The Washington times., 1902-09-12
10000 Veterans, 1t Is Estl-
mated, Will March in
Big Parade.
COL. BLAkEMAN's FIGURES
Believes Cleveland Records of Last Year
Will Be Far Surpassed by Washing
ton Crowds-Many Important Mat
tiers Come Before Committees.

That there will not be less than 10000
veterans of the Grand Army in line on
the day of the review and it will take
at least seven hours for them to pass q
given point. is the belief OF Col. A
Noel Brakeman, chief of staff TO Gen.
eral Torrance and grand marshal of the
encampment parade of the G. A. R. tc
be held in this city on Wednesday, Oc-
tober 8. Colonel Brakeman was at frs
reluctant to give any figures, as he
states that II is almost impossible tc
accurately gauge the attendance of vet
Grams at this early date, but he is con-
fdent that there will be as many in
line as marched to the familiar army
airs in Cleveland last year. There they
had 10000 men.
Colonel Brakeman was busily engaged
yesterday in completing many minor
details of the parade and going over
the ground SO as to familiarize him
self with the situation. His parade or
der has already been placed in the
hands of the adjutant general of the
organization, Gen. Silas H fowler, and
it will probably be issued within the
next few days. This order provides for
the formation of the line in four fours.
or sixteen abreast. With this forma- l.
tion it is estimated that by keeping
the column moving without interrupt
tion, 5000 men can pass a given point
in an hour. 1t is upon this basis that
he believes that the parade will take at
least seven hours to pass.
Expect 100000 Visitors.
Figuring upon six civilians to one
veteran, which ratio has been adopted
as the most probable one by a number
of the most prominent railroad men in
the city. including Mr.. W. S. Bronson,
assistant genel al passenger agent of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, there
will be at the least calculation 2sO0O0
visitors in Washington during the en-
camrment. On the other hand, it is
stated that there are always many vet
Grams in the city at such times who,
through disabilities, are unable to
march. These veterans, 1t is said, will
usually number from 25 to so per cent
of those who march. Taking the low
est estimate, ii would place the total
attendance OF veterans at the coming
encampment at $4,000, and the grand
total of visitors at 350.e00.
Beyond the figures given above, Col
onei Blakeman.is unwilling to be quoted
He states that he is even unable TO
estimate the number of veterans who
will come from New York, his State.
In a conversation the other day, Colosel
Brakeman was informed by the depart
ment commander that he as yet had no
figures on which to base an estimate
of the attendance from his department.
Colonel Brakeman, however, is confident
that there will be as many veterans
from New York ss from Ohio. The
largest attendance will be from Penn
= =
On the completion of his duties here
Colonel Brakeman will return to his
home in New York, there to remain
nntil the latter part of September. He
will then return to Washington to take
personal charge of the affairs, and re-
main until after the encampment is
over.
10000 to Come From Ohio.
Mr.. d. S. Wilder, chief of staff of
the Department of Ohio, member of
Wells Post No. 451, of Columbus, and
division passenger agent of tie Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad. was in the
city yesterday closing contract with
McCauley's stables for twenty-five sad
die horses for Department Commander
Wilton Hebber and his staff Mr.
Wilder stated that he has good reason
to believe that there will be 5000 vet
Grams from Ohio, and that the number of
civilians will exceed $4,000 people
A special train bearing the depart
ment commander and his staff will leave
Columbus Sunday, October 5, at 1870
o'clock in the afternoon, accompanied
by the following escort: Wells Post
No. 451, of Columbus. with 75 men; Nc
Coy Post. of Columbus. with $50 men;
the Grand Army of the Republic Drill
Corps. composed of So old veterans
armed and equipped. with
drum corps of six additional men; Mitch
ell Post, of Springfield, with 125 men;
the Old Guard Post, of Dayton, with
$50 men, and military band of 26
pieces.
day coaches and three fourteen section
sleepers. There will be no baggage
cars, all luggage being sent ahead. Stop
will be made at Grafton for supper, and
the train will arrive in Washington
Monday morning at o'clock in two sec
tions, the train being divided for the
run over the mountains.
Senator Hanna's Post.
The Memorial Post. of Cleveland. of
which Senator Hanna is a member, will
have special train of its own, and will
run through by way of Pittsburg. Tnc
post expects to bring about 300 men. and
With them the Eighth Regiment Band
OWN. This organiza-
lion is composed of 32 musicians. and is
,aid to be one of the finest bands in the
State.
Hon. John Hay. the Secretary of State. |
accepted the invitation to be |
present at the dedication of Camp Roose- |
,elt or Grand Army Place, as IL waA
allied ten years ago, and to deliver the |
,ration OF the day. His telegram was |
hort and TO the point. 1t was dated at
Sewbury, n. H., and read: Your let
er received and answered. will come
This message was In response TO a letter
rom Col. John McElroy, the chairman
4 the reunion committee, who had been
esirous OF having the camp opened by
resident Roosevelt, but who is delight
d at the acceptance OF Colonel Hay
Mr.. Warner, chairman of the citizens
xecutive committee. yesterday sent a
ele9ram to President Roosevelt urging