The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-12
CharleStOnin Gala Dress
to Welcome Them.
THE CROWD TREMENDOUS
The City Prepared TO Extend |. Hearty
Welcome 60 all Who Conse-The DeA.
icatton of the Auditorium last Night.
The Welcome 50 the Raleigh Posts
poned ON Accounts OF the Grounding
Of the Cruiser on she Bar-Tbe Resas
lar Proceedings To Begin To-day.

Charleston :. g. May 9.-In gala
dress % buuSlng and feStoons % elec-
trtc lights, Charleston - tonight wei
coming the visitors and delegates 10
the ninth annual reunion ~ the United
Confederate Veterans. AL day the
railroads have been emptying hundreds
81 the men who Wore the grey and their
friends. and the little city which heard
the first hostile shot OF the war between
the states is nob.y undertaking the
task OF caring for the crowd which. by
tomorrow, threatens 10 tax its every
esource Facilities FOR 10000 persons
have been provided and the prospect
is that every cot viii be needed.
The principal streets are handsomely
decorated with bunting. Red. White
and Red, OF the Lost Cause" and The
Stars and Stripes mingllng f~raternally:
side by side nutter Old Glory and 81.
Andrews Cross. while the white pail
metto Of South Carolina CLEANS every
where from It's blue field. Most OF the
more distinguished ex~-confederate
leaders, are already in the city, among
them being Generals Gordon, the COM
1AAA VI IL dSSpIAdlApu. STE
phen d. Lee, Wade Hampton, Clement
A Evans. CabelI. George +. Harrison.
and Generals Harden and Wheeler viii
arrive tomorrow.
The runion prope begins tomorrow.
the only Official function scheduled for
today 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 pro-
gramme, however. will be carried out
tomorrow morning. The cruiser will bs
met by a committee headed by Mayor
Smythe, who VIII deliver an address OF
welcome; a state salute Will ba fired
nom a battery manned by naval re-
serves and Captain Coghlan and his
officers Will be entertained at luncheon
by the Carolina Yacht Club. Captain
Coghlan has been invited 10 take for
MAJ part in the memorial exercises.
Tonight the great auditorium erected
especially for his occasion, was for
mally dedicated with impressive cere-
monies. Its seating capacity OF 1000
| persons was taxed to hold the crowd.
On the stage We're seated all Of the dis
tlnguished visitors and many OF the
leading citizens of the city. A superb
choir and orchestra furnished the mus
lcal portion OF the exercises and ad-
dresses were made by Mayor Smyths.
General Wade Hampton, Major Theo-
i QOTe u Barker ana Hon. Il. w. BacDt-
The prayer was made by Rev. Ellison
Capers, bishop of South Carolina and
a ~brigadier general in the Confederate
army.
Tomorrow win be the first day OF the
reunion and the occasion will be also
an observance OF South Carolina me-
mortal day. The parade of the veterans
will occur in the afternoon al the con-
cIuSlon or which memorial exercises
Will be held in the auditorium. General
Gordon will preside and deliver an adj
dress. The memorial address will be
made by General George Norman, Of
New Orleans, adjutant general OF the
C~onfederacy, and a salute Will be fired
Dy veterans OF the famous Washington
lartillery and Harris battery.
Probabl no former reunion Of confed-
crate veterans has attracted a more gen
eral representation from veterans and
a larger crowd Of visitors thar Char
lesion promises to have on its hands
tomorrow. For several days visitors
have been coming in large numbers.
while the committee estimate that IL
| 900 persons arrived here tonlgnL and
| sixteen special trains are scheduled to
arrive between midnight and tomor-
row. The private houses Of the city
have been thrown open with true
southern hospitality, the hotels r
packed and for n accommodation OF
the veterans and those who are unable
TO pay even the moderate tariffs. sew
eral large warehouse have been equip-
ped with cots and every convenience
while the eating arrangements are
equally complete.
Many social functions are in progress
in honor Of the distinguished visitors.
Among the arrivals today was Miss
Mamie Randolph Heath, OF Washing
ton, who succeeds Miss Winnie Davis
as sponsor Of the association; her
maids, Miss Cafery, Of louisiana: Miss
Peters, OF Washington; Miss Wilcox
and Miss Aston, Of South Carolina.