The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-05-15
THE GREATEST REUNION.
Opening Exercises Attract Largest
Gathering Ever Under One Roof
in Columbia.
HAMPTON and GORDON SPEAK.
More Than 5000 Veterans and
Other Visitors in the City.


Columbia, May 9.-The greatest
crowd of people that has ever gather
ed under one roof in the city OF Co
lumbia, the capital of the Palmetto
State, the cradle of the Confederacy,
was assembled last night in the new
Columbia theatre to witness the open
ing of the State convention of the
United Confederate veterans. The
gathering was notable one. In the
lower part of the house there were
none save veterans. Some were minus
a leg, some an arm, some an eye, and
others bore scars of wounds received
in battling for the Lost Cause. Not
only every seat in the dress circle and
parquet had veteran for an occu-
pant, but all of the standing room
even down the center aisle and inside
the orchestra was packed with them.
In the boxes were still other veterans
and the few devoted women of the
Confederacy.
In the balcony there were hundreds
of men, women and children. The
gallery carried an even heavier load.
Tt is estimated that at least 1900 per-
sons were in the theatre, not taking
into consideration the 200 or 800 upon
the stage The house was brilliantly
lighted throughout with electricity
and the attractive decorations added
to the color of the scene. Outside OF
the doors extending into the street
were many people who, after bat
Ting for some time to obtain entrance,
were forced to abandon the effort and
go to their homes.
When the orchestra played Dixie, y
camp banners and sponsor banners
were continuously waved, and enthu-
siasm at times ran mountain high.
Time and again the hands of the old
soldiers would be waved, and often
hats were in the air. The singing of
the doxology by the remnants Of the
proud army of the Confederacy, each
man standing, was impressive. 1t is
seldom that the doxology is sung with
more effect and feeling.
When Wade Hampton, the grand old
hero, appeared upon the stage there
was a remarkable demonstration.
When ne spoke there was another,
and the climax was reached when Gen.
John B. Gordon, commanding the gen
eral organization of Confederate veter-
ans, paid tribute to Wade Hampton
which was of character seldom given
by any man to another.
The other most distinctive feature
of the evening was the address of wei
come to Georgians by Miss Elizabeth
Lumpkin. This was one of the most
remarkable efforts ever made by a
woman in this city. This young wom-
an managed to quiet the vast gather
ing with her unusually strong, clear
and sweet voice, and her every action
and gesture, her every expression
was perfect. When she finally opened
her arms and vehemently declared to
the old veterans, " I love you, the de-
monstration was without bounds.
This devoted daughter of the Confed-
eracy not only did the duty assigned
her wondrously well, but she has
made for herself reputation that
nothing can take away. When she
concluded. Gen. Gordon and the other
notable men around her left their seats
and one after another grasped her
hand and congratulated her, while the
veterans themselves cheered SO con-
tinuously that she was several times
forced to bow to them her appreciation
of the compliment.
Long before the convention hour
had arrived the soldiers and specta-
tors had been pouring into the build
ing. At 8 O'Clock it was almost i'm
possible to get into the lobby. The
veterans were provided for by those
in charge, and none but veterans were
admitted to the lower part of the
house, a detail from Camp Hampton
guarding the door.
WHAT HAMPTON SAID.
Gen. Hampton stood for few mo-