Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1901-08-31
This Years Meeting Bigger Than Ever-A
COrker in Fact.
Preparations Already Under Way for Next Years Meet
ing-Several New Features in Prospect.


az the Twentieth Annual Interstate
Reunion, was opened by VIM. Blum
dell, the camp gunner, when he
fired two salutes early Monday
morning from the big cannon
which was captured at Pea Ridge
during the civil war. The loads
fired by Blundell from the big gun
were heavy ones and brought peo-
pie out of their tents like ants out
of their hill. There was loud and
prolonged cheering when the mul-
titudes realized that the real reun-
ion, the only reunion, was actually
opened. The campers arose when
the morning salutes were fired and
the old boys who wore the blue be-
gan to mix in the crowds hunting
old comrades and renewing &C.
quaintances. All Sunday night
people kept pouring into camp.
They came from all directions, in
all sorts of conveyances and by
daylight Monday morning the
camp had more people in it than
usually attended the gatherings
elsewhere.
The dust was knocked out during
the night by the big sprinkling
wagon from Galena, and the alb
sence of dust made everybody feel
good.
One thing in connection with this
first day: At breakfast time it was
an interesting sight to go down the
long rows of tents and see the old
comrades, their families and friends
putting away the good substantial
grub. We can readily see now why
the government was about two bill
lion dollars in debt when the war
of '6l to '65 was over. Why, If those
fellows ate as much when they
were young men as they do now. 1t
is wonder the debt was not three
billions.
The forenoon was spent in locat-
ing the various Grand Army Posts,
and there are scores of them, and
fixing out them who bon't belong
to the orga nization, but who fought
for the flag as well and as hard as
anybody.
After dinner the regular routine
of assignment to quarters wac gone
through with. all who had quarters
participating in this very import.
ant event.
In the evening there was an infor.
NAL camp fire in the amphitheatre,
several good talks being made.
This wac general free. .for.all talk.
ing match. but there waa much in.
tareat manifested and there were
recounted manv Incidents of the
vicissitudes of warfare in the ak.
ties.
The frat dav was enjoyable
throughout and satisfactory to ev-
exybody.
The second day of the big reun.
ion opened WIN iaIr weather aud
an immense crowd, larger than ever
tor the second uay. 1ne leinpcra-
ture was rather high, but there was
no dust in Camp Logan proper aud
consequently the discomfort was
not great. In the morning tie usu-
al old soldier routine was gone
through with, that 10, the firing OF
the morning salute. Then followed
the camp breakfast, and il was an
inspiring and comforting sight 10
see the hundreds OF camp hres on
which the morning meals were pre-
pared. The smell of the frying SOW
bosom and boiling java MADE ev-
erybody hungry, but everybody
seemed to be well supplied with
eatables and drinkables of HARM
less nature. Notwithstanding the
high price of food products of all
kinds, the people will eat and they
seem to be prepared to pay for II,
too.
At 10 o'clock the formal opening
of the big reunion took place, the
exercises being held in the huge
and comfortable amphitheatre.
Rev. Cullison invoked the bless
ing of Deity on the Assem- blage af.
ter which Vice President ]. ]. Frib.
ley delivered the address of vel.
come and turned the reunion and
it's command over to Col. L. c. Wei
dy, who will have charge the bal.
ance of the week. The president of
the association, Comrade John N.
Cooper, 10 III at his home on East
River street. and was unable to be
present.
All o'clock there was roll call by
states, and in this manner many
comrades met old friends that they
hadn't seen for years. The old boys
find much enjoyment in the roll
call gathering.
In the afternoon there was a camp
fire Ia the amphitheatre, which was
feeiingly addressed by Senator ]. r.
Burton, the silver-tongued orator of
Kansas, q speaker whom people
will travel as far to hear ae any
body of more than national Inn.
porfance. His remarks were vocif.
erously applauded and euthusiss-
tically received.