The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-23

The Union ex-Prisoners of War as
sociatior held its sixteenth annual
meeting. banquet and campfire here
yesterday. The business meeting was
held in the early afternoon at the
rooms of Lieutenant Ezra s. Griffin
post. No. 139. Grand Army of the Re-
public. on Lackawanna avenue, and
was attended by nearly thirty mem-
bers. AT 5 o'clock the banquet took
place in one of the large rooms on the
fourth floor of the Connell building on
washington avenue. The campfire fol-
lowed the banquet at the same place.
The business meeting was opened at
3 o'clock by Captain Il. w. Pearce. who
was called to preside i'm the absence
OF Commander Halscy Lathrop. The
usual picturesque and inspiring cere-
mony was observed in beginning the
eXercises.the comrades gathering about
the colors, stacked at the big gun in
the center of the room, singing "Amer-
lea and Joining in an earnest prayer,
led by the venerable chaplain, Rev, S,
c. Logan, ID. ID.
Adjutant T.. II. Ripple called the roll
and received responses. from the fol-
lowing: o. A. Parsons. Thomas r..
Connor, Robert +. Wclteroth, George
Williams, William +. Bailey, James
Bowman. p. II. Campbell and !. =.
Long. of Wilkes Barre: j. c. Turner
OF Falls; II. ID. Beebe. of Binghamton
q. Nj. Brandon. of Harveyville; q. w
simpson, of Nanticoke: s. :. Hager of
Gouldsboro: Robert Campbell. of Car
bondale: Ralph Mennett Of Homes
dale; Peter Rinker, Perry Fuller, Mil
ton Mcfarland, L. y. Hughes, John
McDonough, G. l.. Mercereau, George
). Brock. f. w. Pearce. Andrew
Zoppfi and f. H. Ripple, of Scranton
LETTERS OF REGRET.
Adjutant Ripple read letters of re-
gret from Comrades John w. Biddle
Arlington. Wayne county; II. Crocker
of Montrose; u. Armstrong, X. w
Brady, NJ. d., Of Honesdale, and from
Hon. John Il. Barrett, who was invited
to be a guest of the association.
An invitation to Comrade James
Frye, of Waymart. brought a letter
from his wife announcing his death
Formal announcement was also made
Of the death of Comrade Wilson Long
at Harveyville, May 20, 1899. and Com
rade Joshua r. Thomas. May 80, 1899.
Mr.. Strickland, of Dallas. was re.
ceived into membership. He served
from 1861 to 1865. was captured at Fail
Oaks and was imprisoned for Il yeal
In Libby, Salisbury and Belle Isle.
Captain Pearce read lengthy writ.
ten report, and Major Parsons made g
brief verbal report of the national en-.
campment held in Philadelphia las,
ttn har 1yIi
COmrade Metzgar were delegates. One
Of the things described at length by
Captain Pearce was banner carried
by the eX-prisoners of war, on which
We're figures showing that more mer
died in two Southern prisons than wert
killed in the twelve great battles of the
war, and that the total loss of life ir
battle was not as great as the deaf,
rate in the Southern prisons. All told
there We're 1000 union men who met
death in prison or who died within q
few months after being relieved.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The association next took up tn.
election of officers. Before any nomi
nations We're made, a motion wa.
offered that the present officers be con
tinued for another year. and the motor
unanimously prevailed. The officer.
are Halsey Lathrop. president; T.. II
Ripple, secretary; c. l.. Mercereau
treasurer; George S. Brock, assistan
secretary.
Representatives to the Chicago en-
campment to be held next August wer,
elected as follows: Colonel Ripple
Major Parsons, Captain Pearce AM
Captain Simpson, delegates, and Com
rades Turner, Hager, Mercereau ant
Williams, alternates.
Rev. Dr. Logan spoke Of the move
ment to erect an arch over "Providenct
SPRING in Andersonville prison, anC
inquired as to how contributions should
be made. This is the spring that sud
denly and miraculously gushed fortf
from the root of a cedar tree when tn,
tree had been rent asunder by Dol
of lightning. 1t was a God-send il
every sense of the word, for the mer
We're suffering intensely from thirst
DR.. Logan said it was to his mind tn,
most remarkable and strikingly dem
onstrativc instance of the interference,
of God in a compassionate way that h,
knew of, and he wanted to make a con
tribution to the memorial arch as a,
act of devotion to God.
AT THE BANQUET.
When the business meeting was ad
| journed the members repaired forth
with to the banquet hall in the Con
| nell building, where they found await,
ing them bounteous dinner and T
large assemblage composed of theil
| wives and daughters and prominen
citizens who had been invited to b,
| their guests.
The dinner was prepared and served
| by tho NNnp,.o'e D,l;ar ,.,n.