The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-05-31
BURIED IN FLOWERS
Graves of Dead Soldiers Lib
orally Decorated.
LONGS GREAT SPEECH
Audience Thrilled With Patri-
OtiC UtteranCeS.


IN this city yesterday. People generally
laid aside their work and turned out to
honor the nations dead heros who gave
their lives in defense Of the greatest
republic that has ever existed on this
earth. The one government based upon
the theory that all just governments de-
rive their powers from the consent Of the
citizens composing the republic. It was
and is a peoples government and the
citizen soldiers saved 1t in the hour Of
its extreme peril. The action of the peo-
pie Of this city yesterday showed that
they revere the memory Of the men who
performed this heroic duty.
In the early morning when the trees
stiH cast their long shadows across the
avenues Of the city people were every
where vending their way to the business
center Of the city with baskets Of choice
flowers, flowers carefully wrapped in
paper and boquets in their hands. loyal
people hurrying TO pay their homage TO
the heroic dead. They came from every
street, on foot and in vehicles. and the
motor cars were loaded to the last inch
people tnat presented a mixture Of joy
and sadness. the former the result OF the
knowledge that the republic still lives
and the latter stirred by the memory Of
the heroes departed. The living comrades
of that great army who are protesting
against making decoration day a carnival,
wiz not need to make the protest in this
city, # the spirit Of yesterday is to guide
IN the future
The solemn scene in the forenoon was
at the cemetery. There was a great
crowd there and there would have been
hundreds more if the street cars could
have taken all who desired to go. The
old soldiers and the auxiliary women's
organizations filed all the morning cars
and the people kept filing the cars long
after the ceremonies at the cemetery
were concluded. They had made up their
minds to assist in the decoration of the
soldiers graves and they were going to
20 L they did not get there until night
fall
The first thing Of interest at the ceme-
terry was the dedication OF the splendid
pavilion erected by the Women's Relief
Corps, Governor Stanley and Garfield
post. There was great crowd surround
ing the pavilion and company a, of the
Kansas National Guards. under Captain
Il. Koeneze. and Battery A. under COM
mand of George D. Downing, were there
to fire the military salute and to assist
in the ceremonies; and wen they per-
formed Uneir part. 1t was q proud day for
the Women's Relief Corps. when they
looked upon the beautiful pavilion on
which they had expended so much work.
Otto Eckstein. IN q few wen chosen re-
marks presented the pavilion to Gov
ernor stanley TIe told of the time the
ladies had spent in securing the funds
to complete the work and complimented
them for their devotion in a good cause
Governor Stanley's remarks We're short.
but he reached the hearts of the crowd
Of people in his splendid tribute to the
women of the dark days of the rebellion
by declaring that they were the true heros
of the war He painted the stirring scene
Of the commencement of the conflict when
men urged on by patriotic speeches and
sound Of drum as well as by the hatred
engendered by the agitation Of the ques-
tion which caused the war, they rushed
into battle. but the women saw through
their tears the insult to the flag of their
country and they knew it would be
ing factions and they sent their loved
ones to the front, knowing that they
would never return TO them no human
beings had ever sacrificed more on the
altar of their country than these noble
women.
The graves Of the dead soldiers were
covered with flowers and people deco
rated the last resting place Of their loved
ones who were not soldiers. The boys
who wore the eray We're there with the
men with whom they fought They dec
GRATED the graves Of their former enemies
the hatred of the conflict having been
washed away by a common patriotism
and love Of q common country The ox-
Confederates did not have many dead
I'm the cemetery. bur there were o few.
There was the grave of J. r. Bennett who
when q mere boy. had carried dispatches
fn the confederate army OF Texas. There
is an evergreen tree marking the head
of his grave. The ella veterans of the
Union army came along and saw it ard
dropped a flower on the lonely grave
and the Confederatcs put down whole
handful when presently the grave was
covered with flowers from head to foot.
After the graves were decorate people
staid and walked around To sea the
graves and they kept coming until late
in the day. The cid soldiers and The yvo-
men belonging 70 the soldier societies
hurried home to take part in the parade
I'M the afternoon. The time set for the
parade in the city was D. 1n but fl
was q half hour later than that when
Marshal Apphug at the head ~ the
column. marched from First street futo
Main He was followed by the Kansas
National Guard with their clean uniforms
and military bearns. Then came 1Ee-
Naughten's drum corps with the music
that stirs the souls of The cid soldiers 4
followed by Garfield and Eegleston posts +
of the Grand Army 0f the Republic The
old boys stepped with the steady tread
Of men who had started TO SO somewhere /
The Women's Ben5f Corps came next
with their new aass and smilin- faces
followed bF the Uniform Rank on The X.
Of p Whose sTlend5j uniforms save q
pleasing e6ect 70 the line The sons 81
Veterans came neXt. followed lr the
Ladies Aid Society Onion Veteran v-a-
men and the Ladies ~ the e. A r io
the order named. ana they made q e.s
appearance Win their banners ana hr7eht 4
new fags- Eeeieston post came nerta-5
the ex-Confederates prece5ed the Union
Veteran Union. who brought 50 The rear I
II was an imposing parade ana hundreds /
IF people lined the streets u see 81 and
give word Of cheer to TIE Ga soldiers.
Thee rowd fled into the Auditoriam f
untl every inch az space was dle5 i1
the immense building. Even standing
room in The galleries was nct n Pc found
when presiding Oficer J. n. Knapp oaned
-.r OH IL. 49,. ~. =. ---..-.--.--