The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-01
WILL SPEND $4,000.
Memphis Reunion Arrangements on
Gorgeous Plan.

MemphAs Reunion Arrangements ON
Gorgeous Plan.
From all accounts there will be plenty
of money in Memphis next month to
make the reunion of United Confederate
Veterans one of the most complete and
notable in the history of these gatherings.
1t is stated that $4,000 will be at the dis
posal of the Executive Committee.
When the question of having the reun-
ion at Memphis was agitated, a finance
committee was appointed for the purpose
of raising necessary expenses. and al
though only $4,000 was at the onset
asked for. the merchants and business
men in general responded by handing the
gross sum of $4,000 to Chairman Pickett
of the committee and demanded that this
reunion be made the largest and most sat-
isfactory one ever held in the South At
recent meeting Chairman Pickett prom
ised an additional $4,000, which will place
at the disposal of the Executive Commit
tee the sum of $4,000 The General Ex-
ecutive Committee. consisting of the most
representative men in the district, rapid
ly appointed subcommittee and in meet
ings characterized by growing enthusiasm
extended their plans to such an extent
that now the original expense fund has
not only been trebled but preparations
are in near completion to receive an es-
timated influx of visitors amounting to
the number of 100000. AS the laet CEN
sus gave Memphis a population of 102,-
800 this will double the number of in
habitants during the week of the re-
union.
over 10000 old veterans will be accom-
mcdated free of cost. An enormous COM
missary building will be erected on the
high bluffs overlooking the Mississippi
river, and the plans for the additional
erection of mammoth state headduar-
tiers have been submitted. Handsome
headquarters for the Reunion Commit
tees have been located. An enormous
street Flower Parade, always the most
attractive feature of any momentous
gathering, has been arranged. 1t will be
a mile in length. The location of the city
On the Mississippi river immedi lately sug
gested the fact that a naval battle
could easily be arranged, and this Will
also be a part of the many amusement
features. The presence of the United
States warship Bancroft, which has been
ordered to Memphis by Secretary of War
Long. will lend substantial interest to
this part of the entertainment. and with
the additional provision of grand fire.
works display there will be a magnificent
opportunity to enjoy these warlike spec
tacles from the extensive levee and high
bluffs along the city front, which are
easily capable, of accommodating over
100000 specta tors.
The last day of the reunion will be
known as Forrest Day." and the exer-
cises occurring on that date will be dedi-
Gated to the memory of Tennessee's fam
Gus calvary hero, Lieut.. Gen. Nathan
Bedford Forrest. Whole regiments are
in active preparations to attend the re-
union, and letters are now arriving hourly
from detachments of veterans from ali
over the South, telling of their plans to
march on this city in body and inquir-
ing after accommodations. The Informa-
ton Committee, four hundred strong, has
canvassed the entire city twice in order
to ascertain the number of rooms and
sleeping apartments that can be obtained
for the coming thousands, and reports sat
sfactory progress.
Unlike other reunions, this one is yelled
in a spirit of romance especially appaI-
ent. For on the spot where they fought
and bled thousands are coming together
again, to meet on familiar ground Boat
excursions will be arranged to Fort Pick
ering and Fort Pillow, so that gray heads
which are nodding at each other now in
eager anticipation will be enabled to
stand on the historic spots side by side
where comrades of a decade ago left to
journey far beyond them.
The womans work will be seen at every
hand in the reunion. The Daughters of
the Confederacy here have located their
headquarters, which will afford
spacious resting place and
general information bureau for over
1900 visitors for the fair sex. The num-
Der of maids of honor and sponsors will
be gratifyingly large, as the generous
policy heretofore pursued in their ap-
pointments will prevail in the Memphis
reunion with additional engagements. In
the grand reunion ball these ladies will
participate in the picturesque Southern
Cross procession, dressed in appropriate
costume
The local police department under
Chief of Police Jerome Richards will be
enlarged by extra squads of blue coats
and detectives from various Southern
cities, thus affording ample protection for
the masses or the unsophisticated.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans As
ISOLATION has signifed its decision to at
n a h0dV