The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-04-26


The old soldiers of the blue are In
possession of Moundsville this week.
The town has willingly surrendered.
The formal capitalization occurred yes
terday morning at the court house,
when Mayor Parkinson handed over to
Department Commander Lavally, of
the West Virginia department Of the
&. A. r., an immense gilded and RIB
bon-bedecked key, slgnIfying the free
dom OF the town. The old soldiers,
after their taste Of Moundsvllle hos
pltallty, pronounced the brand all right,
and TO say that Moundsville Is pleased
with her visitors is stating fact
mildly.
There are several organizations In
session. First, OF course, is the west
Virginia department OF the Grand
Army, with Its eighteenth annual en-
campment; second comes the eighth an
nual meeting of the state organization
Of the Woman's Relief Corps; also the
annual meeting OF the West Virginia
branch OF the Ladies OF the G. A. r.,
mad finally the fourteenth annual meet
Ing OF the West Virginia branch OF the
Sons OF Veterans. The attendance on
the part OF the members Of these or
ganIzatlons numbers several hundred.
and many more will be on hand to-day
Including large delegations from
Wheeling and other Panhandle towns.
The first session OF the G. A. r. was
held yesterday morning in the circuit
court room at the court house. which
had been deliberately decorated with
flags and bunting especially for the oc-
caslon by the enterprislng Moundsville
people In charge Of the arrangements
Mayor Parkinson, on behalf OF the
municipality, presented the key, sig
nifylng the freedom Of the city, to De-
purtment Commander Lavally, Of the
G. A. R.. and the latter responded In
an appropriate and nppreciative mani
ner. The department then went Into eN-
exutive session and transacted routine
business not Of especially public I'M
portance. In the afternoon the usual
convention committees were appointed,
which will submit their reports at to-
days sessions.
The woman's Relief Corps met at 10
n. m. in l. o. o. =. hall. The opening
prayer was by the state chaplain, Mrs.
Leach. The state president, Mrs. Rob-
ertsou, presented Mrs. Harriet ].
Dodge, Of Hartford Conn, national
president OF the w. r. c., and Mrs.
Charlotte E. Wright of Hartford,
Conn, national secretary OF the order,
who made interesting addresses. The
state president presented her annual re-
port. showing the satisfactory growth
Of the order In West Virginia during
the year. The other state officers re-
ported, and the several reports were
referred to committees. At to-day's
sessions the annual election Of officers
will take place.
The sessions OF the Sons of Veterans
we're held at the court house. and rOu-
tine business was transacted. The cleo
ton of officers occurs to-day. The
camp at Moundsville, which died i nat
ural death some time ago. is to be res
directed this morning and will be rep
resented at to-day's sessions Of the
Sons.
The big feature OF the day was the
public camp FIRE at the court house last
night, which attracted crowd so large
that not one-half could obtain admit
lance. Outside the crowd had to be sat
lsfled with the pretty display of fire.
works Inside there was a programme
OF speeches. Among those speaking
we're Hon. A. B. White, OF Parkers-
burg; Congressman Dovener. of Wheel
ing: Major swlsher, of FairmOnt post.
and Major Moore. Of Clarksburg. An
other speaker was Mrs. Dodge, Inter-
national president Of the Woman's Re-
lief Corps. Several others spoke during
the evening. and the camp fire was pro-
nounced one Of the most enjoyable in
the history OF the department.
The parade will move promptly at
o'clock this afternoon and will form In
front Of the court house.
The G. a. r. loan exhibition proves
great attraction. The lunch depart
ment has been well patronized. Coffee
and sandwiches are served.
VOTE for w. E. BOWERS for County
Assessor. City District