Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-08-28
FORTY THOUSAND
VETERANS Of THE WAR
PRESENT AT THE FORTY-FOURTH
ANNUAL ENCAMPMENT AT
CHICAGO.
HUNDREDS OF UsAND
OF VISITORS ATTRACTED TO THE
CITY BY THE LAKE.
The First Day of the Great Gather
ing One of Ideal Beauty-An Out
line of the Events of the Day and
Evening To-dayss Parade VIII
BE Notable One.

BE Notable One.
CHICAGO, August 27.-The thirty
fourth annual Encampment of the q.
A. r., which was formally opened last
night by the monster meeting in the
Coliseum, was in full blast to-day, and
in all respects it promises to be the
greatest and most successful encamp
ment the army has ever held. All last
night and all of to-day, train after
train loaded down with veterans and
their friends rolled into the various
depots in the city, and by evening it
was estimated by railroad officials that
fully $4,000 old soldiers had arrived
and that 100000 other excursionists
had come with them. 1t is expected
that there will be $4,000 additional ar
rivals by tomorrow morning. The
veterans have come from all parts of
the republic, and every Northern State
has sent a strong contingent. The
New York delegation is one of the
largest the Empire State has ever sent
to an annual encampment. Fully 1000
of them had come in by this morning
and every train from the east brings
more of them. New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania and the New England States
are all represented by large numbers
of old soldiers. Iowa, Ohio, Indiana
and Wisconsin have sent larger num-
bers than to any encampment OF re-
cent years Gen. J. Warren Keifer, of
Ohio and Gen. Edward S. Bragg, Of
wisconsin, both said this afternoon
they looked to see tomorrow the
greatest number Of old soldiers that
had marched at one time before the
stars and stripes since the memorable
review in Washington at the close of
the war
The first day of the Encampment
was one of ideal beauty, in marked
contrast to the hot and humid weeks
that have preceded it since the first Of
August. There was in the early por-
ton of the day a fresh breeze off Lake
Michigan, tempering the heat of the
sun, which shone brightly but not too
warmly to make marching a burden
for the old salts who claimed the day
as theirs. The right of line on the
opening day was given to the men who
sailed the seas during the civil war;
the cheering to-day was all for them
and all the honors were theirs. The
army will come to its own tomorrow.
The heroes of the river and sea of the
civil war are small band now Out of
1872, 900 men enlisted in the navy in the
early days of the war, less than 1000
marched to-day. Yet 1t is agreed by
the old sailors that their number was
greater in the march to-day than it will
ever be in any parade to come.
Beside the men who fought af1oat
from 81 TO IS, came the younger gen.
GRAFTON, who helped to smash Montejos
! fleet in Manila Bay, and made glorious
history when Cervera sailed out of San
tiago harbor to overwhelming defeat
With the veterans of the navy marched
a band of men whose lot during the
war comprised the worst of hardships
7but none the less was as full of glory
as the career Of the bravest fighters of
them ali. These We're the members of
The Association of ex-PrisonerS Of War,
who received an enthusiastic greeting
as they marched along.
The parade, which was but a prelude
to the great march of the Grand Army
tomorrow, started at II O'Clock from
the corner of Michigan avenue and
Randolph street. and after a short
march through The downtown streets
turned into Michigan avenue at Jack
son boulevard and passed on south I'M
der the beautiful army arch at Van
Buren, street, through the court of hon
or and out under the naval arch at the
corner of Michigan avenue and Hub
bard street, where II passed in revieS
before Commander-in-Chief Shaw. of
the G. A. r., Acting Governor Warder
representing Governor Tanner; Mayor
Harrison, Commander Jones, of the
Sons of Veterans. and Commander At
well, OF the Ex-PrisonArs of War.
The late afternoon feature of the
days celebration, the naval parade on
Lake Michigan, proved somewhat of
disappointment, conditions interfering
sadly with the arrangements. The
feet arrived off Lincoln Park about
4:30 p. m, and then in sight of ten
thousands of spectators gathered along
the sea wall of the park. the revenue
cutters with their blue iacketed
crews, working the rapid fire guns OF
the two vessels, through some beau
tiful manoeuvreing in the sham fight
for supremacy.
The evolutions eXemplyfying the
workings of the two fighting ships in
battle lasted for a half hour and at
their conclusion the fleet slowly steam
ed back to the harbor
The end of the naval fight off Lin
coin Park closed the official programme
of the encampment of the day, but all
over the city invarious halls and in all
the hotels there were reunions Of regi-
nients almost withou number, gather
ings of comrades who had not met since
the days of the war, and fraternal
gatherings of all sorts and descrip-
lions. One of the leading affairs OF the
night was the banquet of the Iron bril-
gade, which was held at the club house
of the Athletic Club at $50