Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-30
VETERANS PARADE,
Yesterday Given to the Heroes Of
the Sea During the Civil War.
The BIG NAVAL ARCH DEDICATED.


what Disappointing Banquet Of the
Iron Brigsds-Ez-Priso Of War
Hold Meeting.
Chicago, Aug. 2S.-The thirty-fourth
annual encampment of the Grand
Army of the Republic, which was for
mally opened Sunday night by the
monster meeting in the Coliseum, was
in full blast yesterday and in all
respects it promises to be the greatest
and most successful encampment the
army has ever held. All Sunday
night and all Of yesterday train
after train loaded down with vet
Grams 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.
The first day Of the encampment
was one Of ideal beauty, in marked
contrast to the hot and humid weeks
that have proceed 1t since the LIST of
August. There was in the early por-
ton of the day 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 veterans who claimed the
day as theirs. The right of the line
on the opening day was given to the
men who sailed the seas during the
civil war. The cheering yesterday
was all for them and all the honors
were theirs. The army will come to
its own to-day.
The heroes of river and sea of the
civil war are small band now. OF the
1872 900 men enlisted in the navy in the
early days of the war less than 1000
marched yesterday, and it is agreed
by the old sailors that their number
was greater in the march yesterday
than it will ever be in any parade to
come.
Preceding the naval parade the big
naval arch, erected at Michigan ave
nue. and Hubbard court, near the
John A. Logan monument, and mark
ing the south end of the court of
honor was dedicated.
The late afternoon feature of the
days celebration, the naval parade
on Lake Michigan, proved somewhat
of disappointment, weather condi-
tions interfering sadly with the ar
engagements. Besides the revenue cut
tiers Morrill, and Fessenden and fleet
of excursion steamers, it had been
planned to have the large fleet of the
Chicago Yacht club included in the
parade from the Lake Front park
off jackson boulevard to Lake Michi-
gan, where the naval battle took
place, bur the breeze Of the morning
died away and hardly breath Of air
was stirring during the afternoon
so this part OF the programme
was necessarily abandoned. The
fleet arrived off Lincoln park about
1870 p. M, and then, in sight of tens
of thousands of spectators gathered
along the sea wall of the park, the
revenue cutters, with their blueiack-
eted crews working the rapid-hre guns
of the two vessels, went through
some beautiful manoeuvreing in the
sham fight for supremacy. The evolu-
tions, exemplifying the workings OF
two fighting ships in battle, lasted for
a half hour and at their conclusion
the fleet slowly steamed back to the
harbor.
The end of the naval fight off Lin
coin park closed the official pro-.
gramme of the encampment for the
day, but all over the city in various
halls and in all the hotels there were
reunions of regiments almost with
out number, gatherings of comrades
who had not met since the days of
the war and fraternal gatherings of
all sorts and descriptions. One of the
leading affairs of the night was the
banquet of the Iron brigade. which
was held at the clubhouse of the Chi
cage Athletic club.
A meeting of the National Associa-
ton of Ex-Prisoners of War was held
in the Coliseum last night which drew
a large crowd, an attractive pro-
gramme being rendered. The address
of welcome was delivered by Mayor
Harrison. Speeches were also made
by Gov. William A. Stone, of Penn
sylyania, United States Senator PEN
rose, of Pennsylvania, and Gen. John
c. Black, of Chicago.
While the old prisoners of war were
renewing old friendships at the Coli
scum and the survivors of the Iron
brigade were holding forth at the
Athletic club, the naval veterans who
had been given the honors of the day
We're having dog watch of their own
in the Auditorium of the Y. M. C. A.
building.
A reunion Of the veterans by states
will be held to-day, this being fea-
ture Of the encampment which never
has been attempted before. There
will be 20 Of these state reunions. The
programme to-day includes the great
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