The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-22
THE TEXAS CITY CROWDED
Advance Guard of Army Ar
 rived Ahead of Time.
The Capacity of the Town Will Be Taxed to Accommodate the
 Visitors-Reunion Win Be
 Opened Formally Today.

Dallas, Tex, April 2l.--The twelfth an nuai reunion of the United Confederate l Veterans, despite the repeated announce ment that it does not begin until tomor- row. is under way. It began early today and gains strength and enthusiasm AS the day passed, It was not cfiiciaiiy recog- nizcd as the twelfth annual rednion--that comes tomorrow at 10 a. m. It was twenty hours in advance of the program, and it was attended by many inconven- fences. hut it was a reunion in full swing nevertheless.
 Tonight it is estimated that there are 45.o0o visitors in the city. and. to quote Mayor Cabell, ''it fairly makes the city limits bulge Of these, it Is said 4Ooo are keen-eyed. strong -limbed men. who. forty years ago. carried the Stars and Bars in splendid heroism on many glo- rious battlefield Sons of veterans. spon- sors, maids of honor. sons, wives and daughters, make up the total mentioned.
 The unofficial opening of the reunion came about through stress of numbers. Delegation after delegation of veterans marched from the various depots to the fair grounds which have been converted into a magnificent camp. only to be met with the announcement that the grounds were not to be opened until tomorrow. A small army of workmen was still busy putting up tents and clearing the grounds, and 1t was said that matters could not be put in shape until tomorrow.
 Reported Too Soon.
 Colonel Slaughter. President of the rr-. A.-~ ~.t.. &<>x~ tatA rAf A rans that the first duty of a soldier Is to- obey and that they had been ordered to report April g. and not before. We are making exhaustive preparations ts care for you in a way you will remember with ,,leasi,re.n said he, tgbh, we're not now in the right shape to entertain company.3 Later in the day itxwas found necessary to admit the veterans, ~snd thus the re union got under way in spite of all ef- forts to keep it within the bounds laid down by those in charge. Tho greatest good ature prevailed everywhere. There was not single sign of conflict. The veterans admitted without reservation that the unpreparedness was to be ex- pected under the circumstances. and the local committee abandoned red tape whom the size of the army of 'sooners' became apparent.
 Tents went up as if by magic, and by
 
 come tented city sufficient to accommo- date 12,000 men. Load after load of cots and blankets passed through the streets to the cantonment. and tonight 1t was said that the veterans who were once again afieid were enjoying all camp ne- cessities and that tomorrow they would be in possession of camp luxuries.
 Workmen Still Busy.
 Workmcn tonight were still at work on the grounds and putting the finishing touches on the buildings which arc to be used; but this was no hindrance to the singing of the old soldiers, nor of the exchanging of "reminiscences.
 The railway depots and the hotels were tho busiest places in Dallas. except the cantonment. At the stations the platforms were crowded all day and far into the night with increasing guests and. tho people there to meet them. So nearly in- cessant was the arrival of the loads of human freight that the railway officials found it necessary to clear the yards of all freight carsi Consequently freight destined for Dallas and other Texas points is scattered bout the limits of the city with prospect of staying there at least till Wednesday. Many trains were late. but on fhc whole. 1t is said that the immense traffic is being handled with a promptncss remarkable under the circum- stances.
 As to decorations visitors declare that at no reunion has this feature been given more attention. Not building in the down town district is without It's bunt- ing or flags and the great majority have both in profusion. Electric lights and portraits of the Southern generals whose brilliance has given them a place in the | worlds history, appear everywhere. The | whole scheme of decoration was placed in the hands of an expert, who not only | surpassed himself on irdividual struct- | ures, but blendid the whole mass in | harmonious sea of flutterng color Among | the flags on many houses appears white | one, this signifies that inside. lodgings l are to be had.
 White Flag of Hospitality.
 The idea belongs to former Governor | Barney" Gibbs, who seized upon it when | a fear became prevalent that Dallas would not be able to house her visitors. To | hang out the white flag came as an ap- | neal to civic pride of the citizens of Dal- | las They were urged to join in! the attempt to show that Dallas hospitality | is equal to any in South with it's reputa- ton for hospitality.
 Tonight q fgura tive standing room only" sign is out in many homes where | this emblem of hospitality showed, and |  this curious feature of the decoration | will be absent. Ten thousand veterans are expected and | %. 900 others before the reunion shall have | passed into history. The streets are | network of crowding. but good natured | All have secured accommoda- | lions and 1t Is believed that the great | crowd which is expected tomorrow will | be cared for. A huge shed at the cantonment has | been put up for messing" 1t is planned | to feed l2,000 there tomorrow. If 1t could l have been put in operation today the | already in camp would have | had little to ask for. but it was found | impossible to hasten the work of prepara- ! ton and the old soldiers had to purchase their meals at restaurants or at the in- | numera lunch counters which have sprung m in every available corner The convention of the United Conteder
 
 (Can%innad nn Pace NincA