The Florida star., 1901-04-26
CONFEDERATE REUNION At MEMPHIS


Special Correspondence of The Florida Star
MEMPHIS. April 22.-If the reunion OF
Confederate Veterans to be held here
on May %. % and 80 is not the most
successful OF all the gatherings of the
soldiers who fought under the stars
and bars. 1t will be no fault OF the peo-
pie OF the city Of Memphis. who are now
enthusiastically and unitedly bending
every energy In the direction of pro-
Vidlng conditions most conducive To the
comfort and delight OF their coming
guests. or these guests there promise
70 De more than a hundred thousand.
and ample provision seems to have
been made for the housing and feeding
or this great multitude and even more.
Speaking Of things to eat. II may be
noted that the commlssary department
II daily In receipt OF communications
from prominent planters In several
states Offering TO donate for the provi-
siOnlng OF the veterans fatted calves.
lambs, hogs. chickens and all that goes
to make up feast such as can only be
afforded In Dixieland, Even country
merchants have asked TO be allowed 10
contribute 10 the commlssary depart
ment, which. In the hands of able or.
ganizers. Is rapidly approaching the
completion or its task i'm securing that
most essential part OF any entertain
ment. food ard drink AS a member OF
that committee recently stated. There
will be enough and plenty for all. and
IL will be OF the very best"
Something rather unique In the way
or providing for guests will be steam
boat hotels" The mayor has received
letters from several OF the largest
steamboat lines plying on the Missis-
slppl Offering to bring their boats TO
Memphis during the reunion. These
boats Will be anchored along the levee
and In the river and will afford admira-
bic sleeping quarters for hundreds OF
visitors. The boats are all lighted by
electricity and can be made TO COM
fortably accommodate large number
OF the reunion spectators. They will
be cool. well ventilated and will offer
an attractive-Fefuge by reason OF their
novelty. This arrangement. I'm addl-
tion to the Increased facilities OF the
regular hotels and the accommodations
offered by hundreds OF private fam
lilies, promises to furnish comfortable
shelter for all who come to Memphis
on this occasion.
The Reunion hall. which Is now ap-
preaching completion. will be the lar
gest ever erected for this purpose. 1t
will have a seating capacity OF 27.OOO
people and will contain state head
quarters for Arkansas. Tennessee. LOU
islana. Kentucky. Missouri. North Car
Ollna. South Carolina. Virginia. West
Virginia, Florida. Alabama. Texas and
Mississippi.
In addition to this there will be head
quarters for the Sons OF Confederate
Veterans. These headquarters. to-
gether with the main entrance. will
occupy the entire front OF the building.
In the space at each end OF IL and un-
der the seats. which will have a height
OF II feet and will be In the nature OF
a long hall. cots will be placed. and
1900 veterans or visitors may be thus
accommodated In light. airy. well ven
tilated. comfortable quarters. The d.
mensiOns OF the building are 400 by
200 feet. the height from floor to dome
being so feet. The main entrance is
80 feet by so feet. The whole struc-
ture Is surrounded by a semicircular
truss roof. with 100 foot span, which
will be covered with a heavy quality
OF felt.
The main hall, which Will be used
for the sessions OF the reunion, recep-
tions and dances. Is l60 by l65 feet.
This can be cleared OF chairs In a
short space or time and will make one
or the largest dancing floors in the
south.
Facing the reunion hall. on the west
ern entrance 10 Court square, viii be
the Court or Honor. Here will be
erected a magnificent arch OF triumph
In truss form. on either side or which
will be two immense pylons. each sur
mounted by burning urns. Significant
OF the funeral pyres erected TO the
memory or the nations dead. The arch
will span Main street and will resolve
into a lofty column. starting from It's
center aud apexed with figure OF the
American eagle in heroic size. Lead
ing 10 the Court OF Honor from diner
a