Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-29
HEROES OF 81.
Grand Parade Of 10000 Vet
Grams at Chicago.
For a Hours and 20 Minutes Parade
Passed Reviewing Stand.
Sad Death Of Michigan Man Who Dropped
Dead in Parade.

! Chicago, Aug Z8.-For four hours ana
| q half, today, the thinning ranks of tn.
| Grand Army Of the Republic passed il
review before their leaders and before
probably 1000, 900 spectators, who were
packed in almost solid masses along
| the four miles of the line of parade
! The parade marked the climax of the
| 34th annual encampment of the Asso-
cation OF Veterans and was, according
| to COMMUNICATIVE Shaw. the
greatest parade since that day in
Washington when the hundreds of
lthouands of veterans, the most powerful
! army on earth. marched in review To
their final disbandment
Probably 100 member Of thes army
of veterans took part in the parade.
For exactly four hours and twenty
minutes. most Of the time with ranks
almots perfectly straight, but occasion
ally faltering under the burden Of
years, they filed past the reviewing
tasnd on Michigan avenue. saiutlng as
they marched by General Nelson A.
Miles, commandment in Chief Shaw, Cen
eral Daniel +. Sickles and the Spanih
sminister, Duke D'Arcos
Weather conditions were almost ideal
for the parade, wearisome 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, but notwith-
standing this, here and there a veteran
dropped out of the ranks
One especially sad incident occurred
70 mar in degree the grandeur Of the
parade, Charles Beckwith Of Algon-
sea, Mich. dropping dead as the line
was filing past the corner Of Michigan
avenue and Madison street. The pa
rade was halted for moment, the body
his last call was tenderly removed and
his comrades passed on.
II was shortly before 1870 A. M.
when the head Of the column started
from the corner of Michian avenue and
Randolph street. and an hour later K
was filing past the reviewing stand.
For hours before that time. the side
walks along the line of march We're
packed from curb to wall. the win
dOWs Of the immense office buildings
were filled with sightseers and especial
ly along Michigan avenue. where were
erected the beautiful columns and
arches forming the court of honor.
The marching column was headed by
a detchment of the city police under
the command of Lieut.. Flynn. which
in battalion formation swept the street
from curb to curb. Behind them came
band Of 70 pieces and then chief
Marshal ]. II. Wood with his immedi-
ate stan. A regiment of assistant mar
shals and aides came Gathering on.
and then. behind the great band OF tn
md Infantry of the Illinois National
Guard, came Commander in Chief
Shaw and the men of his staff com
prising Adjutant General Stewart.
Cluartcrmaster Gen. Atkinson. In
sp"ctor Gen. Cummings. Judge Advo-
cate General Torrance and Chief Of
Staff Winans.
Ahead of the carriages containing Act
ing Gov. Warder, who supplied the
place of Gov. Tanner. Mayor Harri-
son and Executive Director Harper.
who with Communicating Chief Shaw
occupied the reviewing stand during
the parade, marched Lafayette Post.
No. 40 Of New York City. commanded
by Allen c. Blackwell Cheer after
~.'~N' "'tt up tH NffH lpdilltl T..
Sickles. accompanied by his aides. rode
past the reviewing stand. All along the
line Of march the general had been
given most iattering greeting. but
the warmth Of the reception that met
him as he approached the stand where
commander Shaw was awaiting to re-
ceive his salute, caused him to flush
with pleasure and TO bow his acknowl-
edgement again and again.
Twelve heralds in costume. each
bearing long trumpet. came down
the avenue announcing the approach
OF the pageant of patriotism which fol-
lowed closely behind them. Fifty
members of Columbia Post of Chicago.
formed hollow square in the center
of which We're 50 battle flags carried bv
New York regiments during the war.
The spectacle of the worn and latter
ed flags were greeted at times with
cheers and at times with deep silence.
more expressive than applause could
ever be. A long, line Of carriages fol-
lowed the battle flags. each containing
ladies who are officials of the various
organizations which are affiliated with
the Grand Army
Wisconsin was given the right Of
line. As rank after rank of the OLD
soldiers wheeled into line. the specta-
tors cheered with enthusiasm. They
theered, waved their hats and cheered
again until they could cheer no more
Then they stood with barred heads as
the veterans with steps more haltir4
than of old, but with hearts as biei,
as ever, passed on to make the pa
rade of 1900 what they had made many
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