The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-08-26
ENCANPAENI IS ON
Twenty Thousand Veterans
and Friends
ALREADY ON THE GROUND
Preliminary Exercises ReIig-
ious Services Today.

Chicago, Aug 25.-The national encamp-
ment of the Grand Army of the Republic
was opened tonight by the dedication of
the Coliseum, in which all the joint camp
fires. the reunions, the war song concerts
for the veterans and the religious and
other exercises for the public at the en-
campment will be held. The Coliseum
stands on Wabash avenue between Four
teenth and Sixteenth streets, and within
its walls tonight were gathered 10000
people, A chorus of 1000 costumed to
represent living flag, occupied an i'm
mense platform at one end of the build
ing, and close by them was the great
band of 100 pieces that will render the
concerts during the coming week OF the
encampment. Jules Lombard, a famous
singer of war tunes, was there, and sang
"Star-Spangled Banner from the origin
al manuscript. The dedicatory exercises
proper comprised an address by Frank
Q. Lowden of Chicago, a response by
Mayor Harrison and addresse< ny other
local speakers.
The members of the Grand Army and
their friends have been pouring into the
city all day long on regular trains and
ninumerable specials from all parts of
the country. It is estimated that 20 900
of them arrived today and many more
are expected to arrive tomorrow and
Monday. The chief arrival today was
that Of the Spanish Minister, the Duke
De ARGOS, with the Countess De ARGOS.
They were met at the Lake Shore depot
by a commtte representing the Grand
Army and another representing the city
of Chicago. and escorted to the Audi
forum Annex, where apartments had
been reserved for them. The escort on
the way from the depot to the hall was
headed by the Denver fife and drum
corps. General Daniel E. Sickles arrived
tonight.
TIE program for the religious exercises
which are to be held in the Auditorium
tomorrow has been arranged as follows:
The principal address will be by Com
mander-in-Chief Albert n. Shaw, of the
G. A. R. He will talk on TRUE Patriot
ism" Bishop Fallows will deliver the
address Of greeting, it being preceded by
the Lords Prayer, by Rev. DIR. f. w.
GUnsaulus. Rev. DR.. P. D. Severing will
conduct the responsive reading. Rev. Dr.
e. G. Hirseh will deliver an address on
patriotic and religious lines. and the final
speaker on the program will be Rev. DR..
Thomas C. Corwin Tiff of Salt Lake City
An elaborate musical program will also
be rendered. The afternoon services at
the Coliseum will be for children and will
include addresses by commandments
Shaw, Bishop Fallows and Rev. B. w.
Arnett, of Wherefore, Ohio
The court of honor on Michigan avenue
built in honor of the Grand Army, was
Illuminated tonight for the first time,
and although on a smaller scale, it sur
passes anything seen here since the
Worlds Fair. At Van Buren, street, on
the north, and Elbridge Court. on the
south half. a mile from Van Buren,
street, stand great arches, that at Van
Buren, street being in honor of the army.
the other in honor of the navy. Between
the two arches are placed on both sides
of the street. at intervals Of twenty feet,
pillars of white, surmounted by a ball.
Upon the front of each pillar is a shield.
around the edges of which are electric
lights. Diagonal lines of lights also cross
each shield, and the whole effect. com
bined with the tasteful arrangement Of
lights upon the arches. made the scene
tonight of great beauty. The streets in
the enighborhood were so damned tonight
by thousands Of spectators as to be al
most impossible.