The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-02
A Gathering at Tomiinson Hall That
Carried Soldiers Back to the
Days of the War.
OVATION FOR THE SPEAKER
RINGING CHEERS FROM OLD SOL
DIERs GREETED HIM.
A speech OF an Hours Length That
Was Well Received-Otber
Addresses.

Veteran soldiers cheered the American
flag at Tomlinson Hall last night and APP
plauded the sentiments of comrades who
spoke in behalf of that flag. 1t was the oc-
casion of Corporal James Tanners speech
to soldiers, the demonstration being under
the auspices of camp No. !, indianapolis
Republican Camp OF Veterans and their
Sons. While the audience was gathering
at the hall the Marion Glee Club sang
patriotic songs, such as America and the
March Of the Flag" After the orator of
the evening reached the hall the glee club
sang "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground.
Corporal Tanner was escorted to the hall
by the Marion Marching Club and band.
In a carriage with the corporal were three
men who bear the marks of battle-Dan NJ.
Ransdell and Moses G.. McLain. each with
an arm off, and William III. Lester, who
was shot five times in battle. In another
carriage was l.. G. Akin. county chairman;
William II. Calvert, DR.. George e. Reed,
president of Dickinson College, Pennsyi-
vania; George w. Spahr and George c..
Webster.
When the procession reached the hall the
band was playing Marching through
Georgia The air was recognized and APP
plauded. There was a large turnout of
people, and there was great deal of en-
thusastic cheering when Corporal Tanner,
President Reed and the committee with
them reached the stage. AS the Marion
Marching Club came into the hall they
raised their flag umbrellas and the veterans
cheered again. The stage was crowded with
men and women, there being over hun
dred vice presidents. The decorations of
the hall, though not specially prepared for
the occasion, were in perfect keeping with
the exercises. On one side OF the stage was
a large picture of President Mckinley and
or the other side was a picture of Theo-
dore Roosevelt. The other decorations were
the American flag.
MANY VETERANS THERE.
In the audience was row after row of
veterans. They cheered Corporal Tanner
as he limped.up the steps and on the stage
on his two artificial feet. They cheered
ex-Lieutenant Governor Hanna when he
sat down near the front of the stage. They
cheered everybody and rything that re-
called the old days when they stood side
by side and fought for common cause.
There was no uncertain tone in their
cheers. for it was a spontaneous outburst
that indicated that these veterans are
standing together again as they did in the
days of the rebellion. On the stage sat
two men-one with an arm off at the Shout
der and the other with wrist and hand
gone. One of these men was Dan NJ. Rams
dell and the other was Moses G. McLain.
They sat together last night as they fought
together in former years. They were COM
panions when the war broke out and became
comrades when they enlisted. Both fought
In the battle of Resaca and both were
wounded. While the fight was yet in prog
ress they met and tried TO console each
other A few hours later the surgeon S
knife amputated the arm of one at the
shoulder and took of the wrist and hand
of the other. Both came on to Indianapolis
together and went to the hospital together.
Next Tuesday they will vote together, with
thousands of other veterans, to uphold the
same flag that waved over them at Resaca.
County Chairman Akin called the meet
ing to order last night and introduced VIM.
H. Lester, the permanent chairman of the
evening. Mr.. Lester then introduced
Thomas Hanna, who told some of the
things that the government has done for
the veteran soldier. He was followed by
Corporal Tanner.