Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-01
VETERANS REUNION.
THlRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL ENCAMP-
MENT OF THE G. A. r.

The Parade Declared TO he the
Greatest Military Pageant Since
the Union Army Was Reviewed
and Disbanded In Washington.
The thirty-fourth annual encampment
of the. Grand Army of the Republic is
being held this week in Chicago and at
tended by $1,000 veterans of the civil
war, besides tens of thousands of spec
tators.
The encampment opened Sunday night
with a sacred song service in the Coli
scum which was attended by $4,000 PEG
pie.
Bishop Samuel Fallows of Chicago,
who gained renown as fighting man on
the battlefield before he won distinction
in the pulpit and who is the chairman Of
the encampment committee on religious
exercises presided On the platform
with him were Mayor Harrison, Com
mander In Chief Shaw of the G. A. r.,
Rev. Thomas c. lift of Salt Lake City.
General Daniel +. Sickles. Rev. L. G..
Hirsh of Chicago and a host of depart
ment commanders of the G.. A. X. as
well as the local officials in charge of
Chicago's end of the encampment.
After musical selection had been ren.
dered by the band the vast audience join
ed in the Lords prayer. being led by
Rev. Frank Gunsaulus of Chicago, and
then Bishop Fallows extended a warm
and eloquent welcome to the visiting vet
Grams. A responsive reading was led by
Rev. j. u. Severnghaus of Chicago, and
Bishop Fallows then introduced Com
mander In Chief Shaw, who spoke at
l.
dwet upon the services which had been
rendered TO this nation in particular and
the world at large by the members of
the Grand Army and pointed out the
need of training the coming generations
in the duties which patriotism demands
of the nations citizens.
Rev. L. G. Hirsch delivered a patriotic
address, and Rev. 7. d. Wallace pro.
nounced the benediction. Between the
addresses musical numbers were given
by the band of 100 pieces. and vocal Sc
lections were given by soloists, quartets
and the chorus, all of them being ap.
pauded frantically by the audience,
which was in an intensely patriotic frame
of mind.
Sailors Have Their Reunion.
The first day of the encampment was
one OF lIHd1 UbduiN Ill mar tOulIuHi u
the hot and humid weeks that have pre-.
coded it since the LIST of August. There
was in the early portiea of the deg G
fresh breeze off Lake Michigan, temper
ing the heat of the sun, which shont
brightly but not too warmly to make
marching a burden for the old veterans
who claimed the day as theirs. The
right of the line on the opening day was
en-, ha Tho goilah tho 6uf..
ing the civil war. The cheering was all
for them, and the honors We're theirs.
The heroes of river and sea of the civil
war are a small band now OF the 1872,
600 men enlisted in the navy in the ear
ly days of the war less than 1000 march
ed Monday, and it is agreed by the OLD
sailors that their number was greater in
that march than it will ever be in any
parade to come.
But one battle flag was carried by the
navy veterans 1t was one that iuttered
from the monitor Winnebago when Far
ragut sailed into Mobile bay to gain his
browning victory. 1t was borne by Sea
man Ed Woodruff of Rockford, Ills. ano
beside him marched ex- Boatswain's Mate
i. r. Lynn Of Chicago. who made the
flag while serving on board the Whine
bago.
Thirty Thousand In Line.
The military pageant which marked
the climax of the encampnlent OF the
Grand Army of the Republic was, nc
cording to Commander In Chief Shaw
the greatest parade since that day H.
Washington, when the hundreds of thou
sands of veterans, the most powerful
army on earth, marched in review Il
their final disbandment.
Probably 10000 members of the army
of veterans took part in the parade
which was witnessed by probably 1000,
600 people. For exactly four hours and
20 minutes, most of the time with ranks
almost perfectly aligned, but occasional
ly faltering under their burden of years
they filed past tie reviewing stand on
Michigan avenue.
Weather conditions We're almost ideal
for the parade, wea; isome enough at best
for the silver haired veterans. The line
of march, too, was much shorter than
ever before mapped out for the annual
parade. its entire length not being oven
four miles, but Notwithstanding this here
and there a veteran, dazed and exhaust.
ed, dropped ont Of the ranks. Especially
was this true after the reviewing stand
was passed, and many pathetic scenes
were witnessed down the long stretch OF
Michigan avenue as the veterans fell by
the wayside.
One especially sad incident occurred to
mar in degree the glory of the parade,
Charles Beckwith of Algonsea. Mich,
dropping dead as the line was filing past
the corner of Michigan avenue and Mad
ison street. The parade was halted fol
a moment, the body of the veteran who
had responded to his last call was tender
~ removed. and his comrades passed ON.
Cheered by Vast Crowds.
Long before the hour for the parade
to start the sidewalks along the line OF
march were packed from curb to wall,
the windows OF the immense Office build
ings, gay with tuttering flags and hunt
ing were filled with sightseers, while
along Michigan avenue, where were erect.
ed the beautiful columns and arches
forming the court Of honor, the crowd
was so great that the hundreds of police
had great difficulty in keeping clear the
line of march. And all during the hours
that the veterans rramppd BY this sea OF