The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-16
CAMPFIRE FOR VETERANS

Last night all the Grand Army vet
| Grams and visiting guests who re-
mained in the city We're entertained at
| the rooms of Ezra Griffin post, by IL
rousing, enthusiastic camp fire rccep.
tion. The handsomely decorated
| rooms were thronged with local SOL
diers of the Rebellion, sons of veter-
ans, Spanish American war veterans
and guests from Wilkes Barre. Mich
olson, Carbonda1e, and other surround
| ing places.
Numerous ladies were also present
| from the various auXiliares TO tho
Grand Army Of the Republic, and it
was TO these members Of the WomenS S
Re lief, Ladies' Aid, and other organic
ations of the fair sex that the male
portion of the audience rendered their
thanks for the generous banquet
which was served. at the close of tn,
entertainment. The gathering was
most fraternal in spirit. Side by side
in the audience sat the silver-haired
soldier of the Army of the Potomac
and the tanned youth who saw service
in the Spanish war.
Here sat man distinguished in
every walk of life. wearing the same
cherished little button as the kindly
faced old negro soldier at his side.
| with whom he was chatting of the
days gone by. All over the big room
| lowered the spirit OF IS, which was
| evidenced in the applause which
greeted every patriotic utterance from
| the platform, and which was made
more than evident in the deep-voiced
| chorus which every now and anon
| chanted the strains of the mighty Bat
| tie Hymn OF the Republic, America"
or the Star Srangled Banner"
$. Il. MOTT PRESIDED.
On the platform sat S. B. Mott, of
| F;zrt Griffin post. who was in charge
of the evenings exercises, and close
! by him were seated Hon. Alfred
Darte. of Wilkes Barre, and Hon.
| Thomas Sample. of Allegheny, while
Comrade Fl. ii. Tyler, of Binghamton.
| and other Grand Army of the Repub-
| lie men, We're also ON the rostrum.
| \ short address by Chairman Mott
opened the campfire, and then led by
| Comrade Tyler, all present united in
! singing with heart and soul, Amer
| ica." Some of the voices which made
up the chorus may have been 4 little
| tremulous with age, and little shaken
| by the agitation and hardship through
| which their poSsessors had gone, but
| the effect produced was grand one.
and the chorur given with a beautiful
honesty and sincerity.
Hon. Alfred Darte was introduced
to the audience as past department
| commander of the state and gave a
| short address, in which he referred
briefly to the general purposes OF the
| Grand Army of the Republic and the
| beneficial results which always arise
from a reunion of the veteran SOL
diers.
After the singing of 'rhe Old Camp
Ground by the audience, led by Com
rade Tyler. Thomas G. Sample, of AL
legheny, another past department COM
mander, was introduced and in a
speech fairly teeming with anecdotes
and short witty sallies, he gave sew
erul personal recollections of the mo-
mentous days of the rebellion. He
told of the effect produced upon him
self by the declaration of war, and
how he left the life of an indentured
apprentice and enlisted In the army
He gave descriptions of various cele-
brated characters of that great period
in American history and described
President Lincoln and Generals Grant
and sherman, as they appeared to him
in way which was fascinating, to
say the least.
He gave brief analysis of the mo-
tives and aims of the G.. \, r. and
throughout his address kept his audi
ence in the greatest good humor.
WAS IN THE NAVY.
The Battle Hymn OF the Republic
was then chanted, and as the last tones
of this inspiring song died aw
Chairman Mott called for another
speaker, and, singing out Henry Hard
ing, esq, of Tunkhannock. beckoned
him to the platform. Attorney Hard
ing Is, unlike most of the veterans
present, one of the survivors of tht
navy.
He referred to this and paid touch,
ing tribute to those of his comrade.
who were never able to participate
in these happy reunions, and Whose
graves are not yearly visited by lovins
throngs on Decoration day, but whC
found watery resting place in al
|