate leaders are al
ready in the city. among them being CEN
erals Gordon, the commandments oil
the association Stephen ID. Lee, Wade
Hampton, Clement A. Evans, W. Cabeh,
George p. Harrison. and General Harden.
General Wheeler will arrive tomorrow.
REUNION PROPER TO-DAY.
The reunion proper begins tomorrow,
,he only official junction scheduled for to-
dav being the reception Of the cruiser
Raleigh, which was postponed because ol
the vessels accident in going aground
while coming up to the city this morning
This portion OF the programme now
ever. will be carried out tomorrow morn
ing The cruiser will be met by com
mittee headed by Mayor Smythe, VINO
will deliver an address OF welcome
state salute will be fired from battery
manned by naval reserves, and Captain
Cogblan and his officers will be entertain
cd al luncheon by re Carnlina Yacht
Club. Captain Coghlan has been invited
10 take formal part in the memorial eX-
ercises.
AUDITORIUM DEDICATED.
Tonight. the great auditorium, erected
esnecially for this occasion, was formally
dedicated. with impressive ceremonies. us
seating capacity of 1900 persons was taxed
To hold the crowd. ON the stage were
seated all of the distinguished VISITORS
and many of the leading citizens ol inc
CITY \ superb choir and orchestra FUR
nished the musical portion OF the eAer-
cises and addresses were made by Mayor
Smvthe. General Wade Hampton, Major
Theodore Il. Barker, and Hon. /. W.
Bacon. The prayer was made py heV.
Ellison Capers. Bishop of South Carolina
and a brigadier-general In the ConieIe-
rate army. ....e,
NEMORIAL-DAY EXERCISES.
Tomorrow will be the first day OF the
reunion and the occasion will be also an
observance of south Carolina Memorial
Day.
4 parade OF the veterans VIII occur III
the afternoon. at the conclusion Of which
memorial exercises will be held in the
auditorium. General Gordon Will preside
and deliver an address.
The memorial address Will be MADE Dy
General George Norman, of New Or
leans. Adjutant-General Of the Confede-
rate Veterans. and salute will be fired
bv veterans Of the famous Washington
Artillery and Harris Battery.
LARGE CROWD EXPECTED.
Probably no former reunion OF the Con-
federate veterans has attracted a more
general representation from the veterans
ana a larger crowd OF visitors than
Charleston promises TO have on its hauis
Tomorrow. For several days visitors
have been coming in large numbers, while
the committee estimate that 1900 per-
Suns arrived here tonight. and sixteen
special trains are scheduled to arrive be-
tween midnight and tomorrow morning.
The private houses Of the city have
been thrown open with true southern hos
nitality: the hotels are packed, and Tor
The accommodation Of the veterans ana
those who are unable 10 pay even mode
rate tariffs several large warehouses nave
been equipped with cots and every conve-
nience. while the eating arrangements
are equally complete. Many social func-
tions are in progress in honor of the dis
tinguished visitors
MISS HETH AND MAIDS ARRIVE,
Among the arrivals to-day was Miss
Mamie Randolph Heth, of Washington,
who succeeds Miss Winnie Davis as spon-
sor- of the association. with her maids,
Miss Gallery. OF louisiana; Miss Peters,
Of Washington; Miss Wilcox and Miss Al
sion. OF South Carolina.