Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-29

CHICAGO, August 2s.-Along streets
filled with a cheering multitude, past
towering buildings gay with the glow
of tho stars and stripes, through arches
of honor, beneath suspended banners
and swinging portraits of illustrious
leaders, now part of the muster be-
yond that dark river whose brink their
feet had so often pressed on fields OF
death, $4,000 of the life-guard of the
nation--the Grand Army of the Repub-
lic-marched to-day.
1t was their greatest parade since
that day in 1855, when, with ranks fresh
from the triumphs of war, they had
marched down Pennsylvania avenue
in Washington with their faces turn
ed toward home, and their hearts filled
with the promise of the victories OF
peace.
1t was probably the
Last of the Great Parades
upon which the members of the Grand
Army will march on earth. The aver
age age of the veterans is close upon
the average span of human life, its
ranks are thinning fast, and its mem
bership has commenced to fall away.
The muster roll must hereafter, &C
fn off iolC nf ~ i
cation, decrease more rapidly than at
any period from the end of the war to
now.
The last year of the century across
the years of which they have emilia
zoned so glorious a record was a most
fitting time for what so many of them
have declared will be their last review
and still more appropriate was it that
sun and wind combined to produce a
day eminently suited for the occasion.
A light breeze came off Lake Michigan
strong enough to lift the banners out
to the full length of their folds, and
at times with force sufficient to make
1t necessary for more than one old sol
dier to grasp the staff to keep the flag
on high. 1t mattered nothing, however,
how many hands were necessary on
the staff. They were ready always.
The veterans carried the flag to-day as
they had carried 1t forty years ago, and
save in salute not a banner was lower
ed, not fold touched the ground.
Not in many years has Chicago ex-
tended so
Afectionatc welcome
TO the stranger within her gates as that
she gave to-day to the heroes of the
Grand Army. As her people watched
the march of the old soldiers there
flashed across them the thought that
filled the mind of the Hebrew historian,
when centuries ago, he wrote Of the
heroes of King David, these be the
mighty men," AS Chicago estimated
them so she greeted them. Notwith-
standing the age of the members of the
Grand Army of the Republic, more
members of the organization had an
nounced their intention of Joining in
the line than was expected by the most
Sanguine of the veterans. Old soldiers
from every State in the union We're in
the march with their comrades of for
mer years, and throughout the length
of the parade 1000 posts of the Grand
Army had representation. The parade
which started at the intersection of
Randolph street and Michigan avenue,
was about five hours in passing a given
point The line of march was short,
and from the start to the south end of
the Court of Honor, where it disbanded
after passing in review before Conn
mander-in-Chief Shaw it comprised
twenty-seven of the city squares. Even
though the majority of the marches
We're men of advanced years, the pa
Fade moved swiftly and without breaks
or disorder. The columns came on
twelve abreast, we'll closed, solid and
compact. The formations were almost
invariably we'll kept, for the men who
had gone through years of desperate
war without being guilty of struggling
Were too old to be laggards now.
The Marching Column
was headed by detachment Of the city
police under the command of Lieut..
FLYNN, which in battalion formation
swept the street from curb to curb.
Behind them came a band of seventy
pieces, and then Chief Marshal J. H.
Wood with his immediate staff. con-
sisting OF Col. H. S. Dietrich, Col. j.
E Stuart and Col. c. e. Young. A reg
imeIE of assistant Oo,arSholc ooA oGdna
eGme gathering ON, and then behind
the great band of the Second infantry
Of the Illinois National Guard came
Commander Shaw and the members of
his staff, comprising Adjt Gen. T. ].
Stewart, QuartermaSSer General E. J.
Atkinson, Inspector General NJ. J. Cum
mings, Judge Advocate General Eli
Terrence. and Chief of Staff, j. Cory
Winaas
Ahead of the carriages containing
Acting Governor Warder, who supplied
tae place of Gov. Tanner. Mayor Harrt-
son, and Executive Director Harrison
who with Commander in Chief Shaw.
occupied the reviewing stand during
the parade, marched Lafayette Post
No. 49, of New York City, commanded
by Allan G. Blackwell. Cheer after
cheer went up as Gen. Daniel e. Sick
les accompanied by his aides rode past
the reviewing stand. All along the
line, the general had been given a
most fiattering greeting but the
warmih OF the reception chat met him
as The approached the Ssand where Com
nsIxler Shaw was awaiting to receive
his sal rte caused him To finish with